💬 Button size radionode with sensors swarm extension

[alexsh1]

@Koresh I did it on the first day I got the sensor. The consumption above is with BH1750 in the sleeping mode as per your github

[yury]

@alexsh1 said in 💬 Button size radionode with sensors swarm extension:

it on the first day I got

Could you post the code you use? and links for the libs. we will check tomorrow consumption with your code . mysensors 2.0 or 2.2?

[alexsh1]

@yury It is the latest bh1750 lib -> https://github.com/claws/BH1750

I am using MySensors 2.2.0b

I am using a default code :
https://github.com/EasySensors/ButtonSizeNode/blob/master/ButtonSizeNode.ino

[alexsh1]

@yury One thing I did notice is this. To put BH1750 into a sleep mode (1uA consumption), it has to be called as follows:

void setup()  {
lightMeter.begin(BH1750_ONE_TIME_HIGH_RES_MODE);

}

After a one time measurement it goes to sleep automatically.
Please see -> https://github.com/claws/BH1750/blob/master/examples/BH1750advanced/BH1750advanced.ino

I have tried above, but still getting 0.14mA consumption in a sleep mode. Very odd!

[Koresh]

@alexsh1 Very strange. I can't see a method write8 in current lib version (https://github.com/claws/BH1750). So I can't understand how is it possible to compile default code with this string

lightMeter.write8(BH1750_POWER_DOWN);

I couldn't put this sensor into power down mode without this.

[Koresh]

@alexsh1 said in 💬 Button size radionode with sensors swarm extension:

...
After a one time measurement it goes to sleep automatically.
...
I have tried above, but still getting 0.14mA consumption in a sleep mode. Very odd!

I've read the claws library briefly again. I'm a litte doubt that this code:

_delay_ms(10);

is enough to ensure correctly timings and sensors work :)

[alexsh1]

@Koresh It does work, I have just test it, but there is a delay, i.e. the sensor is lagging one reading behind.

[alexsh1]

@Koresh said in 💬 Button size radionode with sensors swarm extension:

@alexsh1 Very strange. I can't see a method write8 in current lib version (https://github.com/claws/BH1750). So I can't understand how is it possible to compile default code with this string

lightMeter.write8(BH1750_POWER_DOWN);

I couldn't put this sensor into power down mode without this.

I tried it with the original (old) library -> https://github.com/mysensors/MySensorsArduinoExamples/tree/master/libraries/BH1750

I commended out "private" in bh1750.h
Consumption has not changed - 0.14mA

[alexsh1]

@Koresh One more observation. If I comment out:

//lightMeter.write8(BH1750_POWER_DOWN);

from the original sketch, the consumption goes up to 0.27mA.
So BH1750 is not a problem. Something else is eating up a few milliamps.

[yury]

@alexsh1 said in 💬 Button size radionode with sensors swarm extension:

Something else is eating up a few milliamps

yes seems your board has bad capacitors. After rechecking many boards we found one eating a lot - 0.4 mA. Replacing caps fixed issue.

can you check?

[alexsh1]

@yury There are two yellow caps in your photo. Do I have to change both of them? What's nominal please?

EDIT: both are 107J SMD Tantalum

[alexsh1]

@yury I was suspecting EEPROM (CS pin with pull-up resistor?) to be a culprit

[yury]

combined capacitance of booth should be 100 --200 microfarads . It is input capacitors.
please try replacing them

re:
I was suspecting EEPROM (CS pin with pull-up resistor?) to be a culprit

not pullups...

[yury]

0.4 ma here with the bad cap

[Koresh]

@alexsh1 you can solder one or two capacitors ~50-200uf. But you should remove both because we do not know which of them is bad. Do not forget about polarity ;) Dot-key on the board means positive, so tantalum has positive key, but electrolitic capacitors has negative key.

[alexsh1]

@Koresh thanks. It does not matter which caps, right?
I have a few 1206 100uF ceramic caps. They are not polarised and may be a good fit size wise

[alexsh1]

@yury what's your estimate of battery life based on a new consumption of about 25uA and the default sketch?

[yury]

@alexsh1 220 mAh(Duracell) / 0.025 (mA) = 8800 hrs = 366 days.

[Koresh]

@alexsh1 There is no problem to use your capacitors. 1206imp = 3216metric (type A) so they are fit perfect :+1:
About consumption... This is quite universal board. If you plan to use CR2032 battery it can be worth to omit LDO. You can do it using existing 0603 jumper footprint near right storage capacitor.

[alexsh1]

@yury said in 💬 Button size radionode with sensors swarm extension:

@alexsh1 220 mAh(Duracell) / 0.025 (mA) = 8800 hrs = 366 days.

Not exactly - 25uA is a sleeping current.
There will be sending periods every 10 mins.
So I suppose the lifetime is less than a year