My Slim 2AA Battery Node

siod

Ok, just want to give you an update:

I have 3 sensors running in the moment, initially I planned to run a lot more, but I still have problems with freezing of the sensors. The Sensors ran 2 months now until they were not coummunicating anymore, 1 is still working. I restarted 1 of the freezed sensors and it just came back up and works fine again, I leave the other one "freezed" just to see if it would come up again...

It´s sad that they are not very reliable but I don´t get what makes them freeze after working quiet good for such a long time (they are reporting every 15 minutes 24/7 and whenever a window is opened/closed).

I don´t think it´s a temp thing, also power should be no problem, batteries are still about 80 % loaded...

rollercontainer

Maybe there is something like a counter (variable++) which causes a overflow after two month?

siod

No, not really, but if you want to you can check my code:

// Sensor Node Schlafzimmer mit HTU21D Temp/Hum Sensor, Fensterkontakte an Interrupt PINS Digital 5&6. Sleep Time 15 Minutwn, wake up wenn Fenster geöffnet/geschlossen wird.
#define MY_RADIO_NRF24 //MySensor Library auf NRF24 Funkmodul einstellen, muss vor MySensor.h Initialisierung geschehen
// Define Node ID
#define MY_NODE_ID 1
#define MY_PARENT_NODE_ID 0
#define MY_PARENT_NODE_IS_STATIC

//Batterysensor
int BATTERY_SENSE_PIN = A0;  // select the input pin for the battery sense point
int oldBatteryPcnt = 0;
#define CHILD_ID_BATT 7

//Kontaktschalter
//#include <Bounce2.h>
#define CHILD1_ID 1 // Kontaktschalter 1
#define CHILD2_ID 2 // Kontaktschalter 2
#define BUTTON1_PIN  2  // Kontaktschalter 1
#define BUTTON2_PIN  3  // Kontaktschalter 2
int oldValueReed1=-1;
int oldValueReed2=-1;

//Tempsensor
#include <SparkFunHTU21D.h>
#include <Wire.h>
#define CHILD_ID_HUM 3
#define CHILD_ID_TEMP 4
unsigned long SLEEP_TIME = 900000; // Sleep time between reads (in milliseconds)

#include <MySensors.h>
#include <SPI.h>

//tempsensor
HTU21D myHumidity;
float lastTemp;
float lastHum;
//boolean metric = true; 

//Messages
//Battery
MyMessage msgbatt(CHILD_ID_BATT,V_VOLTAGE);
// Kontaktschalter
MyMessage msgReed1(CHILD1_ID,V_TRIPPED); // Kontaktschalter 1
MyMessage msgReed2(CHILD2_ID,V_TRIPPED); // Kontaktschalter 2
//TempMessage
MyMessage msgHum(CHILD_ID_HUM, V_HUM);
MyMessage msgTemp(CHILD_ID_TEMP, V_TEMP);

//Presentation; present sensors to gateway!
void presentation(){
  // Send the sketch version information to the gateway and Controller
  sendSketchInfo("Schlafzimmer Messstation", "2.0");
    
  // Register binary input sensor to gw (they will be created as child devices)
  // You can use S_DOOR, S_MOTION or S_LIGHT here depending on your usage. 
  // If S_LIGHT is used, remember to update variable type you send in. See "msg" above.
  present(CHILD1_ID, S_DOOR); 
  present(CHILD2_ID, S_DOOR); 
    
  //Tempsensor
  present(CHILD_ID_HUM, S_HUM);
  present(CHILD_ID_TEMP, S_TEMP); 
  //metric = getConfig().isMetric;

  //Battery
  present(CHILD_ID_BATT,V_VOLTAGE);
}

//Setup
void setup()  
{  
  //Serial.begin(9600);
  Serial.println("Hello!");
  //Batterysensor
     // use the 1.1 V internal reference
#if defined(__AVR_ATmega2560__)
   analogReference(INTERNAL1V1);
#else
   analogReference(INTERNAL);
#endif

