Sensebender Micro - Abnormal power consumption

[qqlapraline]

Hello all,

I have been facing some power saving issues lately with one of my (numerous) Sensebender micro boards.
Whilst they all use a mere 27µA during sleep, one of them is using between 400 and 700 µA.
Of course, I have tried the famous Sketch J to see if this was not related to some software issue, but the result was the same.
I have cleaned the contact and everything using some alcohol but it does not change anything either.
Any idea there ?

QQ.

[hek]

A broken radio?

[qqlapraline]

Nice try but removing the radio was part of my tests (especially with Sketch J).

Qq.

[tbowmo]

Has it been exposed to extreme humidity or something else external that could cause this?

[qqlapraline]

No, not at all. Actually, it sits on one of my bookshelves. It has been there for a while.
I thought for a long period that the battery drain was due to some software issue until I conducted some deep analysis.

Qq

[scalz]

very strange!
pics of your board? And what do you use to measure current ?

[qqlapraline]

Here are some photos (frontside and backside). I use a regular multimeter to monitor the current (serial through the battery power).

QQ.

[rborer]

Hi @qqlapraline , I experience the same issue. I've already built door sensors + Temp + humidity with a pro mini 3.3v and it working since 7 months with the same 2AA's.
I've done the same with the sensebender micro and in 2 weeks the battery are ko. I send temp/hum every 5 min, use sleep and interrupt for the door sensor.

[qqlapraline]

I've found it...Yep, several months later, I've found it.
Actually, there were some ghost connections. I have cleaned the different soldering flows using an Exacto. Furthermore, I have re-done the connection (to the NRF and the batteries) using a pump...
And...tadah ! now the sleep current consumption is around 25µA.

;)

[ahmedadelhosni]

@qqlapraline so bad soldering caused this ?!

[qqlapraline]

If « bad soldering » means some imperfections left unfortunately considering my close-to-perfection soldering skills..I would have to say yes..:)

That, or oxydation or any other issue.

Qq.

[Yveaux]

@qqlapraline said in Sensebender Micro - Abnormal power consumption:

close-to-perfection soldering skills

I've seen much worse:

:grimacing:

[qqlapraline]

@Yveaux, thanks for your support ;)

[gohan]

@Yveaux I think that some people deserve to go to jail for that 😁