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. My Project
  3. Mailbox/Postbox Alert

Mailbox/Postbox Alert

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved My Project
31 Posts 8 Posters 17.7k 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.
  • n3roN n3ro

    @Moshe-Livne just deactivate the this lines:
    //digitalWrite(MAILBOX_FRONT_PIN, HIGH);
    //digitalWrite(MAILBOX_BACK_PIN, HIGH);

    and solder two resistor from 3.3v to pin 2 and 3.

    F Offline
    F Offline
    f1dev
    wrote on last edited by
    #18

    Ok, so I found that it is the radio that draws about 7mA when I ground input pin 2, it is connected to IRQ-pin on the radio.
    @n3ro Have you connected the radio as described on the build-page? [http://www.mysensors.org/build/connect_radio](link url)

    n3roN 1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • F f1dev

      Ok, so I found that it is the radio that draws about 7mA when I ground input pin 2, it is connected to IRQ-pin on the radio.
      @n3ro Have you connected the radio as described on the build-page? [http://www.mysensors.org/build/connect_radio](link url)

      n3roN Offline
      n3roN Offline
      n3ro
      wrote on last edited by
      #19

      @f1dev yes. But you don't need irq on a node :)

      pimatic + MySensors + Homeduino + z-way
      https://github.com/n3roGit/MySensors_n3ro

      1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • BulldogLowellB BulldogLowell

        @n3ro

        I'm guessing that your repeat() function is wearing out the battery.

        By the way you can take advantage of the return of sleep( ) here:

        gw.sleep(MAILBOX_FRONT_PIN - 2, CHANGE, MAILBOX_BACK_PIN - 2, CHANGE, 0);
        

        like this (untested):

        #include <MySensor.h>
        #include <SPI.h>
        #include <readVcc.h>
        
        
        #define NODE_ID 21                      // ID of node
        #define CHILD_ID 1                      // Id of the sensor child
        
        #define MAILBOX_FRONT_PIN 2             // Arduino Digital I/O pin for button/reed switch
        #define MAILBOX_BACK_PIN 3              // Arduino Digital I/O pin for button/reed switch
        
        #define MIN_V 1900 // empty voltage (0%)
        #define MAX_V 3200 // full voltage (100%)
        
        
        MySensor gw;
        
        MyMessage msg(CHILD_ID, V_TRIPPED);
        
        boolean post = false;
        boolean lastpost = false;
        int oldBatteryPcnt;
        int repeat = 20;
        
        int trigger = -1;
        unsigned long goToSleepTime;
        
        void setup()
        {
          gw.begin(NULL, NODE_ID, false);
          pinMode(MAILBOX_FRONT_PIN, INPUT);
          pinMode(MAILBOX_BACK_PIN, INPUT);
          digitalWrite(MAILBOX_FRONT_PIN, HIGH);
          digitalWrite(MAILBOX_BACK_PIN, HIGH);
          gw.sendSketchInfo("Mailbox Alert", "1.0");
          gw.present(CHILD_ID, S_MOTION);
          Serial.println("---------- set Mailbox empty");
          msg.set(0);
        }
        
        void loop()
        {
          if (millis() - goToSleepTime > 10UL) //debounce
          {
            switch (trigger) {
              case 0:
                post = true;
                Serial.println("---------- New Mail");
                break;
              case 1:
                post = false;
                Serial.println("---------- Mailbox emptied"); 
                break;
              default:
                Serial.println("---------- I just woke up");
            }
          }
          trigger = -1;
          if (post != lastpost)
          {
            Serial.print("---------- Send Mailboxstate ");
            Serial.println(post ? "full" : "empty");
            msg.set(post);
            lastpost = post;
            sendBattery();
          }
          // Sleep until something happens with the sensor
          goToSleepTime = millis();
          trigger = gw.sleep(MAILBOX_FRONT_PIN - 2, CHANGE, MAILBOX_BACK_PIN - 2, CHANGE, 0);
        }
        
        void sendBattery() // Measure battery
        {
          int batteryPcnt = min(map(readVcc(), MIN_V, MAX_V, 0, 100), 100);
          if (batteryPcnt != oldBatteryPcnt) 
          {
            gw.sendBatteryLevel(batteryPcnt); // Send battery percentage
            oldBatteryPcnt = batteryPcnt;
          }
          Serial.print("---------- Battery: ");
          Serial.println(batteryPcnt);
        }
        
        n3roN Offline
        n3roN Offline
        n3ro
        wrote on last edited by
        #20

