💬 Battery Powered Sensors

Gilles BILLARD

skywatch: You remembered to connect the nrf before going to sleep?
@skywatch Yes, of course;
I'm 67, retired, and after 9 days (part time) on this issue, I give up !
I am therefore torn between crushing all that stuff between between a big hammer and my anvil or to discard everything to the trash can.
These sensors are useless if consuming 20mA H24-7/7 because they they should normally be used outside (in my greenhouses) powered by a battery 18650 + a solar cell.

Gilles BILLARD

Can anyone let me know if he sees something wrong in that log after a Min-Core bootloader burn in a Pro-Mini 3.3v
(I do not!)
I ask because it not the same file as the 1st one (the 1st was including the nb "115200" (bauds?) and now it is "38400" )
NOTA: Directory is this one:

C:\Users\billa\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\MiniCore\hardware\avr\2.1.1\bootloaders\optiboot_flash\bootloaders\atmega328p\8000000L


avrdude: Version 6.3-20201216
         Copyright (c) 2000-2005 Brian Dean, http://www.bdmicro.com/
         Copyright (c) 2007-2014 Joerg Wunsch

         System wide configuration file is "C:\Users\billa\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\MiniCore\hardware\avr\2.1.1/avrdude.conf"

         Using Port                    : COM8
         Using Programmer              : stk500v1
         Overriding Baud Rate          : 19200
         AVR Part                      : ATmega328P
         Chip Erase delay              : 9000 us
         PAGEL                         : PD7
         BS2                           : PC2
         RESET disposition             : dedicated
         RETRY pulse                   : SCK
         serial program mode           : yes
         parallel program mode         : yes
         Timeout                       : 200
         StabDelay                     : 100
         CmdexeDelay                   : 25
         SyncLoops                     : 32
         ByteDelay                     : 0
         PollIndex                     : 3
         PollValue                     : 0x53
         Memory Detail                 :

                                  Block Poll               Page                       Polled
           Memory Type Mode Delay Size  Indx Paged  Size   Size #Pages MinW  MaxW   ReadBack
           ----------- ---- ----- ----- ---- ------ ------ ---- ------ ----- ----- ---------
           eeprom        65    20     4    0 no       1024    4      0  3600  3600 0xff 0xff
           flash         65     6   128    0 yes     32768  128    256  4500  4500 0xff 0xff
           lfuse          0     0     0    0 no          1    0      0  4500  4500 0x00 0x00
           hfuse          0     0     0    0 no          1    0      0  4500  4500 0x00 0x00
           efuse          0     0     0    0 no          1    0      0  4500  4500 0x00 0x00
           lock           0     0     0    0 no          1    0      0  4500  4500 0x00 0x00
           calibration    0     0     0    0 no          1    0      0     0     0 0x00 0x00
           signature      0     0     0    0 no          3    0      0     0     0 0x00 0x00

         Programmer Type : STK500
         Description     : Atmel STK500 Version 1.x firmware
         Hardware Version: 2
         Firmware Version: 1.18
         Topcard         : Unknown
         Vtarget         : 0.0 V
         Varef           : 0.0 V
         Oscillator      : Off
         SCK period      : 0.1 us

avrdude: AVR device initialized and ready to accept instructions

Reading | ################################################## | 100% 0.04s

avrdude: Device signature = 0x1e950f (probably m328p)
avrdude: erasing chip
avrdude: reading input file "0x3f"
avrdude: writing lock (1 bytes):

Writing | ################################################## | 100% 0.02s

avrdude: 1 bytes of lock written
avrdude: verifying lock memory against 0x3f:
avrdude: load data lock data from input file 0x3f:
avrdude: input file 0x3f contains 1 bytes
avrdude: reading on-chip lock data:

Reading | ################################################## | 100% 0.02s

avrdude: verifying ...
avrdude: 1 bytes of lock verified
avrdude: reading input file "0b11111111"
avrdude: writing efuse (1 bytes):

Writing | ################################################## | 100% 0.02s

avrdude: 1 bytes of efuse written
avrdude: verifying efuse memory against 0b11111111:
avrdude: load data efuse data from input file 0b11111111:
avrdude: input file 0b11111111 contains 1 bytes
avrdude: reading on-chip efuse data:

