Skip to content
  • MySensors
  • OpenHardware.io
  • Categories
  • Recent
  • Tags
  • Popular
Skins
  • Light
  • Brite
  • Cerulean
  • Cosmo
  • Flatly
  • Journal
  • Litera
  • Lumen
  • Lux
  • Materia
  • Minty
  • Morph
  • Pulse
  • Sandstone
  • Simplex
  • Sketchy
  • Spacelab
  • United
  • Yeti
  • Zephyr
  • Dark
  • Cyborg
  • Darkly
  • Quartz
  • Slate
  • Solar
  • Superhero
  • Vapor

  • Default (No Skin)
  • No Skin
Collapse
Brand Logo
  1. Home
  2. My Project
  3. Powering mote 24/7 using only a supercap and solar

Powering mote 24/7 using only a supercap and solar

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved My Project
239 Posts 10 Posters 92.0k Views 14 Watching
  • Oldest to Newest
  • Newest to Oldest
  • Most Votes
Reply
  • Reply as topic
Log in to reply
This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
  • NeverDieN NeverDie

    This post is deleted!

    NeverDieN Offline
    NeverDieN Offline
    NeverDie
    Hero Member
    wrote on last edited by NeverDie
    #31
    This post is deleted!
    1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • NeverDieN Offline
      NeverDieN Offline
      NeverDie
      Hero Member
      wrote on last edited by
      #32
      This post is deleted!
      1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • NeverDieN Offline
        NeverDieN Offline
        NeverDie
        Hero Member
        wrote on last edited by NeverDie
        #33

        Here's what I'm going with for now:
        0_1479924552790_BQ25504_v5_top.png
        0_1479924566770_BQ25504_v5_bottom.png

        As you can see, this one uses only one ground plane. Board size is 22mmx18mm. It uses 0603 and 0805 discrete parts, which for me makes it easier to hand solder. The only tricky part to hand solder will be the BQ25504 itself, but there's nothing I can do about that.

        1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • scalzS Offline
          scalzS Offline
          scalz
          Hardware Contributor
          wrote on last edited by
          #34

          @NeverDie
          sorry for delay..
          i have a pad on bottom but it's not grounded on the bottom side. the power pad is grounded only on top. i don't remember but you should have a layout guideline included with the circuit footprint, for explaining.
          i also use 0603/0805.

          NeverDieN 1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • NeverDieN Offline
            NeverDieN Offline
            NeverDie
            Hero Member
            wrote on last edited by NeverDie
            #35

            I guess my oval pads reverted to the default pattern when I re-synced with the schematic. So, fixing that again, here's what I'm going with:
            0_1479927030669_BQ25504_v6_top.png
            0_1479927049360_BQ25504_v6_bottom.png
            There's a bit more clean-up I should probably do, but I need to learn a bit more about Diptrace before I can do it. Meanwhile, I sent Version 6 to the fab, since fabbing is the critical path.

            1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • scalzS scalz

              @NeverDie
              sorry for delay..
              i have a pad on bottom but it's not grounded on the bottom side. the power pad is grounded only on top. i don't remember but you should have a layout guideline included with the circuit footprint, for explaining.
              i also use 0603/0805.

              NeverDieN Offline
              NeverDieN Offline
              NeverDie
              Hero Member
              wrote on last edited by
              #36

              @scalz said:

              i also use 0603/0805.

              In that case, if you want to post your fab files, I can post mine. Then we can have a healthy competition to see whether they work the same or whether one works better than the other.

              1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • scalzS Offline
                scalzS Offline
                scalz
                Hardware Contributor
                wrote on last edited by scalz
                #37

                @NeverDie
                oh, no competition... or let me win please :laughing: I'm joking. that said i'm not sure, but I think i see Wally on your board ;)
                I'm back in an hour for sharing. i need to assemble few boards for myself :)

                NeverDieN 1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • scalzS scalz

                  @NeverDie
                  oh, no competition... or let me win please :laughing: I'm joking. that said i'm not sure, but I think i see Wally on your board ;)
                  I'm back in an hour for sharing. i need to assemble few boards for myself :)

                  NeverDieN Offline
                  NeverDieN Offline
                  NeverDie
                  Hero Member
                  wrote on last edited by NeverDie
                  #38

                  @scalz said:

                  i'm not sure, but I think i see Wally on your board ;)

                  LOL. You probably need better ventilation when you're soldering. The fumes are getting to you. :laughing:

