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MySensors power consumption

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  • D Offline
    D Offline
    dzairo
    wrote on last edited by
    #5

    Hi. your problem are not sensor .. MCU and firmware in MCU ..
    If you want help then show your schematic .. if you use original arduino then write what type .. may be can help ..

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • daulagariD Offline
      daulagariD Offline
      daulagari
      Hero Member
      wrote on last edited by
      #6

      @dopustko

      arduino works at 1MHZ directly connected to batteries, DHT22 is connected to step up regulator which is switched on only when measure is taken.

      Nice arrangement :+1:

      I have been thinking to do something like it but did not come to it yet.
      One question: What kind of step up convertor do you use and how do you switch it?

      EasyIoTE 1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • J Offline
        J Offline
        jonnyfishman
        wrote on last edited by
        #7

        Thanks for the replies,

        Great idea 'dopustko', I now have the Dallas only powered on the 5 minute cycle set through the MySensors sleep function and turning on through a DigitalWrite to pin 5. Unfortunately this hasn't reduced the amount on power consumption.

        @m26872 said:

        Is 3mA the total sleep mode consumption with (not tripping) motion sensor? I imagine that you drain the batteries sooner if you have a lot of motion (and send update to controller every time)?

        Yes 3mA is the sleep consumption. It rises to around 30mA on trip and on start but settles down to 3.5mA in between. I had been testing it using a PP3 and a LM7805 but this was very inefficient and even with only one or two triggers per hour lasted less than 24hrs.

        'dzairo', couldn't get Fritzing to work for me so no schematic but I am using the basic wiring and coding supplied on the MySensors main site, so most of the system is stock. I would be interested to play with the MCU and dropping the chip frequency but haven't found enough about how to do this and whether it is worth it. Any ideas would be great.

        Thanks,
        Jon

        RJ_MakeR 1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • daulagariD daulagari

          @dopustko

          arduino works at 1MHZ directly connected to batteries, DHT22 is connected to step up regulator which is switched on only when measure is taken.

          Nice arrangement :+1:

          I have been thinking to do something like it but did not come to it yet.
          One question: What kind of step up convertor do you use and how do you switch it?

          EasyIoTE Offline
          EasyIoTE Offline
          EasyIoT
          wrote on last edited by
          #8

          @daulagari I'm using http://www.ebay.com/itm/231083181020 and MOSFET transistor as switch connected to DO pin. But this is not ideal solution for temp/hum measurement. It's better to use low voltage sensor for example HTU21T which can be connected directly to 2 AA batteries. It's just proof of concept for other sensors which require minimum 3,3V.
          @jonnyfishman my sleep consumption is about 6uA (not mA).

          --
          EasyIoT framework http://iot-playground.com

          tbowmoT Z 2 Replies Last reply
          0
          • J jonnyfishman

            Thanks for the replies,

            Great idea 'dopustko', I now have the Dallas only powered on the 5 minute cycle set through the MySensors sleep function and turning on through a DigitalWrite to pin 5. Unfortunately this hasn't reduced the amount on power consumption.

            @m26872 said:

            Is 3mA the total sleep mode consumption with (not tripping) motion sensor? I imagine that you drain the batteries sooner if you have a lot of motion (and send update to controller every time)?

            Yes 3mA is the sleep consumption. It rises to around 30mA on trip and on start but settles down to 3.5mA in between. I had been testing it using a PP3 and a LM7805 but this was very inefficient and even with only one or two triggers per hour lasted less than 24hrs.

            'dzairo', couldn't get Fritzing to work for me so no schematic but I am using the basic wiring and coding supplied on the MySensors main site, so most of the system is stock. I would be interested to play with the MCU and dropping the chip frequency but haven't found enough about how to do this and whether it is worth it. Any ideas would be great.

            Thanks,
            Jon

            RJ_MakeR Offline
            RJ_MakeR Offline
            RJ_Make
            Hero Member
            wrote on last edited by RJ_Make
            #9

            @jonnyfishman Holy cow 3ma during sleep... Something doesn't sound right..

