Multisensor node using Ceech board

[rollercontainer]

Hi ceech,

first things first: I have a really small knowledge about charging batteries.

Could you give me a hint how to adopt the floating voltage for a NiCd battery?
By reading the datasheet I only found NiMh with a 3kOhm PROG resistor while yours is 1180Ohm. Do I have to modify him to lower the charge current?
And how about the timer capacitor. I red, that NiCd shouldn't charged too long. You pulled TIMER to ground, so the device will charge forever?

Maybe this problem is solved by the sunset itself?

Again thanks for your contribution!

[ceech]

The float, or better cut-off voltage for NiCd batteries is between 1.5V and 1.6V per cell.
Programming resistor of 3k equals to 100mA of charging current and 1180 ohm equals to 250mA, which is a maximum value that the LTC4079 can handle (it gets too hot at this value). I equip the boards with 3k resistors.
Batteries can be charged with different currents. One option is 0.1C (the C rate is the hour capacity of the battery). That is 10% of battery's nominal value. For 1000mAh battery that would mean 100mA.
I pulled timer to ground which means that the charger will stop charging at C/10 or 10% of programmed current, or 10mA in case where a 3k resistor is used. This works fine for lithium batteries.
NiCd or NiMH batteries should be charged with timer limit as you mention. It is not absolutelly necessary in our case. Let me explain. If you charge a NiCd battery with a 0.1C, that means that the battery will be fully charged in approximately 14 hours. So the sunset will be the timer that we need. And even if we charge the battery all the time a C/10 termination will reduce the charging current to a value which is close to a battery's self-discharge rate, thus keeping the battery voltage on safe levels.
There is also battery voltage monitoring circuit on the board which can be used to report whenever the battery voltage is out of bounds.

[rollercontainer]

Thank you very much!

The 1180 ohm value was found in the IoT_pro_04.sch file at https://www.openhardware.io/view/44/Solar-powered-sensor-board#tabs-design. Or isnt it the resistance value? Maybe a smd size?

[ceech]

SMD size of the resistor is 0805.

[rollercontainer]

As I understood, there is a buck boost converter that lifts the battery voltage to 3,3V. So I thought, two 1,5V batteries would be sufficient. Am I wrong?

I've got a 5V solar panel and turned the trimmer clockwise to the end. Correct? (tried counterclockwise also, nothing changed.)

Vcc = 2.96V
Charge current = 0.00mA
Solar cell voltage = 4.89V
Battery voltage = 2.79V
CHRG = 0

[rollercontainer]

I've got light a bit closer and a current showed up:

Vcc = 3.01V
Charge current = 2.23mA
Solar cell voltage = 4.89V
Battery voltage = 2.85V
CHRG = 0

Is Vcc messuring the voltage comming from the usb device?

[ceech]

There are two versions of the board. One with a voltage regulator and one with a buck-boost converter. The first one does not step-up the voltage and the other does.
Here is how the trimmer potentiometer work:

The viper is on the red line. Turn it counterclockwise till it reaches the 5V mark. This is a 5V setting.
5V solar cell is fine, just remember that the minimum voltage for the charger to operate is 4.75V. You are already on the minimum, so the solar cell needs to be well lit in order for system to operate.
Vcc is a voltage rail that powers the microcontroller. It measures its own voltage.
If you already have the solar cell and the battery connected than the USB voltage must not be applied!

[rollercontainer]

In the ebay auction I bought it your text says buck boost converter. On the chip there is a number gnq 666 601, but I cant find him. Board says: 77534K_Y471

[ceech]

The first number from IC is the LTC4079. Board number means that you have one with a voltage regulator. You somehow ended with one. You can send it back and I'll send you replacement if you wish.

[rollercontainer]

I am not amused...

I will buy additonal batteries and a second solar cell.

[ceech]

There are also the appropriate charging voltage and current settings to be made to accommodate for the NiCd batteries. Are you sure you don't want for me to do it for you?

[rollercontainer]

I thought, sunset will be enough to terminate charging on NiCd?

So its easier to take 3,2V LiFePo4, right? And because my board only regulates down, I have to take 2 in series to provide enough voltage to regulate, right?

All these flat LiPo types provide ~3,7V. Is that enough to feed the regulator (+dropout)?

[ceech]

Proper voltage and current also take effect in charging NiCd batteries.
And LiFePO4 would also require different charge voltage (3.6V).
The best option is a single cell LiPo battery with a capacity between 1000mAh and 2500mAh.
Charge voltage matches (4.2V) and the current as well. Voltage regulator on the board is extremely efficient with just 2uA of consumption and 180mV dropout voltage. At 3V with the battery you still get 2.82V for the microcontroller. That's plenty. And quiescent current is the same in dropout. You'll be well off.

[rollercontainer]

like this one?
http://www.ebay.de/itm/1x-Lipo-Akku-LxBxH-75-x-40-x-5-6-mm-3-7V-2000mAh-1S-JST-Stecker-554475-/371581598136

[ceech]

Like that one, yes. Or, if you do not mind doing some soldering yourself, you can choose one from this list:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=Li-ion+Replacement+Battery+For+Samsung&_sop=15

I do it like this:

[rollercontainer]

I wanted to use it outside for collecting weather data. But the battery which the board is designed for isn't suitable for temperatures below 0°C.

Is that right so far?

Or did you successfully used Li-Ion outside below 0°C?

[ceech]

The capacity of LiPo batteries start to decline below 0 degrees Celsius. But that is a fact in all kinds of batteries. You are not going to notice much change till below -20 degrees. I found this post which describes it perfectly ( scroll down a little ):
https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/84570/

[rollercontainer]

Ok, now I've got a 12V 50mA solar cell and a 3,7V 2000mAh LiPo. Potentiometer is at 12 o'clock (flat segment at the single solder pad)

Can you please try to explain what exactly the potentiometer is adjusting?
Does the charger only charge if the cell voltage is below the adjusted voltage level?

Your example sketch is not showing any charging current:

Vcc = 3.32V
Charge current = 0.00mA
Solar cell voltage = 0.24V
Battery voltage = 3.79V
CHRG = 424

Vcc = 3.32V
Charge current = 0.00mA
Solar cell voltage = 7.44V
Battery voltage = 3.79V
CHRG = 409

Vcc = 3.32V
Charge current = 0.00mA
Solar cell voltage = 11.72V
Battery voltage = 3.79V
CHRG = 0

[alexsh1]

@rollercontainer I would suggest you scroll up and see a few posts above concerning your question. The setting for potentiometer- for you it should be around 6 o'clock (or 12 o'clock where the cut-off mark is).

Basically what it does is adjusting when your battery is being charged. For example, I have a 5V solar panel and I'd like the LiPO to start being charged at 4.75V therefore I put the potentiometer at the minimum (around 2pm or 8pm cut-off mark). This threshold (in my case 4.75V) can be adjusted by this potentiometer.

[ceech]

@rollercontainer The potentiometer is adjusting the voltage at which the solar panel is operating at its maximum power. It is so called MPPT. Just set it to the solar panel's nominal voltage.
When the voltage on the solar panel is reduced (is in shade or we want to extract too much from it), the charger reduces the charging current in order to prevent the solar panel from collapsing entirely.