                  NeverDieN scalzS 2 Replies Last reply
                  0
                  • NeverDieN NeverDie

                    @scalz said:

                    i'm not sure, but I think i see Wally on your board ;)

                    LOL. You probably need better ventilation when you're soldering. The fumes are getting to you. :laughing:

                    NeverDieN Offline
                    NeverDieN Offline
                    NeverDie
                    Hero Member
                    wrote on last edited by NeverDie
                    #39

                    Interestingly, in today's mail I received the "BQ25504 Stripped" PCB
                    alt text
                    https://oshpark.com/shared_projects/CYdxpE9S

                    that I ordered on November 16. That's about twice faster than their normal turnaround speed when I send them new fab files. The board itself is noticeably smaller than the Tindie board.

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • NeverDieN NeverDie

                      @scalz said:

                      i'm not sure, but I think i see Wally on your board ;)

                      LOL. You probably need better ventilation when you're soldering. The fumes are getting to you. :laughing:

                      scalzS Offline
                      scalzS Offline
                      scalz
                      Hardware Contributor
                      wrote on last edited by scalz
                      #40

                      @NeverDie said:

                      @scalz said:

                      i'm not sure, but I think i see Wally on your board ;)

                      LOL. You probably need better ventilation when you're soldering. The fumes are getting to you. :laughing:

                      :laughing: no fumes tonight, reflow oven working for me :)

                      Wally is in your GND pour, in each of your board I think.
                      I mean you should not have any gnd around some settings resistors and capa.
                      Check carefully the section 11.1 Layout Guidelines in datasheet.
                      This is why on the reference layout you see Top GND only on half board. Or then it may happen less performance depending of mutliple factors.
                      It's also explained how to route the GND.

                      That said, in case it can help, here is my gerbers https://www.dropbox.com/s/tugdbc3cfrlmdu7/bq25504_gerbers.rar?dl=0

                      Enjoy

                      NeverDieN 1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • scalzS scalz

                        @NeverDie said:

                        @scalz said:

                        i'm not sure, but I think i see Wally on your board ;)

                        LOL. You probably need better ventilation when you're soldering. The fumes are getting to you. :laughing:

                        :laughing: no fumes tonight, reflow oven working for me :)

                        Wally is in your GND pour, in each of your board I think.
                        I mean you should not have any gnd around some settings resistors and capa.
                        Check carefully the section 11.1 Layout Guidelines in datasheet.
                        This is why on the reference layout you see Top GND only on half board. Or then it may happen less performance depending of mutliple factors.
                        It's also explained how to route the GND.

                        That said, in case it can help, here is my gerbers https://www.dropbox.com/s/tugdbc3cfrlmdu7/bq25504_gerbers.rar?dl=0

                        Enjoy

                        NeverDieN Offline
                        NeverDieN Offline
                        NeverDie
                        Hero Member
                        wrote on last edited by NeverDie
                        #41

                        @scalz

                        What is "Wally"? I haven't heard that term before, and it's not in the datasheet either. I thought you were jokingly making an obscure reference to Waldo, as in "Where's Waldo?" That's why I had thought the fumes must have gotten to you. I realize now that Wally must instead be a French electrical term of some kind.

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • scalzS Offline
                          scalzS Offline
                          scalz
                          Hardware Contributor
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #42

                          @NeverDie
                          lol
                          yep you were right, where's waldo/wally but where i live we say Charlie :)

                          NeverDieN 1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • scalzS scalz

                            @NeverDie
                            lol
                            yep you were right, where's waldo/wally but where i live we say Charlie :)

                            NeverDieN Offline
                            NeverDieN Offline
                            NeverDie
                            Hero Member
                            wrote on last edited by NeverDie
                            #43

                            @scalz
                            Sacrébleu. I just now tried sending your gerber files to OSH PARK, but it complains, " I can't find a board outline file." A fab will need a complete set of files to get anything done.

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • NeverDieN Offline
                              NeverDieN Offline
                              NeverDie
                              Hero Member
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #44

                              In any event, the "stripped" BQ25504 board that I received yesterday looks rather disheveled:
                              0_1479991946287_BQ25504_disheveled.jpg

                              @scalz
                              Do you see any Wally's in it?

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • scalzS Offline
                                scalzS Offline
                                scalz
                                Hardware Contributor
                                wrote on last edited by scalz
                                #45

                                @NeverDie
                                ahah :)

                                If it can help you, here it is : https://oshpark.com/shared_projects/XRsFBtzu
                                This is because i've generated the gerbers with an other fabhouse CAM.
                                In mine, GML is the dimension layer if i remember right.
                                You can also open the gerbers in a viewer like Gerbv etc..
                                For oshpark, i have modified it a little bit because of slightly different DRC.

