MEGO Breadboard Power Supply

This post contains promotional content of a crowdfunding hardware project which has its hardware design Open-sourced, yet i think it is worthy to read since it shares our true experience of the product development roadmap as well as resources to get your DIY projects commericialized.

What is this project about?

MEGO is a rechargeable breadboard power supply designed for makers and hobbyists. It delivers an adjustable DC output voltage of 4-24V, a 5V USB port, and features a compact, breadboard-compatible design. Powered by the RP2040 microcontroller, it offers programmability, making it versatile for various projects.

This video is filmed on the original MEGO1.0 version. We don't have a film for MEGO2.0 yet.

Why did we decide to make it?

This project is the second iteration, building on the success of the original MEGO, launched in 2018. The first version quickly gained popularity among makers, students, and electronics enthusiasts due to its convenience in powering breadboard circuits for quick setups, without the need for a designated lab.

Its portability made it ideal for on-the-go projects, and many local schools adopted it for their electronics and robotics classes. MEGO 2.0 continues this legacy with added programmability, versatility, and an open-source design, offering even more flexibility for users.

As a new iteration, we aimed to enhance its functionality by adding programmability, portability, and an open-source design. We also addressed small hardware bugs and upgraded from MicroUSB to USB-C for improved compatibility. As one of the most important component in our Lab-On-The-Go electronics lab kit, MEGO 2.0 offers a quick, neat, and accessible solution for powering circuits, allowing circuit lovers to play anytime and anywhere.

How does it work?

MEGO 2.0 uses a built-in 2000 mAh lithium-polymer battery for portability and connects directly to a breadboard. The RP2040 microcontroller enables user programmability, allowing customization. It includes short-circuit protection and precise voltage regulation, ensuring safe and reliable operation for your electronics experiments.

• MEGO 2.0 powering a breadboard circuit.
• Voltage adjustment demonstration.
• A breakdown of its compact design and components.
• Outdoor use highlighting its portability.

Here are the specifications of the product

Open Sourced Material

We’ve embraced open-source principles to give makers and hobbyists the flexibility to modify, customize, and expand MEGO 2.0 for their unique needs. We chose the RP2040 microcontroller considering its accesibility and user friendly even for beginnering embedded programmers. All schematics, code, and documentation are available for viewing and download, available at our support page:

https://support.eimtechnology.com/documentation/mego-2.0

A Brief Story of Our Development Roadmap

The initial version of MEGO was launched on Kickstarter (the link) in 2019. The prototype we got for filming was kind of a lousy 3D printed version with plastic stickers version of silkscreen. That was also the first product our startup launched, during the moment while I was still doing my graduate school. If we failed, as we agreed, would dismiss.

Fortunately, the campaign succeeded, thanks to the early backers who would like to support innovations. With some initial funds for production, and short after receiving some pre-orders from schools and institutions, we got initial momentum to take the business seriously and commit to growing it further.

Thanks god and people we did not even know how we survived for the pendemic, but we did, and the company has moving to a next milestone to develop Technology Educational product solutions for teens and adults interested in electronics, hardware and tangible projects. As the infrastructure to support our ambitious plan to build an entire tangible curriculum for electronics engineering, we implemented a hardware kit called Lab-On-The-Go as the accessible pocket lab for individal usage, and MEGO is one of the most important component.

As a small team, we focused heavily on product development. While marketing wasn't our strength, the quality and effort behind our products led to recognition, especially among hobbyists and educational institutions. Feedback on the original MEGO highlighted issues with the outdated MicroUSB connector, voltage adjustment knob misalignment over time, and the USB-A output varying with voltage. In MEGO 2.0, we addressed these issues and added the RP2040 microcontroller for added programmability and flexibility.

An interesting aspect of this new iteration is how much 3D printing technology has advanced in recent years, along with the related services available. For example, these photos were created using 3D printers with surface treatment, and you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference until viewed 'under a microscope'. This opens up new possibilities for makers and inventors, allowing for early-stage product testing without a big investment of injection molding. Feel free to contact me if you're interested in relevant services—I’m the go-to person for the entire process.

Since MEGO 2.0 is intended for mass production, injection molding remains the preferred choice for final manufacturing.

Where to Buy MEGO2.0

A majority of our customers are beginners with limited backgrounds in electronics, seeking a complete solution for self-learning. As a heavily R&D-focused team, we have limited hands to handle many SKUs, so most of our products listed on our website will be available as bundled kits instead of individual components.

However, we recognize that hardware enthusiasts and developers may prefer a standalone unit for use as a tool or gadget. Therefore, we will also offer individual MEGO 2.0 units on Crowdsupply during the campaign period. If you’d like to stay updated, please subscribe at:

https://www.crowdsupply.com/eim-technology/mego-2

One of the big advantages of using Crowdsupply is that they committed to handle product fulfillment, which saves us a great deal of time and effort. I believe this will also accelerate the process and provide a much smoother shipping experience for customers.

Will the individual MEGO2.0 still available to sell after the campaign is over? YES, but probably on other sales channels instead of our website.