My 2AA battery sensor

[m26872]

@Meister_Petz Kind of what I already do in the test nodes 105/106 if you look at code above. Update frequencey and battery life time is a balance that can be adjusted just as you wish. Right now these node send update every 15 min and take sample for calculation 5 min before, which is about what I need. If you and your application is more interested in trending, history and data collection, I think your suggestion is excellent. If you need a fast response or action from your automation system it's not.

But, what I think is most unneseccary with my test nodes 105/106 is that they check battery level every 15 min and send update if it has changed. Since the level typically is unstable right after the first transmission, it will generate a lot of useless transmissions. The only reason for me not to update code in node 105/106 is to keep it as an untouched study case. In my new nodes I usually set a fixed battery check/update frequency (1/week) which also works as a heartbeat signal for less active nodes.

[TheoL]

Not sure if any one has had the same question. But the other day I stumbled on this little thing ;)
https://www.adafruit.com/product/1572 It's a really small rechargeable battery. Now I don't no much about batteries. But I know that my LiOn powerd handdrill is very strong. The batteries of my handdril hardly lose power over time.

So I was wondering if this could be used to power an Arduino and some sensors and how long it will take for the battery te become empty. It would make my 3.3V Sensors really small. I could almost install them in a small matchbox. Which I think is really cool!

[m26872]

@TheoL There are endless discussions about different batteries in the forum. Just search and read. I recall one issue with LiXx batteries is that max voltage is too high for the NRF24L01+ radio.

[Meister_Petz]

Ok, another thing: why not sending everything at once?

As I understand you are using FHEM which allows a lot of coding on the controller side. So you could send batteryLevel, humidity and temperature in one go.

Something like (this is no real code, just an idea):
theValues = "battlvl:hum:temp"
gw.send(msgAll.set(theValues, 1));

and in fhem you split it at ":"

So you have just one instead of 3 transmits.

[m26872]

@Meister_Petz I think it's a very good idea! It would be a nice option to have. Parsing with Perl should be simple even for a beginner like me, but to change the Mysensors core and fhem plugin is far beyond what I can. If you can do it, just go ahead and plz share.

[Meister_Petz]

ok, I did some testing and succeeded:

This is the important part of the Arduino code:

String allSens = String(sensor1) + " " + String(sensor2);
gw.send(msg1.set(allSens.c_str()));

This is the FHEM code:

define Sensor MYSENSORS_DEVICE 20
attr Sensor IODev MSGateway
attr Sensor mapReading_brightness1 1 brightness
attr Sensor mode node
attr Sensor version 1.5
attr Sensor userReadings Bat Deg

# split and copy to userReadings
define Sensor.copy at +*00:02:00 {my $a = ReadingsVal("Sensor","brightness1",1);; my @b = split(/\ /,$a);; fhem("setreading Sensor Bat $b[0]");; fhem("setreading Sensor Grad $b[1]");;}

P.S.: when I had this in fhem.cfg I had to use @@ instead of only one @

This is my complete Arduino code for a Battery Sensor with Dallas Temp:

  
#include <MySensor.h>
#include <SPI.h>

#define SketchName "Sensor-send-all"
#define SketchVer "1.2"
#define NodeID 20

unsigned long SleepTime = 828523; // 55234 = 1 Minute --- 828523 = 15 Minuten
  
MySensor gw;

// this is the one which sends everything
#define SENSOR1_ID 1 // Sensor 1 - allAtOnceMessage
    
  //------------------------------------------------
  // Sensor PINS 
    #define SENSOR1_PIN  A0 // BattLevel
    #define SENSOR2_PIN  6  // Dallas
      
  // MyMessage V_TEMP, V_LIGHT_LEVEL, ... depending on Sensor Type
     MyMessage msg1(SENSOR1_ID,V_LIGHT_LEVEL); // Sensor 5 - allAtOnceMessage

  //------------------------------------------------
  // Dallas Temp
     #include <OneWire.h>
     #include <DallasTemperature.h>      
     OneWire oneWire(SENSOR2_PIN);
     DallasTemperature sensors(&oneWire);
     boolean receivedConfig = false;
         
     float firstRun = 1;
     boolean metric = true;
  
void setup()  
  {  
    // use the 1.1 V internal reference
    analogReference(INTERNAL);
    delay(500); // Allow time for radio if power used as reset <<<<<<<<<<<<<< Experimented with good result 
  
    gw.begin(NULL, NodeID, false);
  
    // Send the sketch version information to the gateway and Controller
    gw.sendSketchInfo(SketchName, SketchVer);
        
    // present all Sensors to Gateway - S_TEMP, S_LIGHT_LEVEL,... depending an SENSOR type
    gw.present(SENSOR1_ID, S_LIGHT_LEVEL);     
        
    sensors.begin();  
  }
  
  
void loop() 
  {
    gw.process();

       // wait some time to get all parts powered up
       if (firstRun == 1){
          delay(5000);
          firstRun = 0;
       } else {
          delay(1000);
       }
       
       //----------------------
       // Sensor1 - Battery Voltage - Part 1
          int sensorRead10 = analogRead(SENSOR1_PIN); 