        @BulldogLowell could you please explain your changes? I don't understand everything of this :sweat:

        pimatic + MySensors + Homeduino + z-way
        https://github.com/n3roGit/MySensors_n3ro

        1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • F Offline
          F Offline
          f1dev
          wrote on last edited by
          #21

          @n3ro Ok, thanks! Then I learned something new today.. IRQ is only needed for receiving nodes then, like repeaters and gateways, right?
          Strange though that my circuit draws so much more current than yours. I have tested different setups, different arduinos and different radios from different suppliers with same result.
          Well, at least my mailbox are mysensored now! :smiley:

          1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • n3roN Offline
            n3roN Offline
            n3ro
            wrote on last edited by
            #22

            I think you need the irq only for the gw. I have a receive node without irq.

            Do you have changed fuses on your arduino?

            And remember. All this stuff is cheap China electronic.The devices can vary consume a lot of electricity.

            pimatic + MySensors + Homeduino + z-way
            https://github.com/n3roGit/MySensors_n3ro

            1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • F Offline
              F Offline
              f1dev
              wrote on last edited by
              #23

              Nope, havent done that yet. It´s a "stock" 3v3 pro mini. Still reading up on how to do that and how to change to MYS-bootloader, curious on how OTA-update works.
              Big thanks for your respons! :smile:

              n3roN 1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • F f1dev

                Nope, havent done that yet. It´s a "stock" 3v3 pro mini. Still reading up on how to do that and how to change to MYS-bootloader, curious on how OTA-update works.
                Big thanks for your respons! :smile:

                n3roN Offline
                n3roN Offline
                n3ro
                wrote on last edited by
                #24

                @f1dev sweebe wrote a very good howto:

                http://forum.pimatic.org/topic/383/tips-battery-powered-sensors

                pimatic + MySensors + Homeduino + z-way
                https://github.com/n3roGit/MySensors_n3ro

                Moshe LivneM 1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • F Offline
                  F Offline
                  f1dev
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #25

                  @n3ro - Thanks, that was really helpfull!:smile:

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • n3roN n3ro

                    @f1dev sweebe wrote a very good howto:

                    http://forum.pimatic.org/topic/383/tips-battery-powered-sensors

                    Moshe LivneM Offline
                    Moshe LivneM Offline
                    Moshe Livne
                    Hero Member
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #26

                    @n3ro Brilliant! He recommends to take out the voltage regulator. it is easier (and works better) just to snip off one leg as described here http://www.mysensors.org/build/battery. I'll try his other mods.... hopefully now my nodes will last forever!!!!

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • Ashley SavageA Offline
                      Ashley SavageA Offline
                      Ashley Savage
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #27

                      quality project, been having a tinker with mixed results. used sketch from original post, but would it be possible to get a circuit diagram showing pull up locations??? bit of a beginner, but have had a few success with rolling out some power operated sensors , this is my first battery operated sensor...

                      n3roN 1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • n3roN Offline
                        n3roN Offline
                        n3ro
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #28

                        No problem. I make one :) give me a day

                        pimatic + MySensors + Homeduino + z-way
                        https://github.com/n3roGit/MySensors_n3ro

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • Ashley SavageA Ashley Savage

                          quality project, been having a tinker with mixed results. used sketch from original post, but would it be possible to get a circuit diagram showing pull up locations??? bit of a beginner, but have had a few success with rolling out some power operated sensors , this is my first battery operated sensor...

                          n3roN Offline
                          n3roN Offline
                          n3ro
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #29

                          @Ashley-Savage plan.png

                          pimatic + MySensors + Homeduino + z-way
                          https://github.com/n3roGit/MySensors_n3ro

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • Ashley SavageA Offline
                            Ashley SavageA Offline
                            Ashley Savage
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #30

                            thanks for the diagram, much appreciated...

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • M Offline
                              M Offline
                              mathieu44444
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #31

                              Hello,
                              Does this code still work?
                              Thank you

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              Reply
                              • Reply as topic
                              Log in to reply
                              • Oldest to Newest
                              • Newest to Oldest
                              • Most Votes


                              17

                              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