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  3. 💬 Battery Powered Sensors

💬 Battery Powered Sensors

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  • gohanG Offline
    gohanG Offline
    gohan
    Mod
    wrote on last edited by
    #88

    Dht 11 operating voltage is 3.3 to 5v, so 2 AA batteries are not enough. Better look at other more reliable sensors that can operate at lower voltages

    1 Reply Last reply
    1
    • Jarno BurgerJ Offline
      Jarno BurgerJ Offline
      Jarno Burger
      wrote on last edited by
      #89

      I did a test with a variable power supply , and I can confirm that the pro mini does weird stuff at smaller then 3v, but it works at 3.3v.. I have now also ordered those 3.3v up-boosters (because I already bought the battery mounts) mentioned here.

      1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • maghacM Offline
        maghacM Offline
        maghac
        wrote on last edited by
        #90

        What would be the best approach if I wanted a battery powered node using a 5V sensor? I want to build a secret knock sensor but I want it to be battery powered.

        I was thinking about using 3xAA batteries (3x1.6 would be 4.8V max) and a 5V step-up converter and then power the sensor and the arduino (on the raw pin, since it's a 3.3V arduino). The radio would be powered from the VCC on the arduino.

        ileneken3I 1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • gohanG Offline
          gohanG Offline
          gohan
          Mod
          wrote on last edited by
          #91

          I think that isn't going to be a very efficient way. Are you sure there isn't any 3.3V sensor you could use?

          1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • maghacM maghac

            What would be the best approach if I wanted a battery powered node using a 5V sensor? I want to build a secret knock sensor but I want it to be battery powered.

            I was thinking about using 3xAA batteries (3x1.6 would be 4.8V max) and a 5V step-up converter and then power the sensor and the arduino (on the raw pin, since it's a 3.3V arduino). The radio would be powered from the VCC on the arduino.

            ileneken3I Offline
            ileneken3I Offline
            ileneken3
            wrote on last edited by
            #92

            @maghac

            Consider this option:
            Use 2 AA batteries.
            Change the BOD on the arduino to something lower than the 2.8V default.
            Power everything from the batteries except the sensor.
            Use the 5V step-up converter only for the sensor.

            maghacM 1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • ileneken3I ileneken3

              @maghac

              Consider this option:
              Use 2 AA batteries.
              Change the BOD on the arduino to something lower than the 2.8V default.
              Power everything from the batteries except the sensor.
              Use the 5V step-up converter only for the sensor.

              maghacM Offline
              maghacM Offline
              maghac
              wrote on last edited by
              #93

              @ileneken3 Good idea, i think I'll design it that way. I also had a closer look on eBay and found another sensor that runs on 3.3v.

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              • mppM Offline
                mppM Offline
                mpp
                wrote on last edited by
                #94

                "Disconnect or desolder the 3.3 VDC regulator because it is not needed." => Why it isn't needed? I assume it is needed when connecting a sensor that requires 3.3V (e.g. HTU21d or even the RFM69)? I assume the assumption made here is that you're using 2 AA 1.5V batteries? I'm using 3 LR44 (3x1.55V) so I suppose I still need the regulator.

                MyController with USB powered WeMos D1/mini ESP8266 MQTT Gateways and battery powered Arduino Pro Mini using the RFM69 radio

                mfalkviddM 1 Reply Last reply
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                • mppM mpp

                  "Disconnect or desolder the 3.3 VDC regulator because it is not needed." => Why it isn't needed? I assume it is needed when connecting a sensor that requires 3.3V (e.g. HTU21d or even the RFM69)? I assume the assumption made here is that you're using 2 AA 1.5V batteries? I'm using 3 LR44 (3x1.55V) so I suppose I still need the regulator.

                  mfalkviddM Offline
                  mfalkviddM Offline
                  mfalkvidd
                  Mod
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #95

                  @mpp the line below the one you are quoting says "Power the device with two AA batteries connected in series". So yes, your assumption that 2 AA batteries is used is correct.

                  1 Reply Last reply
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                  • F Offline
                    F Offline
                    FatBeard
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #96

                    Hi, i've got a barebones arduino circuit set up with a dht22 sensor. It's powered off 2 aa batteries. All works well with the two batteries even when they are running at about 3.0 volts combined (it would probably run at lower voltages but batteries haven't gone down that far yet). If i power directly from usb with my ftdi interface all works. However, when i add the 3.3v step up, the radio doesn't get a response from the nrf gateway anymore. I have a 4.7u capacitor on the nrf. The gateway is receiving some data but not all as i can see "mygateway1-out/0/255/0/0/18 2.1.1" in my mqtt broker every couple of seconds but the mysensors client never seems to get fully initialised. I've tried two or three of the step ups and checked the voltage with a multimeter and i'm getting circa 3.3v. One thing i did notice is that when i swapped in one of my 3 dht22's it worked initially but then stopped, the other two wouldn't (all work without the step up). I think this is a bit of a red herring but putting in here for information. Any thoughts?