//Tempsensor
  Serial.println("Setting up TempSensor...");
  myHumidity.begin();
  Serial.println("...done!");

// Setup Kontaktschalter 1
  pinMode(BUTTON1_PIN,INPUT);
    // Activate internal pull-up
  digitalWrite(BUTTON1_PIN,HIGH);
// Setup Kontaktschalter 2
  pinMode(BUTTON2_PIN,INPUT);
  // Activate internal pull-up
  digitalWrite(BUTTON2_PIN,HIGH);
}

//Starte den Loop
void loop() 
{
  //Batterysensor
  // get the battery Voltage
  delay(1000);
   int sensorValue = analogRead(BATTERY_SENSE_PIN);
   #ifdef DEBUG
   #endif
   
   // 1M, 470K divider across battery and using internal ADC ref of 1.1V
   // Sense point is bypassed with 0.1 uF cap to reduce noise at that point
   // ((1e6+470e3)/470e3)*1.1 = Vmax = 3.44 Volts
   // 3.44/1023 = Volts per bit = 0.003363075
   float batteryV  = sensorValue * 0.003363075;
   int batteryPcnt = sensorValue / 10;

   #ifdef DEBUG
   Serial.print("Battery Voltage: ");
   Serial.print(batteryV);
   Serial.println(" V");

   Serial.print("Battery percent: ");
   Serial.print(batteryPcnt);
   Serial.println(" %");
   #endif

   if (oldBatteryPcnt != batteryPcnt) {
     // Power up radio after sleep
     sendBatteryLevel(batteryPcnt);
     send(msgbatt.set(batteryPcnt));
     oldBatteryPcnt = batteryPcnt;
   }
   
  //Kontakstschalter 1
   // Short delay to allow buttons to properly settle
  wait(10);
  // Get the update value
  int valueReed1 = digitalRead(BUTTON1_PIN);
 
  if (valueReed1 != oldValueReed1) {
     // Send in the new value
     send(msgReed1.set(valueReed1==HIGH ? 1 : 0));
     Serial.println("Button 1 geschaltet");
     oldValueReed1 = valueReed1;
  }
  //Kontakstschalter 2
  // Get the update value
  int valueReed2 = digitalRead(BUTTON2_PIN);
 
  if (valueReed2 != oldValueReed2) {
     // Send in the new value
     send(msgReed2.set(valueReed2==HIGH ? 1 : 0));
     Serial.println("Button 2 geschaltet");
     oldValueReed2 = valueReed2;
  }
 
 //Tempsensor
Serial.println("Starte Messung...");
  
    float temp = myHumidity.readTemperature();

  if (isnan(temp)) {
      Serial.println("Failed reading temperature from DHT");
  } else if (temp != lastTemp) {
    lastTemp = temp;
    send(msgTemp.set(temp, 1));
    Serial.print("T: ");
    Serial.println(temp);
  }
  
 float humd = myHumidity.readHumidity();
  if (isnan(humd)) {
      Serial.println("Failed reading humidity from DHT");
  } else if (humd != lastHum) {
      lastHum = humd;
      send(msgHum.set(humd, 1));
      Serial.print("H: ");
      Serial.println(humd);
  }

 Serial.println("Sleep...");
 sleep(BUTTON1_PIN - 2, CHANGE, BUTTON2_PIN - 2, CHANGE, SLEEP_TIME); //sleep a bit 
  
}

Tim Abels

@AWI: I am down to 1,3 µA :+1:

my code:

//#define MY_DEBUG
#define MY_RADIO_NRF24
#define MY_NODE_ID 66
#define MY_PARENT_NODE_ID 0
#define MY_PARENT_NODE_IS_STATIC

#include <MySensors.h>
#include "Vcc.h"

#define SKETCH_NAME "MySlim2aaBatteryNode"

#define PRIMARY_CHILD_ID 3
#define PRIMARY_BUTTON_PIN 3

MyMessage msg(PRIMARY_CHILD_ID, V_TRIPPED);

const float VccMin   = 1.7;           // Minimum expected Vcc level, in Volts.
const float VccMax   = 3.3;           // Maximum expected Vcc level, in Volts.
const float VccCorrection = 3.496 / 3.572;  // Measured Vcc by multimeter divided by reported Vcc

const int32_t report_interval = 8640000; // 1day -> h * m * s * ms NOTICE: milliseconds, not microseconds!

