A small desk sensor.
A complete build journey.

What the first sample should do

Show room temperature in °C and relative humidity in %RH on a small display. Power it through the controller board’s USB connector and house the electronics in a serviceable, ventilated desktop enclosure. Start with one functional sample.

The first version uses development modules, a wired sensor and a printed enclosure. Battery operation, wireless connectivity, a custom PCB and production tooling are outside this first build. It is an engineering demonstration, not a calibrated environmental instrument.

The proposed architecture

Block diagram only. The wiring, module variants and power budget must be checked before assembly.

Proposed parts and the decisions still open

Controller · 1

Raspberry Pi Pico H is the proposed non-wireless controller with fitted headers. Confirm the actual board and cable before mounting design.

Sensor module · 1

Adafruit SHT31-D breakout is the reference candidate. Review the exact module revision, supply and logic levels, dimensions and mounting. Place the sensing area near a vent and away from heat-producing parts.

Display module · 1

A small I²C OLED compatible with the selected 3.3 V interface. Exact manufacturer, controller, address and dimensions are not yet selected; this decision comes before enclosure CAD.

Enclosure · 1 set

A two-part printed shell with removable lid, display opening, USB access and ventilation. Begin around a 90 × 65 × 40 mm envelope, then revise around measured components. This is a layout target, not a released drawing.

Assembly items · 1 set

USB cable, suitable wiring/connectors, insulating mounts and selected fasteners. Record actual quantities and specifications in the approved BOM before ordering.

Prices, supplier availability and fabrication timing will be recorded when the exact parts and process are selected. The BOM will identify the final selections before any purchase.

Build in five reviewable steps

1. Define the requirements. The initial scope and target checks are drafted on this page. Confirm the parts and build budget next.
2. Prove the electronics on the bench. After procurement, verify each module, read the sensor, display the values and implement a visible fault state.
3. Design around measured parts. Create the enclosure layout, check ventilation and assembly order, and print a fit coupon for the display or USB opening.
4. Assemble the first complete sample. Record the BOM, enclosure revision, wiring and firmware version. Photograph the assembly sequence.
5. Test and publish the evidence. Run the agreed checks, record failures as well as passes, and add real photographs and measurements after the work exists.

Target checks for the first sample

All checks below are planned and currently not tested. They are proposed project criteria, not performance specifications.

Startup and display

Target: valid temperature and humidity readings within 10 seconds of power-on, in five consecutive starts. Record actual times and firmware version.

Continued operation

Target: refresh the display at least once every 2 seconds during a 60-minute bench run, with no unhandled error or reset. Record update timing and any interruption.

Missing sensor

Disconnect power before removing the sensor connection, then restart. Target: a clear sensor error instead of a misleading current reading. Restore the connection with power off and verify recovery on restart.

Fit and access

Target: enclosure closes without pinching wires, modules remain secured, the intended USB plug fits, and the lid can be reopened for service. Keep photos and observations.

Enclosure influence

Compare open and enclosed readings with a reference meter under recorded, stable conditions. Log differences and settle time. This is exploratory evidence, not a calibration or accuracy pass; no accuracy limit is claimed.

What we plan to share

The public record will use our own brief, component photos, fit samples, assembly images and results. A useful sequence is: the starting requirement, the layout, the first fit problem, the revision, the assembled sample and a short operating video. Any image or result will carry its actual stage and revision.

Client names, drawings, messages, BOMs and private project details are not part of this demonstration. Future fabrication and test results will be added only after the corresponding work is completed.