Skip to content
  • MySensors
  • OpenHardware.io
  • Categories
  • Recent
  • Tags
  • Popular
Skins
  • Light
  • Brite
  • Cerulean
  • Cosmo
  • Flatly
  • Journal
  • Litera
  • Lumen
  • Lux
  • Materia
  • Minty
  • Morph
  • Pulse
  • Sandstone
  • Simplex
  • Sketchy
  • Spacelab
  • United
  • Yeti
  • Zephyr
  • Dark
  • Cyborg
  • Darkly
  • Quartz
  • Slate
  • Solar
  • Superhero
  • Vapor

  • Default (No Skin)
  • No Skin
Collapse
Brand Logo
  1. Home
  2. General Discussion
  3. Need working example battery powered sensor

Need working example battery powered sensor

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved General Discussion
21 Posts 8 Posters 11.2k Views 7 Watching
  • Oldest to Newest
  • Newest to Oldest
  • Most Votes
Reply
  • Reply as topic
Log in to reply
This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
  • J Offline
    J Offline
    Jan Gatzke
    wrote on last edited by Jan Gatzke
    #9

    I think you need a modified Arduino bootloader for 1 Mhz operation. The bootloader does the serial communication wich is very timing critical. And when the bootloader is compiled with 8 mhz the baud value simply doesn't match.

    Regarding power consumption...did you remove the LEDs? The power LED alone needs about 2 mA. This would explain your values.

    funky81F 1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • J Jan Gatzke

      I think you need a modified Arduino bootloader for 1 Mhz operation. The bootloader does the serial communication wich is very timing critical. And when the bootloader is compiled with 8 mhz the baud value simply doesn't match.

      Regarding power consumption...did you remove the LEDs? The power LED alone needs about 2 mA. This would explain your values.

      funky81F Offline
      funky81F Offline
      funky81
      wrote on last edited by
      #10

      @Jan-Gatzke mind to share it how?

      1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • J Offline
        J Offline
        Jan Gatzke
        wrote on last edited by Jan Gatzke
        #11

        I have never done this before. But basically you need the c code of the bootloader for your Arduino. Then open it with a text editor and change the f_cpu value. Then compile and flash it using avrdude.

        I googled and found this:
        http://angryelectron.com/how-to-update-the-bootloader-on-arduino-pro-mini-328/

        I would use Atmel studio for these low level tasks if you are running on Windows.

        J 1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • J Jan Gatzke

          I have never done this before. But basically you need the c code of the bootloader for your Arduino. Then open it with a text editor and change the f_cpu value. Then compile and flash it using avrdude.

          I googled and found this:
          http://angryelectron.com/how-to-update-the-bootloader-on-arduino-pro-mini-328/

          I would use Atmel studio for these low level tasks if you are running on Windows.

          J Offline
          J Offline
          Jan Gatzke
          wrote on last edited by
          #12

          @Jan-Gatzke said:

          I have never done this before. But basically you need the c code of the bootloader for your Arduino. Then open it with a text editor and change the f_cpu value. Then compile and flash it using avrdude.

          I googled and found this:
          http://angryelectron.com/how-to-update-the-bootloader-on-arduino-pro-mini-328/

          I would use Atmel studio for these low level tasks if you are running in Windows.

          Edit: Found already compiled bootloaders here: http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=160647.15

          funky81F 1 Reply Last reply
          1
          • J Jan Gatzke

            @Jan-Gatzke said:

            I have never done this before. But basically you need the c code of the bootloader for your Arduino. Then open it with a text editor and change the f_cpu value. Then compile and flash it using avrdude.

            I googled and found this:
            http://angryelectron.com/how-to-update-the-bootloader-on-arduino-pro-mini-328/

            I would use Atmel studio for these low level tasks if you are running in Windows.

            Edit: Found already compiled bootloaders here: http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=160647.15

            funky81F Offline
            funky81F Offline
            funky81
            wrote on last edited by
            #13

            @Jan-Gatzke Thank you very much Sir....Now this is getting excited :+1:

            funky81F 1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • J Offline
              J Offline
              jovo
              wrote on last edited by jovo
              #14

              I broke one Arduino by removing the power regulator
              I broke another one while playing with the fuses (I think?) in an attempt to set the 1Mhz system clock.
              I tried all suggested "low power/sleep/pwr_dwn sketches" I came across, but one of them was giving my a better power consumption then the default "sleep time" option used in the sketches of mysensors.
              The only thing that was working as removing the LED. This saves approx. 1.2mA.

              I am now at 3.3mA sleep consumption. Adding the DC-DC power booster to the config once received from China, so I expect to add another extra mA consumption.
              Not sure if 4.5mA sleep pwr draw is sustainable for battery operators (only 26 days on a 2800mAh batterypack).

              Since I believe that lowering the clock rate could be the solution for my project, I ordered some more mini-pro's to experiment more with the fuses setting.

              Overall, despite the mixed results, still a very interesting project where I had great learning on my rusty hardware and programming skills....