            EDIT:
            What is the consumption of the Arduino with nothing attached?

            RJ_Make

            1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • EasyIoTE EasyIoT

              @daulagari I'm using http://www.ebay.com/itm/231083181020 and MOSFET transistor as switch connected to DO pin. But this is not ideal solution for temp/hum measurement. It's better to use low voltage sensor for example HTU21T which can be connected directly to 2 AA batteries. It's just proof of concept for other sensors which require minimum 3,3V.
              @jonnyfishman my sleep consumption is about 6uA (not mA).

              tbowmoT Offline
              tbowmoT Offline
              tbowmo
              Admin
              wrote on last edited by
              #10

              @dopustko said:

              @daulagari I'm using http://www.ebay.com/itm/231083181020 and MOSFET transistor as switch connected to DO pin. But this is not ideal solution for temp/hum measurement. It's better to use low voltage sensor for example HTU21T which can be connected directly to 2 AA batteries. It's just proof of concept for other sensors which require minimum 3,3V.
              @jonnyfishman my sleep consumption is about 6uA (not mA).

              You end up getting way out of the maximum operating voltage on the atmel

              from page 299 in link datasheet

              Voltage on any Pin except RESET
              with respect to Ground . . . . . . . . . .-0.5V to VCC+0.5V

              So in theory, if your battery is down to 1.8V (which the 328p is specified to be able to run down to), maximum allowed voltage on ANY pin is only 2.3V. When you power up the sensors, they are running on 3.3V. It might work, but it also might be fatal to the atmel chip.

              Another issue is that the voltage for a logical 1, might be below the threshold of the sensors input, to detect a logical 1. From the datasheet, output HIGH level could be as low as 2.3V, when running on 3V, if you then lower VCC it also lowers the HIGH level. For the DS18b20 minimym level for logical HIGH is 2.2V, when running on local power (if using parasitic power it's 3V).

              / Thomas

              EasyIoTE 1 Reply Last reply
              1
              • tbowmoT tbowmo

                @dopustko said:

                @daulagari I'm using http://www.ebay.com/itm/231083181020 and MOSFET transistor as switch connected to DO pin. But this is not ideal solution for temp/hum measurement. It's better to use low voltage sensor for example HTU21T which can be connected directly to 2 AA batteries. It's just proof of concept for other sensors which require minimum 3,3V.
                @jonnyfishman my sleep consumption is about 6uA (not mA).

                You end up getting way out of the maximum operating voltage on the atmel

                from page 299 in link datasheet

                Voltage on any Pin except RESET
                with respect to Ground . . . . . . . . . .-0.5V to VCC+0.5V

                So in theory, if your battery is down to 1.8V (which the 328p is specified to be able to run down to), maximum allowed voltage on ANY pin is only 2.3V. When you power up the sensors, they are running on 3.3V. It might work, but it also might be fatal to the atmel chip.

                Another issue is that the voltage for a logical 1, might be below the threshold of the sensors input, to detect a logical 1. From the datasheet, output HIGH level could be as low as 2.3V, when running on 3V, if you then lower VCC it also lowers the HIGH level. For the DS18b20 minimym level for logical HIGH is 2.2V, when running on local power (if using parasitic power it's 3V).

                / Thomas

                EasyIoTE Offline
                EasyIoTE Offline
                EasyIoT
                wrote on last edited by
                #11

                @tbowmo I know for this Atmel limitation. But DHT22 sensor is open collector output and pull up resistor is connected to battery. It can happened that after battery voltage drops the sensor will stop working because of threshold value for 1 as you said. But as I said this was just experimental solution I will use HTU21T sensor.

                --
                EasyIoT framework http://iot-playground.com

                1 Reply Last reply
                1
                • J Offline
                  J Offline
                  jonnyfishman
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #12

                  Wow 6uA. That's were I'm hoping to get to.

