A simple 1-Wire network connects all the sensors on a bus in a daisy chain configuration. This allows one device to potentially take down the entire bus. It actually worked pretty reliably for me for several years. But it doesn’t lend itself very well to taking one sensor our of the chain for service while keeping the rest of the chain operational.

Another consideration is power for some of the sensors. In a 1-Wire network, the devices draw power from the 1-Wire bus, known as parasitic power. This makes it easy to get power to the sensors. Since this is the same bus used for data and signalling, available power is limited and drawing power from this bus may affect the sensors being read.

Another addition I wanted to make is to add external power for the sensors, again in the name of reliability. I experimented with sending power over some unused wires on my cables before, but never implemented it as the bus architecture without power worked for me initially.

I was able to find a solution to address both of these issues. Another kit from Hobby Boards.

Hobby Boards 1-Wire Hub

This one is their 6 channel hub. It provides 6 channels for connecting 1-Wire devices, and provides regulated external power on the unused wires on the cables. This will allow me to group sensors on separate channels, and to provide external power to them as well.  I built the kit in an evening. Be warned, the Hobby Boards kits use surface mount parts. Easy to lose parts and can be tricky to solder. But I got it built and tested. All channels working and power is available. Next installment is the software updates I made to support the hub.