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  3. nRF5 action!

nRF5 action!

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  • S scalz

    @NeverDie
    i would have unsoldered the last pad of the passive before the antenna feed point to disable it, and would have soldered the wire antenna to passive, so without scratching anything ;) but i have no idea about nrf51 range, i'm not using this mcu :simple_smile:
    I have my own design for soil moisture..not really interested by "chirp" like sensors, but i agree nrf52 are nice mcu.

    N Offline
    N Offline
    NeverDie
    Hero Member
    wrote on last edited by NeverDie
    #664

    @scalz said in nRF5 Bluetooth action!:

    @NeverDie
    i would have unsoldered the last pad of the passive before the antenna feed point to disable it, and would have soldered the wire antenna to passive, so without scratching anything ;) but i have no idea about nrf51 range, i'm not using this mcu :simple_smile:
    I have my own design for soil moisture..not really interested by "chirp" like sensors, but i agree nrf52 are nice mcu.

    If you feel like posting it, I'd certainly be interested in a good soil moisture sensor. :)

    This is the only nRF51 I've tried, but @rmtucker seems to be getting good range (beyond his garden) with his nRF51. I previously drank the Kool-aid and thought the nRF52 generally performs better, but I'm not I'm not really sure anymore.

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    • N NeverDie

      @scalz said in nRF5 Bluetooth action!:

      @NeverDie
      i would have unsoldered the last pad of the passive before the antenna feed point to disable it, and would have soldered the wire antenna to passive, so without scratching anything ;) but i have no idea about nrf51 range, i'm not using this mcu :simple_smile:
      I have my own design for soil moisture..not really interested by "chirp" like sensors, but i agree nrf52 are nice mcu.

      If you feel like posting it, I'd certainly be interested in a good soil moisture sensor. :)

      This is the only nRF51 I've tried, but @rmtucker seems to be getting good range (beyond his garden) with his nRF51. I previously drank the Kool-aid and thought the nRF52 generally performs better, but I'm not I'm not really sure anymore.

      R Offline
      R Offline
      rmtucker
      wrote on last edited by
      #665

      @NeverDie
      What are you using at the other end,just a standard nrf24 or the amplified version.
      I switched to rfm69 some time ago because of poor range/coverage.
      But i am astounded with the nrf51 and wemos/nrf24 pa setup.
      Maybe it is the tin foil wrapping Lol.😃

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      • R rmtucker

        @NeverDie
        What are you using at the other end,just a standard nrf24 or the amplified version.
        I switched to rfm69 some time ago because of poor range/coverage.
        But i am astounded with the nrf51 and wemos/nrf24 pa setup.
        Maybe it is the tin foil wrapping Lol.😃

        R Offline
        R Offline
        rmtucker
        wrote on last edited by
        #666

        @rmtucker
        I did eventually manage to stop it by putting it in the fridge.
        My other half has never laughed so much.😃😃

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        • R rmtucker

          @rmtucker
          I did eventually manage to stop it by putting it in the fridge.
          My other half has never laughed so much.😃😃

          N Offline
          N Offline
          NeverDie
          Hero Member
          wrote on last edited by
          #667

          @rmtucker said in nRF5 Bluetooth action!:

          @rmtucker
          I did eventually manage to stop it by putting it in the fridge.
          My other half has never laughed so much.😃😃

          If you switch to Lithium batteries (I'm partial to the Energizer AA's because they have good datasheets), your node should still work even in the freezer.

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          • R rmtucker

            @NeverDie
            What are you using at the other end,just a standard nrf24 or the amplified version.
            I switched to rfm69 some time ago because of poor range/coverage.
            But i am astounded with the nrf51 and wemos/nrf24 pa setup.
            Maybe it is the tin foil wrapping Lol.😃

            N Offline
            N Offline
            NeverDie
            Hero Member
            wrote on last edited by
            #668

            @rmtucker said in nRF5 Bluetooth action!:

            @NeverDie
            What are you using at the other end,just a standard nrf24 or the amplified version.
            I switched to rfm69 some time ago because of poor range/coverage.
            But i am astounded with the nrf51 and wemos/nrf24 pa setup.
            Maybe it is the tin foil wrapping Lol.😃

            I did it both ways when with datarates of 250kbps and 1Mbps, but when I upgraded the nRF52832 to 2Mbps, the connection stopped working. For expediency, I switched to an nRF52 DK as the gateway, rather than debug the nRF24 just then. Eventually I'll circle back and try to figure out what the problem is/was with the 2Mbps on the nRF24's. So, the nRF52 DK is what I'm presently using.

