💬 Button size radionode with sensors swarm extension

[alexsh1]

I got the following values from the sensor:

1. V_VOLTAGE (3.21)
2. V_HUM (51
3. V_TEMP (30)
4. V_LIGHT_LEVEL (4466)
5. V_UV (1.74)
6. V_LIGHT_LEVEL (3367)
7. V_LIGHT_LEVEL (3367)

Clearly, Si1132 is not in line with BH1750. VEML6075 is giving me UV Index 1.65, which is close to the Si1132.

Moreover, depending where it is used, the coeff in formula has to change (I am using 0.282 for the direct sunlight) :

Visible Photodiode 
Response

Sunlight
ALS_VIS_ADC_GAIN=0
VIS_RANGE=0
—
0.282

2500K incandescent bulb
ALS_VIS_ADC_GAIN=0
VIS_RANGE=0

0.319

“Cool white” fluorescent 
ALS_VIS_ADC_GAIN=0
VIS_RANGE=0

0.146

[alexsh1]

@Koresh My 2032 died in 2 days and I noticed that power consumption is 3.5mA. OK, maybe bad soldering - I desoldered Si1132, but the consumption is still 0.14mA while sleeping. For 2032 this is a huge consumption. Did you measure consumption at all? I am using CW radio

Si1132 must be consuming around < 500 nA standby current according to the datasheet. Not sure why consumption was increased with Si1132.

[Koresh]

@alexsh1 Do not forget put BH1750 into sleep mode. Unfortunatelly standart library do not put the sensor into this mode. I described it on the github page.

  /*  Please comment out private declaration in BH1750.h 
   *   Otherwise you can't call lightMeter.write8(BH1750_POWER_DOWN); and BH1750 will not sleep!
   *   
   *  //private:
   *   void write8(uint8_t data);
   */
   
  lightMeter.write8(BH1750_POWER_DOWN);

[alexsh1]

@Koresh I did it on the first day I got the sensor. The consumption above is with BH1750 in the sleeping mode as per your github

[yury]

@alexsh1 said in 💬 Button size radionode with sensors swarm extension:

it on the first day I got

Could you post the code you use? and links for the libs. we will check tomorrow consumption with your code . mysensors 2.0 or 2.2?

[alexsh1]

@yury It is the latest bh1750 lib -> https://github.com/claws/BH1750

I am using MySensors 2.2.0b

I am using a default code :
https://github.com/EasySensors/ButtonSizeNode/blob/master/ButtonSizeNode.ino

[alexsh1]

@yury One thing I did notice is this. To put BH1750 into a sleep mode (1uA consumption), it has to be called as follows:

void setup()  {
lightMeter.begin(BH1750_ONE_TIME_HIGH_RES_MODE);

}

After a one time measurement it goes to sleep automatically.
Please see -> https://github.com/claws/BH1750/blob/master/examples/BH1750advanced/BH1750advanced.ino

I have tried above, but still getting 0.14mA consumption in a sleep mode. Very odd!

[Koresh]

@alexsh1 Very strange. I can't see a method write8 in current lib version (https://github.com/claws/BH1750). So I can't understand how is it possible to compile default code with this string

lightMeter.write8(BH1750_POWER_DOWN);

I couldn't put this sensor into power down mode without this.

[Koresh]

@alexsh1 said in 💬 Button size radionode with sensors swarm extension:

...
After a one time measurement it goes to sleep automatically.
...
I have tried above, but still getting 0.14mA consumption in a sleep mode. Very odd!

I've read the claws library briefly again. I'm a litte doubt that this code:

_delay_ms(10);

is enough to ensure correctly timings and sensors work :)

[alexsh1]

@Koresh It does work, I have just test it, but there is a delay, i.e. the sensor is lagging one reading behind.

[alexsh1]

@Koresh said in 💬 Button size radionode with sensors swarm extension:

@alexsh1 Very strange. I can't see a method write8 in current lib version (https://github.com/claws/BH1750). So I can't understand how is it possible to compile default code with this string

lightMeter.write8(BH1750_POWER_DOWN);

I couldn't put this sensor into power down mode without this.

I tried it with the original (old) library -> https://github.com/mysensors/MySensorsArduinoExamples/tree/master/libraries/BH1750

I commended out "private" in bh1750.h
Consumption has not changed - 0.14mA

[alexsh1]

@Koresh One more observation. If I comment out:

//lightMeter.write8(BH1750_POWER_DOWN);

from the original sketch, the consumption goes up to 0.27mA.
So BH1750 is not a problem. Something else is eating up a few milliamps.

[yury]

@alexsh1 said in 💬 Button size radionode with sensors swarm extension:

Something else is eating up a few milliamps

yes seems your board has bad capacitors. After rechecking many boards we found one eating a lot - 0.4 mA. Replacing caps fixed issue.

can you check?

[alexsh1]

@yury There are two yellow caps in your photo. Do I have to change both of them? What's nominal please?

EDIT: both are 107J SMD Tantalum

[alexsh1]

@yury I was suspecting EEPROM (CS pin with pull-up resistor?) to be a culprit

[yury]

combined capacitance of booth should be 100 --200 microfarads . It is input capacitors.
please try replacing them

re:
I was suspecting EEPROM (CS pin with pull-up resistor?) to be a culprit

not pullups...

[yury]

0.4 ma here with the bad cap

[Koresh]

@alexsh1 you can solder one or two capacitors ~50-200uf. But you should remove both because we do not know which of them is bad. Do not forget about polarity ;) Dot-key on the board means positive, so tantalum has positive key, but electrolitic capacitors has negative key.

[alexsh1]

@Koresh thanks. It does not matter which caps, right?
I have a few 1206 100uF ceramic caps. They are not polarised and may be a good fit size wise

[alexsh1]

@yury what's your estimate of battery life based on a new consumption of about 25uA and the default sketch?