              Any further suggestions to improve pwr consumption remain always welcome :-)

              AWIA 1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • J jovo

                I broke one Arduino by removing the power regulator
                I broke another one while playing with the fuses (I think?) in an attempt to set the 1Mhz system clock.
                I tried all suggested "low power/sleep/pwr_dwn sketches" I came across, but one of them was giving my a better power consumption then the default "sleep time" option used in the sketches of mysensors.
                The only thing that was working as removing the LED. This saves approx. 1.2mA.

                I am now at 3.3mA sleep consumption. Adding the DC-DC power booster to the config once received from China, so I expect to add another extra mA consumption.
                Not sure if 4.5mA sleep pwr draw is sustainable for battery operators (only 26 days on a 2800mAh batterypack).

                Since I believe that lowering the clock rate could be the solution for my project, I ordered some more mini-pro's to experiment more with the fuses setting.

                Overall, despite the mixed results, still a very interesting project where I had great learning on my rusty hardware and programming skills....

                Any further suggestions to improve pwr consumption remain always welcome :-)

                AWIA Offline
                AWIA Offline
                AWI
                Hero Member
                wrote on last edited by
                #15

                @jovo I had some problems with mini's I ordered which can be "switched" between 3.3 and 5v. These mini's use a voltage divider that consumes around 2 mA.! Apart from the led and regulator I alse needed to remove this divider to get to less consumption.
                upload-4891e188-701a-4c2b-a302-afd4caa9b6b0

                J hansiiiH 2 Replies Last reply
                0
                • AWIA AWI

                  @jovo I had some problems with mini's I ordered which can be "switched" between 3.3 and 5v. These mini's use a voltage divider that consumes around 2 mA.! Apart from the led and regulator I alse needed to remove this divider to get to less consumption.
                  upload-4891e188-701a-4c2b-a302-afd4caa9b6b0

                  J Offline
                  J Offline
                  jovo
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #16

                  @AWI: Tx for the feedback. I checked with my mini's. I got both versions: 5v and 3v3 (ordered from BEEStore). They seems not to be switchable. they 3v3 one have a 8Mhz crystal and the regulator (AMS 1117) for 3v3. the 5v one has 16Mhz crystal and a 5v version of this regulator.

                  I was wondering, in my design I plan to power the board directly from the VCC pin (not the raw). I suspect that the regulator doesn't consume much in this case. let me see if I can find a datasheet of this component.

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • J Offline
                    J Offline
                    jovo
                    wrote on last edited by jovo
                    #17

                    Humm, from the AMS1117 datasheet:

                    Quiescent Current AMS1117: 5-11mA.
                    It looks like to has some significant quiescent current.
                    Perhaps for me good idea to research a little further in this direction.

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • funky81F funky81

                      @Jan-Gatzke Thank you very much Sir....Now this is getting excited :+1:

                      funky81F Offline
                      funky81F Offline
                      funky81
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #18

                      @Jan-Gatzke i've tried this bootloader with several of my arduino pro mini.
                      most of them run @ 1 Mhz, thanks to you. but somehow the current consumption dont decrease. but i've check with my usbtiny for the fuse, it already @ 1MHz....

                      no clue what happen here

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • AWIA AWI

                        @jovo I had some problems with mini's I ordered which can be "switched" between 3.3 and 5v. These mini's use a voltage divider that consumes around 2 mA.! Apart from the led and regulator I alse needed to remove this divider to get to less consumption.
                        upload-4891e188-701a-4c2b-a302-afd4caa9b6b0

                        hansiiiH Offline
                        hansiiiH Offline
                        hansiii
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #19

                        @AWI Hello AWI, sorry i know the topic is old, but i have exatly the same minis bought. Can you tell me what i have to remove or can you attach a photo. many thanks
                        greetings
                        hansiii

                        AWIA 1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • hansiiiH hansiii

                          @AWI Hello AWI, sorry i know the topic is old, but i have exatly the same minis bought. Can you tell me what i have to remove or can you attach a photo. many thanks
                          greetings
                          hansiii

                          AWIA Offline
                          AWIA Offline
                          AWI
                          Hero Member
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #20

                          @hansiii that was certainly a while ago.. I removed all resistors near the voltage selector and the regulator (5 legs)

                          hansiiiH 1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • AWIA AWI

                            @hansiii that was certainly a while ago.. I removed all resistors near the voltage selector and the regulator (5 legs)

                            hansiiiH Offline
                            hansiiiH Offline
                            hansiii
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #21

                            @AWI Thank you!
                            now i have removed the three resitors, before that I had only removed the regulator. Now the battery drain
                            is away.
                            0_1474006120595_Arduino_pro.jpg

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            1
                            Reply
                            • Reply as topic
                            Log in to reply
                            • Oldest to Newest
                            • Newest to Oldest
                            • Most Votes


                            11

                            Online

                            11.7k

                            Users

                            11.2k

                            Topics

                            113.1k

                            Posts


                            Copyright 2025 TBD   |   Forum Guidelines   |   Privacy Policy   |   Terms of Service
                            • Login

                            • Don't have an account? Register

                            • Login or register to search.
                            • First post
                              Last post
                            0
                            • MySensors
                            • OpenHardware.io
                            • Categories
                            • Recent
                            • Tags
                            • Popular