                    1 Reply Last reply
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                    • rozpruwaczR Offline
                      rozpruwaczR Offline
                      rozpruwacz
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #97

                      share your schematic. from what you are describing it seems like the step up converter is not able to provide enough current.

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • gohanG Offline
                        gohanG Offline
                        gohan
                        Mod
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #98

                        could be also noise generated from the booster, in fact you could run the NRF24 directly from battery since it can still work down to 1.9V

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • rozpruwaczR Offline
                          rozpruwaczR Offline
                          rozpruwacz
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #99

                          but the dht22 would not work, it requires at least 3.3v (however i succesuffly used it with 3V). I think that NRF has some decoupling capacitors onboard, so unless the boost converter design is not totaly wrong it shouldn't be a problem. schematic would be helpful.

                          F 1 Reply Last reply
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                          • rozpruwaczR rozpruwacz

                            but the dht22 would not work, it requires at least 3.3v (however i succesuffly used it with 3V). I think that NRF has some decoupling capacitors onboard, so unless the boost converter design is not totaly wrong it shouldn't be a problem. schematic would be helpful.

                            F Offline
                            F Offline
                            FatBeard
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #100

                            @rozpruwacz 0_1498042165035_Mini Arduino Sensor W FTDI Double Sided Ordered_bb.jpg

                            Here is my breadboard design, i'm afraid the schematic in fritzing isn't really in a state to post here. It's unreadable. The resistors shown in the diagram wouldn't have the correct values i used. The values i used are from the arduino site for creating an arduino. The ones shown are used for the sake of creating a pcb. The DHT22 goes on the 4 pin header, the NRF goes on the 8 pin header.

                            F 1 Reply Last reply
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                            • F FatBeard

                              @rozpruwacz 0_1498042165035_Mini Arduino Sensor W FTDI Double Sided Ordered_bb.jpg

                              Here is my breadboard design, i'm afraid the schematic in fritzing isn't really in a state to post here. It's unreadable. The resistors shown in the diagram wouldn't have the correct values i used. The values i used are from the arduino site for creating an arduino. The ones shown are used for the sake of creating a pcb. The DHT22 goes on the 4 pin header, the NRF goes on the 8 pin header.

                              F Offline
                              F Offline
                              FatBeard
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #101

                              @FatBeard I should point out that the step up was an afterthought and it was the ground and vout of the stepup were connected directly to the power rail along the bottom. It powers the whole circuit.

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • rozpruwaczR Offline
                                rozpruwaczR Offline
                                rozpruwacz
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #102

                                @FatBeard said in 💬 Battery Powered Sensors:

                                goes on

                                ok, but what about boost converter ? as i understand the problem is when You use the boost converter ? is it some kind of module ? or your design ?

                                F 1 Reply Last reply
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                                • rozpruwaczR rozpruwacz

                                  @FatBeard said in 💬 Battery Powered Sensors:

                                  goes on

                                  ok, but what about boost converter ? as i understand the problem is when You use the boost converter ? is it some kind of module ? or your design ?

                                  F Offline
                                  F Offline
                                  FatBeard
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #103

                                  @rozpruwacz Ya, it's a module and it's the 3.3v step up module recommended on this page. Thanks for your help by the way

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                                  0
                                  • rozpruwaczR Offline
                                    rozpruwaczR Offline
                                    rozpruwacz
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #104

                                    @FatBeard said in 💬 Battery Powered Sensors:

                                    recommended

                                    which one ? could you paste a link ?

                                    F 1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • rozpruwaczR rozpruwacz

                                      @FatBeard said in 💬 Battery Powered Sensors:

                                      recommended

                                      which one ? could you paste a link ?

                                      F Offline
                                      F Offline
                                      FatBeard
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #105

                                      @rozpruwacz This one here on aliexpress.

                                      https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1-PC-NEW-DC-0-8-3-3V-to-DC-3-3V-StepUP-Boost-Power-Mini/32724005061.html

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • rozpruwaczR Offline
                                        rozpruwaczR Offline
                                        rozpruwacz
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #106

                                        unless the dht22 pull up resistor is not to low, which would cause large current when the data pin is held low, i don;t see any mistakes ... are you able to measure the current drawn from the boost converter ?

                                        F 1 Reply Last reply
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                                        • rozpruwaczR rozpruwacz

                                          unless the dht22 pull up resistor is not to low, which would cause large current when the data pin is held low, i don;t see any mistakes ... are you able to measure the current drawn from the boost converter ?

                                          F Offline
                                          F Offline
                                          FatBeard
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #107

                                          @rozpruwacz Both resistors are 10k. I can measure the amps, i'll do this tonight and get back to you. thanks again

                                          1 Reply Last reply
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