       //----------------------
       // Sensor2 - DAL
         sensors.requestTemperatures();
         int16_t conversionTime = sensors.millisToWaitForConversion(sensors.getResolution());
         gw.sleep(conversionTime);
         float sensorRead2 = static_cast<float>(static_cast<int>((metric?sensors.getTempCByIndex(0):sensors.getTempFByIndex(0)) * 10.)) / 10.;

       //----------------------
       // Sensor1 - Battery Voltage - Part 2
          int sensorRead11 = analogRead(SENSOR1_PIN);
          //Volt der Battery
          
          float sensorRead1 = (sensorRead10 + sensorRead11 + sensorRead12) / 3 * 0.0033;  // should be 0.003363075 my Batteries are different
          float test = sensorRead10;


       //----------------------
       // send all to fhem
          String allComb = String(sensorRead1) + " " + String(sensorRead2);
          gw.send(msg1.set(allComb.c_str()));

      gw.sleep(SleepTime);
  } 
  
 

[m26872]

@Meister_Petz Wow! Well done! I think this can be very useful.
In theory some power should be saved. Estimation from here is that a 250kbit/s transmission of a maximum size (32 byte) packet is >1.5ms. I think at around 20mA. Massage header is 7 byte, but a normal massage just a few bytes, i.e. just 30% of a message. Startup time for radio is fast (140us), so that shouldn't be an issue. (A side note here is that wake up atmega328p from sleep takes long (6ms?).)

Is there a reason that you wrote the Fhem sonsor.copy macro as an "at" and not a "notify" ? The intuitive way would be to copy upon a new reading.

[Meister_Petz]

@m26872 there is no special reason for "at"... I think I got it from some where and it worked ;-)

[m26872]

Soon 11 months of production including a fair amount of too frequent battery uppdates. Most exciting is wheter the initially used batteries in 106 will make it 12 months or not.

[Anticimex]

@m26872 perhaps you could reduce the redundant updates by filtering. If the current sample is lower than the "next" sample ignore it. If your node does not support charging, it will never really truly read an increase in battery voltage.

[m26872]

@Anticimex Yes, but in this particular case its double. Conclusion from above was that frequency and magnitude of the "low spikes" gives you information of how near the end you are. On the other hand I would never run like this if it wasn't for keeping the experiment "untouched". I think my thought for future sensors is to preserve that information, but save battery, just by reducing the number of samples.

I'm still not sure of the best filter/algorithm to predict battery end of life from present and historic data. It will probably differ a lot wheter there's a step-up or a nicer load.

[Yveaux]

@m26872 Just a suggestion: once the node dies you could take the raw data and run some filtering on it like @Anticimex suggested.
It'll give you a quick way to experiment with different filter settings.
Once you find an optimal filter you can implement it in the node(s).

[m26872]

@Yveaux You're right. I expect a good correlation between "spike depth" and the load profile just prior to sample. By controling this it should be quite repeatable.

[mntlvr]

This post is deleted!

[m26872]

@mntlvr Interesting discussion but why in this thread?

[mntlvr]

This post is deleted!

[ahhk]

i think it would be better to open a new thread for this, instead to discuss two topics in one thread....the 2xaa battery sensor is very interesting ;)

[m26872]

The 12 months target was done a few days ago. Today's status 105: 63% and 106: 27%
I had a thought to celebrate their birthday by retrieve old Vera data and make nice plot, but that has to wait. Next, 18 months.

Just to clarify that these are no "sleeping" nodes; they transmit 100-150 messages each every day.

[m26872]

Battery level status report after 18 months:
Node 105: 51%
Node 106 (with used batteries): Died early January.

Next 24 months.

[rhuehn]

Hey @m26872 Congrats on the testing and results! Looks great! I was wondering if I could get your feedback on something. I'm trying to build a very low powered ( 2 x AA ) Battery powered 3 in 1 sensor. ( Platform is a Pro Mini 8Mhz, 3.3v, with an PIR HC-SR501, NRF24L01, and a DHT 11 Temp and Hum sensor. The sensor should also report battery power periodically ideally using the vcc library ( not implemented yet ). Because these components use power hungry devices ( PIR, DHT ), I have already moded the PIR to work at 3.3, and have removed the regulator / LED from the pro mini. Would it make sense to use a step up / down regulator, or power directly from the VCC pin? I can't decide what would be more effective in prolonging battery life? Also, in terms of reporting battery state. I'm not sure what would be best also, hence the question around the VCC library?