                  Running higher with everything disconnected as its not going into sleep mode (no transciever detected). I don't know whether it's a nano clone that's causing the higher consumption and don't want to have to pull apart my Gravitech nano gateway atm.

                  Will reducing the clock speed have an effect on consumption and how is this best done through the Arduino software.

                  I've attached my sketch, don't think there's anything in it that would obviously contribute to the load.
                  MTB.ino

                  Thanks.

                  EasyIoTE 1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • J jonnyfishman

                    Wow 6uA. That's were I'm hoping to get to.

                    Running higher with everything disconnected as its not going into sleep mode (no transciever detected). I don't know whether it's a nano clone that's causing the higher consumption and don't want to have to pull apart my Gravitech nano gateway atm.

                    Will reducing the clock speed have an effect on consumption and how is this best done through the Arduino software.

                    I've attached my sketch, don't think there's anything in it that would obviously contribute to the load.
                    MTB.ino

                    Thanks.

                    EasyIoTE Offline
                    EasyIoTE Offline
                    EasyIoT
                    wrote on last edited by EasyIoT
                    #13

                    @jonnyfishman I'm using striped (no regulator and no power LED) version of Arduino pro mini. 6uA is in sleep mode (only WD is enabled). You can simply put Arduino in sleep mde with gw.powerDown(); or gw.sleep(); . Lower frequency means only that current consumption is lower when Arduino is running and not in sleep mode. Lower frequency also mean that Arduino can run at lower voltage.
                    Try with simple sketch which use only gw.begin and gw.sleep and measure current.

                    --
                    EasyIoT framework http://iot-playground.com

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • Z Offline
                      Z Offline
                      Zeph
                      Hero Member
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #14

                      The nano has some drain for the USB interface chip and PS. That may be where the extra current goes in sleep mode. You may need to disable that, or switch to a different Arduino.

                      The clock speed when powered up may not be very important if you sleep most of the time and only power up briefly. It depends on the ratios (on time: sleep time and on power:sleep power).

                      (For some applications, it's better to use full speed when powered up in order to get things done faster to power down sooner; but if your active cycle mostly waits on a slow sensor or on the radio anyway, a slow MCU clock may allow completing the powerup cycle about as soon as a fast clock, in which case the slower clock would at worst not hurt and may help some. You'd have to be sure when using a new library that it fully adapts to the slower clock speed)

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • EasyIoTE EasyIoT

                        @daulagari I'm using http://www.ebay.com/itm/231083181020 and MOSFET transistor as switch connected to DO pin. But this is not ideal solution for temp/hum measurement. It's better to use low voltage sensor for example HTU21T which can be connected directly to 2 AA batteries. It's just proof of concept for other sensors which require minimum 3,3V.
                        @jonnyfishman my sleep consumption is about 6uA (not mA).

                        Z Offline
                        Z Offline
                        Zeph
                        Hero Member
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #15

                        @dopustko said:

                        @daulagari I'm using http://www.ebay.com/itm/231083181020 and MOSFET transistor as switch connected to DO pin.

                        How are you connecting the MOSFET to the boost regulator?

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • Z Offline
                          Z Offline
                          Zeph
                          Hero Member
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #16

                          Do you know a good source for HTU-21T?

                          I find some sources for HTU-21D (http://www.findchips.com/search/htu21) the ones that are not out of stock and sell small quantities tend to be pricey and/or have a large shipping charge.

                          EasyIoTE 1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • Z Zeph

                            Do you know a good source for HTU-21T?

                            I find some sources for HTU-21D (http://www.findchips.com/search/htu21) the ones that are not out of stock and sell small quantities tend to be pricey and/or have a large shipping charge.