Vcc vcc(VccCorrection);

#ifdef MY_DEBUG
void before(){
    Serial.begin(9600);
}
#endif

void setup()
{
    pinMode(PRIMARY_BUTTON_PIN, INPUT);
}

void presentation()
{
    sendSketchInfo(SKETCH_NAME, __DATE__);
    present(PRIMARY_CHILD_ID, S_DOOR, "Reed Contact");
}

void loop()
{
    int32_t timestamp = millis();

    uint8_t reedState;
    static uint8_t lastReedState = 2;
    static int32_t lastBatteryReport = -report_interval; // for inital report
    sleep(5); // Short delay to allow buttons to properly settle

    reedState = digitalRead(PRIMARY_BUTTON_PIN);

    if ( (timestamp-lastBatteryReport) >= report_interval ) {
      uint8_t batteryPercent = (uint8_t)vcc.Read_Perc(VccMin, VccMax);
      sendBatteryLevel(batteryPercent);
      lastBatteryReport = timestamp;
    }

    if (reedState != lastReedState) {
        // Value has changed from last transmission, send the updated reedState
        send(msg.set(reedState==HIGH));
        lastReedState = reedState;
    }

    sleep(PRIMARY_BUTTON_PIN-2, CHANGE, 0);
}

m26872

@siod
Gateway issue? Other sensors working or all down at same time? Do you have a sniffer or listen-only gateway, or heartbeat LED attached to each sensor?

What's the purpose of the delay(1000)? It usually safer to use wait() or sleep() and perhaps also to deal with the interrupt results first. You could also try level interrupt instead of "change". You're not using indefinite sleep so it shouldn't be a problem, but try anyway..

AWI

@Tim-Abels :+1: that is how you do it

Be aware that the timer (millis()) is not running during sleep.

m26872

@Tim-Abels
1.3uA is nice!
A question about your sketch: Is millis() working because it's an interrupt-only sleep() or have I missed something else? As I recall it millis() stops working when using sleep().
Edit: Haha. @AWI got it before me! :smile:

rollercontainer

@AWI one step forward, two steps back... Thanks for the hint.

I guess, I should send battery percentage every 10 interrupts or so. Even if the contact doesn't trigger for a while, I can force it by showing my neighbours my ocd on doors ^^ (knock, knock, knock - Penny!)

What do you think?

rollercontainer

Just noticed, that I use another login at home. So, the Tim-Abels is the rollercontainer... Sorry for that.

AWI

@rollercontainer alias @Tim-Abels ;-) Sounds good, although with 1.3uA the battery won't show much variation..

This is a similar on running on a coin cell (not calibrated). The voltage drop is caused mainly by the bad radio connection (many retries for sending > 10 mA)

0_1487319381911_upload-02a06ce9-126d-49f2-bbcb-dd01c3cea3d4

rollercontainer

Maybe its better to measure the voltage every 10 or 100 loops and only send one custom message/alert when its dropped below a threshold. I am using the MQTTClientGateway and Node-Red. In case of a battery-low message, node-red could send me an email with the node name. I will give it a try...