Below is my sketch. It is really taken from various posts on this forum and stitched together. If you could have a peak at it, and see if it is "optimal", as I don't believe it is today. ie: Perhaps I could only report temp / hum if it changes +/- a degree? Or send everything in a single radio announcement, then "Deep Sleep"? Lots of questions, and of course I am sure there are lots of answers. I'm just trying to build the most optimal battery efficient ( 2 x AA ) powered sensor no problem right! :) Below is my current code:

 #define MY_GW_ID 31
// Enable debug prints
#define MY_DEBUG

// Enable and select radio type attached
#define MY_RADIO_NRF24
//#define MY_RADIO_RFM69

#include <SPI.h>
#include <MySensor.h>  
#include <DHT.h>  

int BATTERY_SENSE_PIN = A0;  // select the input pin for the battery sense point

//Constants
#define SKETCH_NAME           "3 in 1 Sensor"
#define SKETCH_VERSION        "1.0"
#define CHILD_ID_HUM 0                    // Child id for Humidity
#define CHILD_ID_TEMP 1                   // Child id for Temperature
#define CHILD_ID_MOT 2                   // Id of the sensor child
#define HUMIDITY_SENSOR_DIGITAL_PIN 7    // Where is my DHT22 data pin connected to
#define DIGITAL_INPUT_SENSOR 3           // The digital input you attached your motion sensor.  (Only 2 and 3 generates interrupt!)
#define INTERRUPT DIGITAL_INPUT_SENSOR-2 // Usually the interrupt = pin -2 (on uno/nano anyway)

//Misc. variables
uint8_t switchState = 2;
unsigned long SLEEP_TIME = 820000;      // Sleep time between reads (in milliseconds) (close to 15')
unsigned long SLEEP_TIME2 = 275000;     // Sleep time after int. (in milliseconds) (close to 5')
uint8_t cycleInProgress = 0;
uint8_t firstReportDone = 0;
uint8_t firstReportWithZeroDone = 0;
int oldBatteryPcnt = 0;

MySensor gw;
DHT dht;
float lastTemp = 0 ;
float lastHum = 0 ;
boolean lastTripped = false ;
boolean metric = true; 
MyMessage msgHum(CHILD_ID_HUM, V_HUM);
MyMessage msgTemp(CHILD_ID_TEMP, V_TEMP);
MyMessage msgMot(CHILD_ID_MOT, V_TRIPPED);

void setup()  
{ 
   // use the 1.1 V internal reference
#if defined(__AVR_ATmega2560__)
   analogReference(INTERNAL1V1);
#else
   analogReference(INTERNAL);
#endif
  gw.begin();
  dht.setup(HUMIDITY_SENSOR_DIGITAL_PIN); 

  // Send the Sketch Version Information to the Gateway
  gw.sendSketchInfo("3 in 1 Sensor", "1.0");


 pinMode(DIGITAL_INPUT_SENSOR, INPUT);      // sets the motion sensor digital pin as input
 
  // Register all sensors to gw (they will be created as child devices)
  gw.present(CHILD_ID_HUM, S_HUM);
  gw.present(CHILD_ID_TEMP, S_TEMP);
  gw.present(CHILD_ID_MOT, S_MOTION);
   
  metric = gw.getConfig().isMetric;
}

void loop()      

{  

   delay(dht.getMinimumSamplingPeriod());

  float temperature = dht.getTemperature();
  float humidity = dht.getHumidity();
  
  if (isnan(temperature)) {
      Serial.println("Failed reading temperature from DHT");
  } else if (temperature != lastTemp) {
    lastTemp = temperature;
    if (!metric) {
      temperature = dht.toFahrenheit(temperature);
    }
    gw.send(msgTemp.set(temperature, 1));
    Serial.print("T: ");
    Serial.println(temperature);
  }
  
  if (isnan(humidity)) {
      Serial.println("Failed reading humidity from DHT");
  } else if (humidity != lastHum) {
      lastHum = humidity;
      gw.send(msgHum.set(humidity, 1));
      Serial.print("H: ");
      Serial.println(humidity);
  }
  
  // get the battery Voltage
   int sensorValue = analogRead(BATTERY_SENSE_PIN);
   #ifdef DEBUG
   Serial.println(sensorValue);
   #endif
   
   // 1M, 470K divider across battery and using internal ADC ref of 1.1V
   // Sense point is bypassed with 0.1 uF cap to reduce noise at that point
   // ((1e6+470e3)/470e3)*1.1 = Vmax = 3.44 Volts
   // 3.44/1023 = Volts per bit = 0.003363075
   float batteryV  = sensorValue * 0.003363075;
   int batteryPcnt = sensorValue / 10;

   #ifdef DEBUG
   Serial.print("Battery Voltage: ");
   Serial.print(batteryV);
   Serial.println(" V");

   Serial.print("Battery percent: ");
   Serial.print(batteryPcnt);
   Serial.println(" %");
   #endif

  // Read digital motion value
  boolean tripped = digitalRead(DIGITAL_INPUT_SENSOR) == HIGH; 
  
  if (tripped != lastTripped ) {      
    Serial.println(tripped);
    gw.send(msgMot.set(tripped?"1":"0"));  // Send tripped value to gw 
  }
  
   if (oldBatteryPcnt != batteryPcnt) {
     // Power up radio after sleep
     gw.sendBatteryLevel(batteryPcnt);
     oldBatteryPcnt = batteryPcnt;
   }
  
  // Sleep until interrupt comes in on motion sensor. Send update every two minute. 
  gw.sleep(INTERRUPT, CHANGE, 0 );
}

thanks very much!