Reading | ################################################## | 100% 0.02s

avrdude: verifying ...
avrdude: 1 bytes of efuse verified
avrdude: reading input file "0b11011110"
avrdude: writing hfuse (1 bytes):

Writing | ################################################## | 100% 0.02s

avrdude: 1 bytes of hfuse written
avrdude: verifying hfuse memory against 0b11011110:
avrdude: load data hfuse data from input file 0b11011110:
avrdude: input file 0b11011110 contains 1 bytes
avrdude: reading on-chip hfuse data:

Reading | ################################################## | 100% 0.02s

avrdude: verifying ...
avrdude: 1 bytes of hfuse verified
avrdude: reading input file "0xe2"
avrdude: writing lfuse (1 bytes):

Writing | ################################################## | 100% 0.02s

avrdude: 1 bytes of lfuse written
avrdude: verifying lfuse memory against 0xe2:
avrdude: load data lfuse data from input file 0xe2:
avrdude: input file 0xe2 contains 1 bytes
avrdude: reading on-chip lfuse data:

Reading | ################################################## | 100% 0.01s

avrdude: verifying ...
avrdude: 1 bytes of lfuse verified

avrdude done.  Thank you.


avrdude: Version 6.3-20201216
         Copyright (c) 2000-2005 Brian Dean, http://www.bdmicro.com/
         Copyright (c) 2007-2014 Joerg Wunsch

         System wide configuration file is "C:\Users\billa\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\MiniCore\hardware\avr\2.1.1/avrdude.conf"

         Using Port                    : COM8
         Using Programmer              : stk500v1
         Overriding Baud Rate          : 19200
         AVR Part                      : ATmega328P
         Chip Erase delay              : 9000 us
         PAGEL                         : PD7
         BS2                           : PC2
         RESET disposition             : dedicated
         RETRY pulse                   : SCK
         serial program mode           : yes
         parallel program mode         : yes
         Timeout                       : 200
         StabDelay                     : 100
         CmdexeDelay                   : 25
         SyncLoops                     : 32
         ByteDelay                     : 0
         PollIndex                     : 3
         PollValue                     : 0x53
         Memory Detail                 :

                                  Block Poll               Page                       Polled
           Memory Type Mode Delay Size  Indx Paged  Size   Size #Pages MinW  MaxW   ReadBack
           ----------- ---- ----- ----- ---- ------ ------ ---- ------ ----- ----- ---------
           eeprom        65    20     4    0 no       1024    4      0  3600  3600 0xff 0xff
           flash         65     6   128    0 yes     32768  128    256  4500  4500 0xff 0xff
           lfuse          0     0     0    0 no          1    0      0  4500  4500 0x00 0x00
           hfuse          0     0     0    0 no          1    0      0  4500  4500 0x00 0x00
           efuse          0     0     0    0 no          1    0      0  4500  4500 0x00 0x00
           lock           0     0     0    0 no          1    0      0  4500  4500 0x00 0x00
           calibration    0     0     0    0 no          1    0      0     0     0 0x00 0x00
           signature      0     0     0    0 no          3    0      0     0     0 0x00 0x00

         Programmer Type : STK500
         Description     : Atmel STK500 Version 1.x firmware
         Hardware Version: 2
         Firmware Version: 1.18
         Topcard         : Unknown
         Vtarget         : 0.0 V
         Varef           : 0.0 V
         Oscillator      : Off
         SCK period      : 0.1 us

avrdude: AVR device initialized and ready to accept instructions

Reading | ################################################## | 100% 0.05s

avrdude: Device signature = 0x1e950f (probably m328p)
avrdude: NOTE: "flash" memory has been specified, an erase cycle will be performed
         To disable this feature, specify the -D option.
avrdude: erasing chip
avrdude: reading input file "C:\Users\billa\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\MiniCore\hardware\avr\2.1.1/bootloaders/optiboot_flash/bootloaders/atmega328p/8000000L/optiboot_flash_atmega328p_UART0_38400_8000000L_B5.hex"
avrdude: writing flash (32768 bytes):

