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  3. Powering mote 24/7 using only a supercap and solar

Powering mote 24/7 using only a supercap and solar

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  • 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
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              • 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
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                      • 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
                                    • NeverDieN Offline
                                      NeverDieN Offline
                                      NeverDie
                                      Hero Member
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #51

                                      Interestingly, looking at the Tindie board now, it's clear based on its inductor's dimensions that the Tindie board is not using one of the Table 1 recommended inductors. Perhaps that explains why the Tindie board appears to be sucking wind at the lower voltages.

                                      NeverDieN 1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • NeverDieN NeverDie

                                        Interestingly, looking at the Tindie board now, it's clear based on its inductor's dimensions that the Tindie board is not using one of the Table 1 recommended inductors. Perhaps that explains why the Tindie board appears to be sucking wind at the lower voltages.

                                        NeverDieN Offline
                                        NeverDieN Offline
                                        NeverDie
                                        Hero Member
                                        wrote on last edited by NeverDie
                                        #52

                                        @NeverDie
                                        Coilcraft doesn't seem very available in the US, but Wurth has a similar one that's still on the DS table list that's probably a good substitute: http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/wurth-electronics-inc/744031220/732-1012-1-ND/1639073

                                        Also, I'll have to update my board to use a larger inductor. I had blithely assumed, based on the Tindie board, that an 0805 would be sufficient, but now that I'm digging into it probably not.

                                        NeverDieN 1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • NeverDieN NeverDie

                                          @NeverDie
                                          Coilcraft doesn't seem very available in the US, but Wurth has a similar one that's still on the DS table list that's probably a good substitute: http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/wurth-electronics-inc/744031220/732-1012-1-ND/1639073

                                          Also, I'll have to update my board to use a larger inductor. I had blithely assumed, based on the Tindie board, that an 0805 would be sufficient, but now that I'm digging into it probably not.

                                          NeverDieN Offline
                                          NeverDieN Offline
                                          NeverDie
                                          Hero Member
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #53

                                          @NeverDie
                                          I take it back. The Wurth component I just referenced has a rather complex looking land pattern.

                                          Fortunately, the last remaining component on the Table 1 recommended list is a Wurth that has a much easier land pattern: http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/wurth-electronics-inc/744025220/732-2619-1-ND/2445718

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