                                NeverDieN 1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • scalzS scalz

                                  @NeverDie
                                  ahah :)

                                  If it can help you, here it is : https://oshpark.com/shared_projects/XRsFBtzu
                                  This is because i've generated the gerbers with an other fabhouse CAM.
                                  In mine, GML is the dimension layer if i remember right.
                                  You can also open the gerbers in a viewer like Gerbv etc..
                                  For oshpark, i have modified it a little bit because of slightly different DRC.

                                  NeverDieN Offline
                                  NeverDieN Offline
                                  NeverDie
                                  Hero Member
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #46

                                  @scalz
                                  Thanks. I just now ordered it.

                                  Interestingly, if you look at Ti's eval board for the bq25504, they do in fact connect the top and bottom ground planes, and the thermal pad on the BQ25504 is connected to the entire bottom ground plane, not just another small thermal pad:

                                  https://www.ti.com/seclit/df/tidu094/tidu094.pdf

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • scalzS Offline
                                    scalzS Offline
                                    scalz
                                    Hardware Contributor
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #47

                                    @NeverDie
                                    cool.
                                    Well, perhaps it's ok. I followed datasheet guidelines..no matter the powerpad is connected on top.

                                    Perhaps, you may need the schematic to know where parts are placed ;)
                                    0_1479989388027_sch.png
                                    You'll need to set your resistors of course.

                                    If really needed, no problem i can upload all the files..

                                    NeverDieN 2 Replies Last reply
                                    0
                                    • scalzS scalz

                                      @NeverDie
                                      cool.
                                      Well, perhaps it's ok. I followed datasheet guidelines..no matter the powerpad is connected on top.

                                      Perhaps, you may need the schematic to know where parts are placed ;)
                                      0_1479989388027_sch.png
                                      You'll need to set your resistors of course.

                                      If really needed, no problem i can upload all the files..

                                      NeverDieN Offline
                                      NeverDieN Offline
                                      NeverDie
                                      Hero Member
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #48

                                      @scalz

                                      You should upload it to https://www.openhardware.io/ I'm sure a lot of people would find it very helpful.

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • scalzS scalz

                                        @NeverDie
                                        cool.
                                        Well, perhaps it's ok. I followed datasheet guidelines..no matter the powerpad is connected on top.

                                        Perhaps, you may need the schematic to know where parts are placed ;)
                                        0_1479989388027_sch.png
                                        You'll need to set your resistors of course.

                                        If really needed, no problem i can upload all the files..

                                        NeverDieN Offline
                                        NeverDieN Offline
                                        NeverDie
                                        Hero Member
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #49

                                        @scalz
                                        Out of curiosity, why did you choose such a large inductor? I notice that the "stripped" BQ25504 pcb (photo above) did the same thing. Are there advantages to the larger size?

                                        NeverDieN 1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • NeverDieN NeverDie

                                          @scalz
                                          Out of curiosity, why did you choose such a large inductor? I notice that the "stripped" BQ25504 pcb (photo above) did the same thing. Are there advantages to the larger size?

                                          NeverDieN Offline
                                          NeverDieN Offline
                                          NeverDie
                                          Hero Member
                                          wrote on last edited by NeverDie
                                          #50

                                          @NeverDie said:

                                          @scalz
                                          Out of curiosity, why did you choose such a large inductor? I notice that the "stripped" BQ25504 pcb (photo above) did the same thing. Are there advantages to the larger size?

                                          Nevermind. I see now from your schematic that you're using the coilcraft inductor from Table 1 of the DS.

                                          1 Reply Last reply
                                          0
                                          Reply
                                          • Reply as topic
                                          Log in to reply
                                          • Oldest to Newest
                                          • Newest to Oldest
                                          • Most Votes


                                          17

                                          Online

                                          11.7k

                                          Users

                                          11.2k

                                          Topics

                                          113.1k

                                          Posts


                                          Copyright 2025 TBD   |   Forum Guidelines   |   Privacy Policy   |   Terms of Service
                                          • Login

                                          • Don't have an account? Register

                                          • Login or register to search.
                                          • First post
                                            Last post
                                          0
                                          • MySensors
                                          • OpenHardware.io
                                          • Categories
                                          • Recent
                                          • Tags
                                          • Popular