My Slim 2AA Battery Node

[BartE]

@sensorchecker and @m26872 changing the NRF module did work for me as well.

I was struggling a lot getting the power consumption down using all the trick and tips as described on the mysensors forum but nothing worked for by battery powered nodes (i have a couple these ).

I was not able to bring the power consumption down below 2.4 mA (with the NFR mounted) finally i just, for an differnt experiment, i took a "fresh"NRF and just for the fun i measured the current and it was down to 0.05 mA for no reason. They came from the same batch.

My theory now is that i broke the first radio module during programming of the node, although the FTDI serial module is in 3.3v mode it still measures around 4.5 volt. So the voltage might has damaged my NRF radio a bit (it still communicates).

[sensorchecker]

@ahmedadelhosni and @BartE and @m26872 you made my day...!
Changing the NRF module was the solution, now my power consumption is about 8uA.
Now waiting for the PCBs and parts to build 10- 15 nodes

Thank you so much for your help

[flopp]

There is no crystal?

I haven't used Atmega328P as standalone but I have read that you need a crystal.

[m26872]

@flopp There's an internal 8MHz xtal in the uC. Infact often default set to be used by factory "fuse" settings. It's not as ambient condition stable and accurate as an external crystal, but quite good enough for our application.

[flopp]

@m26872 thanks

[flopp]

What about these pF caps, why not use SMD tantalum instead of Solid electrolyte with legs?

Or can I use ATmega without caps, since I dont have an external crystal?

[m26872]

@flopp I doubt there are any electrolytes in the pF range seen here. If you mean the pF caps in the example pictures, they are not part of the Slim Node base concept and just a random choice I did for myself. If you mean all the 100nF caps in the base concept, it's a matter of the "smd free" design criteria I apply from time to time.

[m26872]

@flopp ... or if you refer to the standard pair of 22pF caps used when there is an external crystal - no, you wont need them.

[flopp]

@m26872 said:

@flopp I doubt there are any electrolytes in the pF range seen here. If you mean the pF caps in the example pictures, they are not part of the Slim Node base concept and just a random choice I did for myself. If you mean all the 100nF caps in the base concept, it's a matter of the "smd free" design criteria I apply from time to time.

OK. Yes, I saw that there was cap in pictures.

[flopp]

@m26872 said:

@flopp ... or if you refer to the standard pair of 22pF caps used when there is an external crystal - no, you wont need them.

OK, perfect

[meddie]

Hi together,

as first i have to say, its a nice node, that you build.
So i tried to build one. I ordered an atmega 328p. Flashed the bootloader from the forum. This is the boards.txt:

atmega328_1mhz_4800baud.name=ATmega328 on a breadboard 1MHz internal clock, fast start, 1.8V BOD, 4800baud upload

atmega328_1mhz_4800baud.upload.protocol=arduino
atmega328_1mhz_4800baud.upload.maximum_size=32256
atmega328_1mhz_4800baud.upload.speed=4800

atmega328_1mhz_4800baud.bootloader.low_fuses=0x42
atmega328_1mhz_4800baud.bootloader.high_fuses=0xDE
atmega328_1mhz_4800baud.bootloader.extended_fuses=0x06

atmega328_1mhz_4800baud.bootloader.file=atmega/atmega328_1b.hex
atmega328_1mhz_4800baud.bootloader.unlock_bits=0x3F
atmega328_1mhz_4800baud.bootloader.lock_bits=0x2F

atmega328_1mhz_4800baud.build.mcu=atmega328p
atmega328_1mhz_4800baud.build.f_cpu=1000000L
atmega328_1mhz_4800baud.build.core=arduino:arduino
atmega328_1mhz_4800baud.build.variant=arduino:standard


atmega328_1mhz_4800baud.bootloader.tool=arduino:avrdude
atmega328_1mhz_4800baud.upload.tool=arduino:avrdude

Now i have measured the current draw, and the arduino alone draws 6.8mA (without crystal, nrf ...)
I tried some sketches, (binaryswitchsleepsensor) but the current is not really gone down.
The only sketch is this:

// **** INCLUDES *****
#include "LowPower.h"

void setup()
{
    // No setup is required for this library
}

void loop() 
{
    // Enter power down state for 8 s with ADC and BOD module disabled
    LowPower.powerDown(SLEEP_8S, ADC_OFF, BOD_OFF);  
    
    // Do something here
    // Example: Read sensor, data logging, data transmission.
}

With this sketch is the current 0.02mA

OK, 0.02mA is not bad, but when i read that some of you have few µa, i dont understand why the current on my atmega is so "high"

Can somebody tell me what bootloader is good, wich fuses are good. And maybe what i have to do to get the current so small as possble

Thank you very much
Greets Eddie

[m26872]

@meddie I don't really get what you've ruled out in your troubleshooting. Do you "test the arduino alone" using MySensors lib and example sketches? Using Lowpower lib directly works ok as it seems. Next step would be to connect the nRF24L01+ and run some MySensors lib example.

Ext fuses 0x07 (BOD disabled) instead of 0x06 (BOD 1.8V) could save you a few uA.

[meddie]

@m26872 said:

Do you "test the arduino alone" using MySensors lib and example sketches?

Yes, on the bredboard is only the atmega 328p. nothing else. Connected to 5v

Using Lowpower lib directly works ok as it seems.

Yes using the LowPower lib i came down to 0.01mA current draw.

Next step would be to connect the nRF24L01+ and run some MySensors lib example.

Ok, i will try it today evening.

Ext fuses 0x07 (BOD disabled) instead of 0x06 (BOD 1.8V) could save you a few uA.
OK, i try this too.

Thank you very much.
Greets Eddie

[meddie]

ok, i tried to burn with 0x07 Fuse. And i tried to power the atmega with 3.3 v and not 5v.
Now i came down to 4µA in sleep mode with the lowpower sketch.
When i try to flash a mysensors sketch the the atmega has a current draw 1mA.

[m26872]

@meddie It's still unclear whether you've got the nRF connected and the MySensors example and library fully working (sleeping) before you measure.

[ar91]

@meddie If you have a extra nRF try using that, i had a similar issue and i tried replacing the nRF and it came from mA to uA.

[meddie]

yes of course, i just connected a nrf to the atmega an uploaded the binaryswitchsleepsensor sketch. Now i have a current draw 95.6µA
But when i take the door contact off the atmega draws only 1.3µA
When the door contact is closed (from 3 to GND) the the current is rising to 95.6µA

[GertSanders]

Makes sense to me. By closing the contact you get a path from 3V3 via the pullup resistor to ground.

The current is (for a pullup resistor value around 30KOhm) around 100uA.

Try NOT using the internal pullup resistor of pin D3, and using an external pullup resistor of 1MOhm or more.

You will see lower current when the contact is closed.

[meddie]

ok, i dont have 1mohm here. but i just ordered them. When i get them i will try out and will write here.
Thynk you very much for your help.
Great Forum! Great Projekt!
Greets Eddie

[Pierre P]

Hello,
This board is GREAT. But why C5 ave to be different from C1 C2 C3 ?