Writing | ################################################## | 100% 0.00s

avrdude: 32768 bytes of flash written
avrdude: verifying flash memory against C:\Users\billa\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\MiniCore\hardware\avr\2.1.1/bootloaders/optiboot_flash/bootloaders/atmega328p/8000000L/optiboot_flash_atmega328p_UART0_38400_8000000L_B5.hex:
avrdude: load data flash data from input file C:\Users\billa\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\MiniCore\hardware\avr\2.1.1/bootloaders/optiboot_flash/bootloaders/atmega328p/8000000L/optiboot_flash_atmega328p_UART0_38400_8000000L_B5.hex:
avrdude: input file C:\Users\billa\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\MiniCore\hardware\avr\2.1.1/bootloaders/optiboot_flash/bootloaders/atmega328p/8000000L/optiboot_flash_atmega328p_UART0_38400_8000000L_B5.hex contains 32768 bytes
avrdude: reading on-chip flash data:

Reading | ################################################## | 100% 0.00s

avrdude: verifying ...
avrdude: 32768 bytes of flash verified
avrdude: reading input file "0x0f"
avrdude: writing lock (1 bytes):

Writing | ################################################## | 100% 0.05s

avrdude: 1 bytes of lock written
avrdude: verifying lock memory against 0x0f:
avrdude: load data lock data from input file 0x0f:
avrdude: input file 0x0f contains 1 bytes
avrdude: reading on-chip lock data:

Reading | ################################################## | 100% 0.02s

avrdude: verifying ...
avrdude: 1 bytes of lock verified

avrdude done.  Thank you.

skywatch

@Gilles-BILLARD I understnad your frustration - I have been there myself.

I suggest s simple node to test with, something like the door/window sensor with just one switch.

Take your promini, remove leds and power regulator (or cut tracks) then burn MiniCore bootloader with 9600 baud, 3.3V, 8MHz INTERNAL, BoD DISABLED.

Then add the radio module (you can try another if you have it - what radio modules are you using? - A link or photo might help, there are bad ones and fakes that could be a problem for you). Load your sketch and try again.

You can measure the current to the whole set up and then just the radio to see if radio is not sleeping. ....

Gilles BILLARD

@skywatch said in 💬 Battery Powered Sensors:

I suggest s simple node to test with, something like the door/window sensor with just one switch.

I'll do that, but for my thermal sensor the test cannot be more simple

......burn MiniCore bootloader with 9600 baud, 3.3V, 8MHz INTERNAL, BoD DISABLED.

I don't have the choice for the baud rate; Where is it located ?

Then add the radio module (you can try another if you have it

I swaped everything I could. (The radio modules that was connected to the single functionning sensor included)

what radio modules are you using? - A link or photo might help, there are bad ones and fakes that could be a problem for you).

Bought from Aliexpress;

Load your sketch and try again.

I have done the whole process hundreds and hundreds of time

You can measure the current to the whole set up and then just the radio to see if radio is not sleeping. ....

Yes I'll do that...

skywatch

@Gilles-BILLARD It's in the sketch when you start serial interface. As an aside have you checked the baud rate the pro mini or uno you are using as a programmer - maybe it is 115200 and that is optimistic for a 3.3V board. Make sure the programmer is using 19200 just to be safe.

For inof I am using arduino ide 1.8.13 and musensors 2.3.2 with a £2 aliexpress serial prgrammer and have only encountered warnings about sck (which can safely be ignored)....

skywatch

@Gilles-BILLARD said in 💬 Battery Powered Sensors:

Bought from Aliexpress;

That is not much help.

Gilles BILLARD

@skywatch said in 💬 Battery Powered Sensors:

@Gilles-BILLARD It's in the sketch when you start serial interface. As an aside have you checked the baud rate the pro mini or uno you are using as a programmer - maybe it is 115200 and that is optimistic for a 3.3V board. Make sure the programmer is using 19200 just to be safe.

For inof I am using arduino ide 1.8.13 and musensors 2.3.2 with a £2 aliexpress serial prgrammer and have only encountered warnings about sck (which can safely be ignored)....

