Quick Range Check on the WIO-E5-LE. The LE version uses only the low power PA, +14dBm max. Using the default settings except for 915MHz
#define MY_SX126x_FREQUENCY (SX126x_915MHZ)
#define MY_SX126x_LORA_SF LORA_SF7
#define MY_SX126x_LORA_BW LORA_BW_125
#define MY_SX126x_LORA_CR LORA_CR_4_5
I get about 190 meter range, just walking around the neighborhood, line of site except for some trees and power lines.
No tuning on the antenna. Just using a 77.9mm wire.
Not as dramatic as some have achieved with LoRa radio's, but plenty good enough for my house and yard : )
@nagelc said in New Setup for Home Environment Monitoring – Using NRF24L01+, Arduino Pro Mini, and BME280:
bme280
I read somewhere that the temperature sensor on the BME280 is sort of an afterthought. I did a few experiments comparing them to the DHT11/12/22 and found them only a little better. (Take this with a grain of salt, maybe you'll want to do you're own experiments.) I did do a lot of experiments with the DHT's and they really suck. +/-2°C Which turns out to mean +/-2°C offset (component variation) and +/-2°C measurement: +/-4°C from what the temperature actually is. My experience, yours may be better.
Please post your experience with OTA. I haven't tried it on Arduino's but it's awesome on ESP8266. I hesitate with Arduino's because I had some erratic behaviour running Arduino's when pushing the memory limit.
I, too, use the MQTT data transport to Home Assistant (HA) and I find that excellent. Getting data from HA is a bit tricky, but do-able. I have a flow meter and use HA to store the last read; meaning, if there is a power failure, HA sends the last read on Arduino boot. I don't use the EEPROM because that has a spec of 100,000 writes which the meter would do in about a year, thus, necessitating a new Arduino.
I truly appreciate you sharing. Thanks!
-OSD
@Paul-Scarbro There are multitude of solution, but since we are in MySensors Land, let's do a MySensors solution. You'll quickly see that doing that adds a lot of overhead.
We'll use an Arduino Nano or RF Nano if you're going to go whole hog. It can be run from 3.3V or 5V DC, not AC.
The reed switch would be connected to an input of the Nano and one of the outputs would drive a relay. The relay would drive the chime.
Your C++ program would be something like:
#define inputButton 2; // connect reed switch here
#define outputRelay 4; // connect relay to this pin see MySensors Relay example
#define RELAY_ON 1 // GPIO value to write to turn on attached relay
#define RELAY_OFF 0 // GPIO value to write to turn off attached relay
void setup() {
pinmode(inputButton,INPUT);
pinmode(outputRelay,OUTPUT);
// put your setup code here, to run once:
}
void loop() {
// put your main code here, to run repeatedly:
if (digitalRead(inputButton) == 0) {
digitalWrite(outputRelay,RELAY_ON);
wait(2000); // wait 2 seconds
digitalWrite(outputRelay,RELAY_OFF);
// now wait for door to close
while(digitalRead(inputButton) == 0) ; //does nothing until reed switch opens
}
}
There are some subtleties that I may have glossed over, but this is the gist.
By looking at the MySensors Relay example, you'll see how to integrate this into a MySensors environment. That's where you'd want to get the RF Nano.
I've made the assumption you're familiar with the Arduino IDE and you've looked into the MySensors environment.
I think the comments you make are good. I do have a question about the removing the regulator. I assume you mean the 5V to 3.3V regulator.
I connect to the 5V and I see lot of variation in moisture readings due to the variation in the output of the power supply (solar panel/stepdown). I have a calibration routine for that. The voltage can go as high as 4.2V, which I believe may be bad if I connect the power supply to 3.3V.
Of course, this is not a concern if using two 1.5V batteries. With batteries, the moisture reading would be more consistent over a day. Lot of advantages there. I just don't like changing batteries and I really hate it when they leak. I have every reason to believe that my power supply will last 10 years and I am fortunate to live in a place with consistent sunshine . Someone replicating my project will have to take this into consideration. My design easily accommodates a different power supply.
And my power supply could be used in other projects.
Resistive vs Capacitive sensor. I'm glad you report good results. This gives people options.
Water moisture: I've had good experience with "spraying" the Arduino with clear electronic coating and sealing the enclosure with liquid tape.
-OSD
