My Slim 2AA Battery Node

[siod]

mmh, no, that would mean I would have to run my computer for maybe 2 weeks 24/7...

I guess it has somehting to do with the sleep function, the device seems to nat wake up after a while for some reason

[dpressle]

So i got the boards and build them and they work perfect.

One thing i couldn't figure out is why do i get relatively high current consumption, when the node is sleeping i get 1.5mA and not 5.8uA as in mentioned in this post.

I use 8MHz internal clock and the sleep function and nothing is connected to the node.

Can someone help?

[AWI]

@dpressle Can you post the sketch?

[dpressle]

Thanks, i see its 6.8 uA now, i had something wrong with my measurements :disappointed:

[JonnyDev13]

It took me a while, but I just figured out how to get a bootloader burned onto the chip and I'm ready to make my slim nodes! Which board type in Arduino IDE do I use to program the chip once I'm using the 6 pin header after it's installed in the PCB?

[m26872]

@JonnyDev13 Make a new board type by editing "boards.txt". There's an example in the first post.

[รอเรือ]

Hi there! I need to buy some PCBs on Dirty PCBs but the URL http://dirtypcbs.com/view.php?share=13847&accesskey= seems broken. Any ideas? Thanks!

[m26872]

@รอเรือ Apparently they've moved to a new site. Perhaps you can try this link: http://dev.dirtypcbs.com/store/designer/details/m26872/663/myslim2aabatterynodepcbv2-0panelized

I think you must have a user account and login first. Please report back if it's working or not.

Edit: Wrong link the first time.

[รอเรือ]

Thanks @m26872

That link didn't work either. However, by browsing all the shared PCBs I found this URL That link is accessible without logging in first.

Cheers

[m26872]

@รอเรือ Thanks a lot! All links are now changed.

[Eawo]

Hey im building my first slim node and i wonder if someone has a sketch for 2 reed switches? i have found the sketch for only 1 reed switch in this thread. Im going to use it for my mailbox. How long do u think it can run on 2x aa batteries?
Do i have to add 2x 10M resistors? or doesnt it work with external resistors then using more then 1 reed switch?

[m26872]

@Eawo The example sketch should fit your needs. link Change the pull-ups activation to Low if you use external ones.
I'd expect battery life 5-10 years depending on things such mailbox opening frequency, use of heartbeat signal, battery self discharge and climate.

[m26872]

@Eawo Using internal resistors will only give you a few months battery time. One external pull-up for each switch will work and 1M resistors or any arbitrary "high" value is just as good.

[Eawo]

Thanks
ok now my problem is uploading the sketch it wont work on 1mhz bootloader i tried both a and b hex and the 2 diffrent Board.txt.
I get it to work with the 8Mhz breadboard bootloader.
But then using 1mhz bootloaders it always timesout

[Eawo]

after a few hours frustration i went donwstars grabbed 2x new atmega328p breadboards and wolla everything works :). I Think i burned my first to putting them in the socket wrong.

[Eawo]

i have wired everything but it wont work for me :( i have solder the 2 reed switch from gnd to d2 and gnd to d3. and ive done the same 2 1m resistors. I can see the node in domotics but no activity then i open and close.

[GertSanders]

@Eawo
The reed switches need to sit between GND and D2 or D3 as you have connected.

The 1M pull up resistors need to connect between Vcc and D2 or D3.

This way D2 or D3 are electrically connected to Vcc when the switches are open (pulled high). When the switches close, D2 and D3 get connected to GND.

[rollercontainer]

I only come down to 12µA with one reed switch, 1MOhm pullup, 1Mhz bootloader and the binarySwitchSleepSketch. Measured with two different multimeters. This is nearly ten times higher than in the first posting. Changing all internal pullups to LOW doesn't change anything.

Is there a way to optimize the power consumption or is it "good enough" ?

[AWI]

@rollercontainer For sub 8uA consumption you need to go to "deep sleep" where the internal timers of the processor are disabled. Only wake up on interrupt. sleep( interrupt1, FALLING, 0);

[sundberg84]

@rollercontainer - I just build a slimnode and 13uA is without anything connected what i can reach as well.
For comparison i aim below 100uA when i do this with pro mini and they last around a year with 2xAA so my guess is 13uA is good enough.