nRF5 action!

[NeverDie]

Even with two CR2032's in series, I can't get 330ma out of them for very long, if at all, before internal resistance becomes severe and it plummets to 110ma or less. Nonetheless, at least some of the preliminary testing suggests that the initial burst may be good enough to extend the Tx range for long enough (100ms) to reliably wake a sleeping receiver node that sits outside the range of a non-amplified transmitter.

[Jokgi]

@neverdie The internal RC Osc will allow you to keep your BOM costs lower. However when using the Bluetooth Softdevice the Crystal will lower the power consumption as the BT window will be narrower.

[NeverDie]

@jokgi said in nRF5 Bluetooth action!:

@neverdie The internal RC Osc will allow you to keep your BOM costs lower. However when using the Bluetooth Softdevice the Crystal will lower the power consumption as the BT window will be narrower.

Is the choice of RC osc or crystal of any consequence at all for Nordic's proprietary radio modes? For instance, I wasn't sure whether or not the cyrstal's greater accuracy might achieve a lower bit error rate at 2mbps.

[Nca78]

@neverdie I suppose the radio is using the high frequency clock, so it doesn't have any influence ?

[d00616]

@nca78 said in nRF5 Bluetooth action!:

@neverdie I suppose the radio is using the high frequency clock, so it doesn't have any influence ?

The LFCLK is required for BLE timing. Without the MCU required more energy to generate (synthetic) or calibrate (RC) the 32kHz signal.

[NeverDie]

@d00616 said in nRF5 Bluetooth action!:

@nca78 said in nRF5 Bluetooth action!:

@neverdie I suppose the radio is using the high frequency clock, so it doesn't have any influence ?

The LFCLK is required for BLE timing. Without the MCU required more energy to generate (synthetic) or calibrate (RC) the 32kHz signal.

Since Mysensors isn't using BLE, then it doesn't matter?

[Toyman]

Where can i get a Kicad component for Ebyte nrf52832?

[mtiutiu]

@toyman

You can find it in my kicad repo: symbol and footprint

I didn't used it in any design so please double check.

[nagelc]

Any suggestions how can I get serial debug messages out of the NRF52832 (Fanstel BT832)? I can upload the program over the SWD interface. I'm using a black magic probe with the Arduino NRF5 package on Windows 10. I know it works because the node shows up in my controller.

[NeverDie]

@nagelc said in nRF5 Bluetooth action!:

Any suggestions how can I get serial debug messages out of the NRF52832 (Fanstel BT832)?

Define one of the pins as serial TXO. Then connect it to RXI on an FTDI TTL-USB converter and read it that way. That's what I do, and it works.

[nagelc]

@neverdie
Do you define the pins in MyBoardNRF5? In MyBoadNRF5.cpp, I replaced the 0 in the first line with10, thinking this will map Arduino TX0 to P010. This did not seem to work. How do you map the TX0 pin?

[NeverDie]

@nagelc No, you want to change the values in the MyBoardNRF5.h file instead. For an example, see the source code in: https://www.openhardware.io/view/499/10-years-wireless-PIR-Sensor-on-just-one-set-of-3-AAs#tabs-source

So, in your case, you'd want:

#define PIN_SERIAL_TX       (10)

and, to avoid conflicts, make sure that pin P0.10 isn't defined anywhere in the same .h file as something else already. If it is, you may need to change that as well.

[nagelc]

Thanks. I'll give that a try.

[Toyman]

Yesterday, I 've got a mailing from my components' supplier featuring new type of cells, Li-MnO2. The cell has all the features needed for nRF5:

• 1200mah capacity
• 1.8-3.0v range
• low cost (ca. $3)
• 41,0 x 24,5 x 5,2 dimensions and, importantly
• up to 120mah peak discharge current.

The link to manufacturer:
http://www.fanso-battery.com/Ultra-thin-Li-MnO2-battery-CP502440-3V1200mAh-pd1905.html

[Nca78]

@toyman said in nRF5 Bluetooth action!:

Yesterday, I 've got a mailing from my components' supplier featuring new type of cells, Li-MnO2. The cell has all the features needed for nRF5:

• 1200mah capacity
• 1.8-3.0v range
• low cost (ca. $3)
• 41,0 x 24,5 x 5,2 dimensions and, importantly
• up to 120mah peak discharge current.

The link to manufacturer:
http://www.fanso-battery.com/Ultra-thin-Li-MnO2-battery-CP502440-3V1200mAh-pd1905.html

Mhmhmh, a disposable battery that you have to solder I can't see it as a good idea for a node...

[Toyman]

@nca78 said in nRF5 Bluetooth action!:

@toyman said in nRF5 Bluetooth action!:

Yesterday, I 've got a mailing from my components' supplier featuring new type of cells, Li-MnO2. The cell has all the features needed for nRF5:

• 1200mah capacity
• 1.8-3.0v range
• low cost (ca. $3)
• 41,0 x 24,5 x 5,2 dimensions and, importantly
• up to 120mah peak discharge current.

The link to manufacturer:
http://www.fanso-battery.com/Ultra-thin-Li-MnO2-battery-CP502440-3V1200mAh-pd1905.html

Mhmhmh, a disposable battery that you have to solder I can't see it as a good idea for a node...

well, 1200mah will last AT LEAST for a year (two in real life). I have no issues resoldering 2 joints once a year, given it gives AAA capacity in a much smaller package

[NeverDie]

Speaking of batteries, I found only one proper holder for holding two CR2032's in series:

It turns out you pretty much need the plastic carrier to guarantee that the edge of the button cell doesn't short out against the side of the metal holding bracket.

[d00616]

@neverdie said in nRF5 Bluetooth action!:

Speaking of batteries, I found only one proper holder for holding two CR2032's in series:

There are CR2477 (560mAh) or CR2450 (950mAh) 3V cells. Maybe its's better to handle.

[NeverDie]

@toyman said in nRF5 Bluetooth action!:

41,0 x 24,5 x 5,2 dimensions and, importantly

Footprint seems kinda large, at least for nodes intended to be small. It trades off length in order to get thin. In contrast, a CR123 is shorter (34.5mm), but thicker (17mm), but can deliver 1.5a continuous (which makes it very tempting for powering a PA):
https://www.batteryjunction.com/energizer-cr123a.html
On the other hand, when you add the CR123 holder, the length may be comparable.

If you decide to try out the fanso, please do let us know how you like it.

[NeverDie]

@d00616 said in nRF5 Bluetooth action!:

There are CR2477 (560mAh) or CR2450 (950mAh) 3V cells. Maybe its's better to handle.

Good point. I think maybe the only actual justified use of two CR2032's in series is to power the AM612, which requires a voltage of at least 2.7v.