Ha, OKay; I've aslo supposed a pb from that, so I removed the sérial monitor and baud rate config.
And after the bootlaoder burning, the log is OKay.. the MEGA328P ID is also the good one and always the same for all 328

Gilles BILLARD

@skywatch
1 board
Radio : https://www.amazon.fr/NRF24L01-antenne-module-emetteur-recepteur-sans/dp/B01FLVTY3G/ref=sr_1_21?dchild=1&hvadid=80470576921758&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvqmt=e&keywords=nrf2401&qid=1618066959&sr=8-21

Gilles BILLARD

@skywatch said in 💬 Battery Powered Sensors:

...........have you checked the baud rate the pro mini or uno you are using as a programmer - maybe it is 115200 and that is optimistic for a 3.3V board.

The programmer is loaded with standard Arduino ISP sketch (19200 default baud rate)

Gilles BILLARD

@skywatch said in 💬 Battery Powered Sensors:

@Gilles-BILLARD I understnad your frustration - I have been there myself.

I suggest s simple node to test with, something like the door/window sensor with just one switch.

I did that right away and the result is....
All's OKay without sleep(xxx):

2021-04-10 17:38:22.898 Status: MySensors: Node: 52, Sketch Name: Temperature Sensor Sleep
2021-04-10 17:38:22.899 Status: MySensors: Node: 52, Sketch Version: GB.3.0
2021-04-10 17:40:25.515 (GiBi-Home) Light/Switch (Security Sensor)
2021-04-10 17:40:31.277 (GiBi-Home) Light/Switch (Security Sensor)

Présentation then 2 minutes until I change the input twice

But with sleep() included...

2021-04-10 17:34:12.251 Status: MySensors: Node: 51, Sketch Name: Temperature Sensor Sleep
2021-04-10 17:34:12.251 Status: MySensors: Node: 51, Sketch Version: GB.3.0
2021-04-10 17:34:22.491 (GiBi-Home) Light/Switch (Security Sensor)
2021-04-10 17:34:22.486 Status: MySensors: Node: 51, Sketch Name: Temperature Sensor Sleep
2021-04-10 17:34:22.486 Status: MySensors: Node: 51, Sketch Version: GB.3.0
2021-04-10 17:34:32.561 (GiBi-Home) Light/Switch (Security Sensor)
2021-04-10 17:34:32.556 Status: MySensors: Node: 51, Sketch Name: Temperature Sensor Sleep
2021-04-10 17:34:32.556 Status: MySensors: Node: 51, Sketch Version: GB.3.0
2021-04-10 17:34:42.631 (GiBi-Home) Light/Switch (Security Sensor)
2021-04-10 17:34:42.626 Status: MySensors: Node: 51, Sketch Name: Temperature Sensor Sleep
2021-04-10 17:34:42.626 Status: MySensors: Node: 51, Sketch Version: GB.3.0
2021-04-10 17:34:52.701 (GiBi-Home) Light/Switch (Security Sensor)
2021-04-10 17:34:52.696 Status: MySensors: Node: 51, Sketch Name: Temperature Sensor Sleep
2021-04-10 17:34:52.696 Status: MySensors: Node: 51, Sketch Version: GB.3.0
2021-04-10 17:35:02.772 (GiBi-Home) Light/Switch (Security Sensor)
2021-04-10 17:35:02.767 Status: MySensors: Node: 51, Sketch Name: Temperature Sensor Sleep
2021-04-10 17:35:02.767 Status: MySensors: Node: 51, Sketch Version: GB.3.0
2021-04-10 17:35:12.842 (GiBi-Home) Light/Switch (Security Sensor)
2021-04-10 17:35:12.837 Status: MySensors: Node: 51, Sketch Name: Temperature Sensor Sleep
2021-04-10 17:35:12.837 Status: MySensors: Node: 51, Sketch Version: GB.3.0
2021-04-10 17:35:22.913 (GiBi-Home) Light/Switch (Security Sensor)
2021-04-10 17:35:22.908 Status: MySensors: Node: 51, Sketch Name: Temperature Sensor Sleep
2021-04-10 17:35:22.908 Status: MySensors: Node: 51, Sketch Version: GB.3.0
2021-04-10 17:35:32.984 (GiBi-Home) Light/Switch (Security Sensor)
2021-04-10 17:35:32.979 Status: MySensors: Node: 51, Sketch Name: Temperature Sensor Sleep
2021-04-10 17:35:32.980 Status: MySensors: Node: 51, Sketch Version: GB.3.0
2021-04-10 17:35:43.055 (GiBi-Home) Light/Switch (Security Sensor)

The same kind of reboot up to présentation()

So sad !
NOTA: The sketch is the one provided as an example in BinarySwitchSensor.ino sketch
I've just added sleep( 10000) a the very end.