From https://www.mysensors.org/download/serial_api_20:

V_TEXT          47 	Text message to display on LCD or controller device 	S_INFO
V_CUSTOM 	48 	Custom messages used for controller/inter node specific commands, preferably using S_CUSTOM device type. 	S_CUSTOM```

rollercontainer

Did you considered a tiny solar cell like enocean does?
https://www.enocean.com/en/enocean_modules/stm-320/
That would be perfect...

rollercontainer

searched a bit and found that @ceech already made a harvester with a coin cell.

http://www.ebay.de/itm/BQ25570-thermal-solar-energy-harvester-/332071662285

still too big and too expensive in comparison with dozens of alkaline batteries which will run for years, but that is the way to go sometime.

siod

@m26872 said in My Slim 2AA Battery Node:

@siod
Gateway issue? Other sensors working or all down at same time? Do you have a sniffer or listen-only gateway, or heartbeat LED attached to each sensor?

What's the purpose of the delay(1000)? It usually safer to use wait() or sleep() and perhaps also to deal with the interrupt results first. You could also try level interrupt instead of "change". You're not using indefinite sleep so it shouldn't be a problem, but try anyway..

@m26872
Gateway seems to work fine as the 3rd and still working sensor is still communicating. Also the freezed sensors start communicating after I restarted the sensor, not the GW. So I don´t see a problem with the GW.
"Do you have a sniffer or listen-only gateway" -sorry, don´t know what this is o0 !?
I have not attached a heartbeat LED yet, but that´s sth. I could do as a next step...
The delay (1000) was initially planned to settle the sensors a bit and gie me abetter Battery reading, but as it is not working as it was intended I will delete it in a future update...
You could also try level interrupt instead of "change" -again, I don´t know what you are talking about here, hope you can help me out.

Thanks so far!!

m26872

@siod said in My Slim 2AA Battery Node:

"Do you have a sniffer or listen-only gateway" -sorry, don´t know what this is o0 !?

I meant the https://www.mysensors.org/controller/sniffer, but I think it's easier to equip sensors with Radio Traffic LEDs and/or your own heartbeat/error LEDs.

The delay (1000) was initially planned to settle the sensors a bit and gie me abetter Battery reading, but as it is not working as it was intended I will delete it in a future update...

I suggest you start with deleting or replacing this delay. It could be it.

You could also try level interrupt instead of "change" -again, I don´t know what you are talking about here, hope you can help me out.

I think you had pull-up inputs. Then it's just to replace the CHANGE with LOW in your call to sleep().

Thanks so far!!

My personal troubleshooting method in cases like these (and too many others) is just exhaustive use of the good old substitution method. Hw, Sw, entire systems or whatever you can do. :grimacing:

siod

deleted - it´s working now, I must have made a mistake... :blush:

edit:

one strange thing: The sensor should report every 15 minutes (900000 milisecs), but it reports only every 18 minutes. Don´t know why.

Komaandy

Hello everybody,

I´m struggeling with getting the https://forum.mysensors.org/topic/2715/slim-node-as-a-mini-2aa-battery-pir-motion-sensor
to work.
The node registers with the GW, but doesnt submit the tripped reading.
Not even a permanent on or something. Just nothing. So i dont know how to troubleshoot here.
The PIR HC-SR505 is functional. I tested it with a testscript on a UNO.
And the 2AA Slimnode is functional as well. When using the node as a binary switch it works perfectly fine,
Just the combination 2AA Slimnode and HC-SR505 doesnt work.

Anybody has an idea ?

Thanks in advance Komaandy

gohan

Did you check the serial output if you get debug messages?

AWI

@Komaandy please don't double post. Please continue in the other thread

Komaandy

Does anybody has a idea why my nodes keep freezing ?
I build like 5 identical nodes with a PIR and after working fine for a couple of hours at least half of them freeze.
There is one particular node that is working for 4 days now straight, but all the others are frozen meanwhile.
I have no idea where to start troubleshooting, as they are all the same ( capacitory, resistors,radios,Atmega328p,batteries,solder,radio,sketch)
and are all basically within the same radius placed around the gateway. I have other "not battery Slim Nodes" and they never freeze, though running the same sketch.

Please i need some tips

Regards

Komaandy

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