                            EasyIoTE Offline
                            EasyIoTE Offline
                            EasyIoT
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #17

                            @Zeph lowering frequency can increase power consumption because of slower execution, but it also mean that you can use lower voltage (direct battery connection and no step up regulator).
                            I'm using P channel MOSFET SI2333DDS-T1-GE3. It has low internal resistance G is conencted to Arduino DO, S to 3.3 V and D to switch regulator.
                            I got my HTI21T on ebay.

                            --
                            EasyIoT framework http://iot-playground.com

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                            0
                            • D Offline
                              D Offline
                              dzairo
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #18

                              Hi.
                              I read last post .. and don't understand something ..
                              If use ATmega328P version with internal 8Mhz or 1Mhz(if divide) then you can connect directly 2xAA or 2x AAA cell .. its total 3V ..
                              and THI21T is sensor that working from 1.5V to 3.6V .. then you don't need step up converter..
                              I make my self sensor with ATmega328P , run on 8Mhz internal RC oscillator , to TIMER2 I connect 32kHz crystal .
                              I measure VBAT by divider 1M and 390K with 1.1 internal reference and temperature with NTC 10k sensor as divider 10k and NTC sensor ..
                              I use free MCU pin to controll temperature divider for lower power consumption.. my consumption is 10uA with TIMER2 working and WDG enable .

                              regards

                              EasyIoTE 1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • D dzairo

                                Hi.
                                I read last post .. and don't understand something ..
                                If use ATmega328P version with internal 8Mhz or 1Mhz(if divide) then you can connect directly 2xAA or 2x AAA cell .. its total 3V ..
                                and THI21T is sensor that working from 1.5V to 3.6V .. then you don't need step up converter..
                                I make my self sensor with ATmega328P , run on 8Mhz internal RC oscillator , to TIMER2 I connect 32kHz crystal .
                                I measure VBAT by divider 1M and 390K with 1.1 internal reference and temperature with NTC 10k sensor as divider 10k and NTC sensor ..
                                I use free MCU pin to controll temperature divider for lower power consumption.. my consumption is 10uA with TIMER2 working and WDG enable .

                                regards

                                EasyIoTE Offline
                                EasyIoTE Offline
                                EasyIoT
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #19

                                @dzairo You need step up regulator if you use DHT22. If you use HTU21T you do not need step up regulator if you use 2 AA batteries. In second case will batteries last much longer than in first case.

                                --
                                EasyIoT framework http://iot-playground.com

                                D 1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • EasyIoTE EasyIoT

                                  @dzairo You need step up regulator if you use DHT22. If you use HTU21T you do not need step up regulator if you use 2 AA batteries. In second case will batteries last much longer than in first case.

                                  D Offline
                                  D Offline
                                  dzairo
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #20

                                  @dopustko said:

                                  @dzairo You need step up regulator if you use DHT22. If you use HTU21T you do not need step up regulator if you use 2 AA batteries. In second case will batteries last much longer than in first case.

                                  sorry... my mistake .. DHT22 is different like HTU22T .. sorry..

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                                  • pit007P Offline
                                    pit007P Offline
                                    pit007
                                    wrote on last edited by pit007
                                    #21

                                    @daulagari and @dzairo
                                    You wrote about consumptions of 6uA and 10uA. I know that i can reach down to 1uA (or 10uA) with 3V, intRC, timer2 and ext 32kHz. Not clear for me is the consumption and the mode of the nrf24. Is this current included in your setup and do you disable the radio bei switching off the power of the module ? -Pit

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                                    • D Offline
                                      D Offline
                                      dzairo
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #22

                                      hi. this power consumption is when radio is in power down , on mcu working only timer2 as rtc and watch dog .. if don't need watch dog then can disable and you will have less power consumption.. but I don't know if have bigger consumption watch dog or timer2 .. depend what you need ..

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                                      • pit007P Offline
                                        pit007P Offline
                                        pit007
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #23

                                        Of cource it's powered down :-) - but is his done by a sw-command via SPI (and also the pwr-up) or by transistor ? I'm surprised about the quality of the rNF - the power down seems very good?

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