Gilles BILLARD

Please, have a look at the time stamps:
Tests vs sleep time
More or less 10 seconds if sleep time >= 10 000 ms
Only a little more than 3 sec if sleep time = 2 000 ms
Could it help ?

skywatch

@Gilles-BILLARD Inoticed the following in the sketch you posted above...

  // ************Sleeping test ***************
    #ifdef MY_DEBUG 
        delay(10000); // 10 secondes
    #else
        sleep(10000);
    #endif    
}

Delay should be replaced by Wait in mysensors code to avoid blocking.

I always went by the old saying that when you are in a hole, stop digging. I have not seen the behaviour you show before. I can only suggest that you run the EEPROMclear sketch (file>examples>mysensors>cleareepromconfig) and try again. Check the voltage to the promini is stable and the radio has the recommended capacitor. You might be surprised at the difference a good clean power supply can make.

#is the gateway running on the same power supply? IS GW receiving messages? Please provide the FULL debug output on the serial monitor. That snippet doesn't help much.

Yveaux

@Gilles-BILLARD I would like to think along to help, but lost you many posts back...
All was ok, so what did you change (and why) and what is the real issue right now?
And as @skywatch indicates, post the full log, sketch and everything. Don't try to filter information yourself, you might miss something.

Gilles BILLARD

Finally, I found it….
A big thank you to all those who helped;
Here's my report in case it could be usefull to others (so, they will not waste as much time as I did)
All began with my FTDI refusing to work with the MiniCore library, returning this classic error code: "avrdude: error: could not find USB device with vid-0x16c0 pid-0x5dc vendor'www.fischl.de' product'USBasp' when I wanted to reprogram a ProMini.
So I opted for programming via another ProMini (Arduino as ISP)
The first ProMini was able to receive the MiniCore bootloader and then my sketch without any problem, but the followings did’nt....No error message was reported; I spent 9 days trying hundreds of times changing only one thing at a time... unsuccessfully.
But this morning I tried again using version 2.0.0 of Arduino’s IDE, and here I received an error message; "Impossible to recognize the Arduino as ISP" !!!!
Eureka.... I had the idea to inject the MiniCore BootLoader + the “Arduino ISP” sketch in the 2nd via the IDE Arduino 1.8.13 and then use this very 2nd one to program others; At that moment, everything became normal; The tests were ok and went to "sleep" so I loaded my sketch and everything is good now.
So: If you try to use Arduino as ISP with MiniCore Both Arduinos sould have been burnt with MiniCore BootLoader
Thank you again.

PS: Could the admin delete all my useless posts ?

Gilles BILLARD

@Yveaux said in 💬 Battery Powered Sensors:

.... All was ok, so what did you change (and why)

A the very beginning, hesitating with the procedure, I've probably burnt the Minicore bootloader in the programming ProMini without noticing it... That's the only explanation I see.

skywatch

Just completed 1 year of operation of a PIR sensor in the house that trigger 100-200 times a day. It is powered by 2xAA batteries and here is a graph of battery level over the year.

nekitoss

@skywatch If your project is free and open, where i can look at it? At the moment i need to solve same problem. On your graph what will be 0% ? For mine devices it is minimum 1.9v, for few it is 2.2v

skywatch

@nekitoss
I used 3.3V pro mini with regulator removed and powered by Vin pin. Also removed leds from the pro mini.

I used minicore bootloader.

I used the small pir sensors and again removed the regulator to power directly from the pro mini outputs.

After that sleep the node and trigger on interrupt.

Send battery level once a day.

Use inbuilt battery level monitor and not external components that constantly drain power to get battery level.

1.8V is 0% on the graph (not visible yet!) but I have had nodes working below 1.7V It's a matter of luck with that it seems.

Hope this helps you on the right track. I'll try and help if you want.

This is the latest image and still going strong after 18 months. Voltage is at 2.903V

Here is photo of the test example - I need to make a case and produce more of them over winter.....

Here is the same build/code of a window sensor. Similar time frame but hardly triggered.....

💬 Battery Powered Sensors

13

11.7k

11.2k

113.1k