            1 Reply Last reply
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            • R rmtucker

              @rmtucker
              I did eventually manage to stop it by putting it in the fridge.
              My other half has never laughed so much.😃😃

              R Offline
              R Offline
              rmtucker
              wrote on last edited by
              #669

              @rmtucker
              On the supercapacitor subject.
              Nick Gammon used a 0.47uf 5.5v capacitor and you have been trying a 10uf 2.7v.
              So i was going to try a 4uf 5.5v super cap and an mcp1700-33 to power the nrf at 3.3v.
              I was going to charge the supercap initially with an adjustable dc-dc converter set to 5v while experimenting,anyone see a problem?

              N 2 Replies Last reply
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              • R rmtucker

                @rmtucker
                On the supercapacitor subject.
                Nick Gammon used a 0.47uf 5.5v capacitor and you have been trying a 10uf 2.7v.
                So i was going to try a 4uf 5.5v super cap and an mcp1700-33 to power the nrf at 3.3v.
                I was going to charge the supercap initially with an adjustable dc-dc converter set to 5v while experimenting,anyone see a problem?

                N Offline
                N Offline
                NeverDie
                Hero Member
                wrote on last edited by NeverDie
                #670

                @rmtucker said in nRF5 Bluetooth action!:

                @rmtucker
                On the supercapacitor subject.
                Nick Gammon used a 0.47uf 5.5v capacitor and you have been trying a 10uf 2.7v.
                So i was going to try a 4uf 5.5v super cap and an mcp1700-33 to power the nrf at 3.3v.
                I was going to charge the supercap initially with an adjustable dc-dc converter set to 5v while experimenting,anyone see a problem?

                I'm assuming Nick Gammon was using not an Nordic radio but just an atmega chip? I don't think you'll get much runtime on a 0.47uF supercap, nor a 4uF supercap, because of the radio.

                On the plus side, it should charge up almost instantly. :)

                On the other hand, 100uF should be enough to send at least one packet. I haven't tried that low an amount on the nrf52, but I have done it with a 100uF (charged to 2.7v) powering an atmega328p+RFM69 combo.

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                • N NeverDie

                  @rmtucker said in nRF5 Bluetooth action!:

                  @rmtucker
                  On the supercapacitor subject.
                  Nick Gammon used a 0.47uf 5.5v capacitor and you have been trying a 10uf 2.7v.
                  So i was going to try a 4uf 5.5v super cap and an mcp1700-33 to power the nrf at 3.3v.
                  I was going to charge the supercap initially with an adjustable dc-dc converter set to 5v while experimenting,anyone see a problem?

                  I'm assuming Nick Gammon was using not an Nordic radio but just an atmega chip? I don't think you'll get much runtime on a 0.47uF supercap, nor a 4uF supercap, because of the radio.

                  On the plus side, it should charge up almost instantly. :)

                  On the other hand, 100uF should be enough to send at least one packet. I haven't tried that low an amount on the nrf52, but I have done it with a 100uF (charged to 2.7v) powering an atmega328p+RFM69 combo.

                  R Offline
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                  rmtucker
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #671

                  @NeverDie
                  I think he was using an nrf24 just the same as us.
                  He was getting 32hours without re-charging and transmitting every 5mins.

                  N 1 Reply Last reply
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                  • N Offline
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                    NeverDie
                    Hero Member
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #672

                    @rmtucker said in nRF5 Bluetooth action!:

                    mcp1700-33

                    It appears to be just an LDO. So, you won't get any advantage to charging your capacitor to greater than 3.3v.

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                    • R rmtucker

                      @NeverDie
                      I think he was using an nrf24 just the same as us.
                      He was getting 32hours without re-charging and transmitting every 5mins.

                      N Offline
                      N Offline
                      NeverDie
                      Hero Member
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #673

                      @rmtucker said in nRF5 Bluetooth action!:

                      @NeverDie
                      I think he was using an nrf24 just the same as us.
                      He was getting 32hours without re-charging and transmitting every 5mins.

                      Really? Wow. That I'd like to see. I don't see how it's even possible. Do you have a link?

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                      • N NeverDie

                        @rmtucker said in nRF5 Bluetooth action!:

                        @NeverDie
                        I think he was using an nrf24 just the same as us.
                        He was getting 32hours without re-charging and transmitting every 5mins.

                        Really? Wow. That I'd like to see. I don't see how it's even possible. Do you have a link?

                        R Offline
                        R Offline
                        rmtucker
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #674

                        @NeverDie
                        Nick Gammon experiments

                        1 Reply Last reply
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                        • R rmtucker

                          @rmtucker
                          On the supercapacitor subject.
                          Nick Gammon used a 0.47uf 5.5v capacitor and you have been trying a 10uf 2.7v.
                          So i was going to try a 4uf 5.5v super cap and an mcp1700-33 to power the nrf at 3.3v.
                          I was going to charge the supercap initially with an adjustable dc-dc converter set to 5v while experimenting,anyone see a problem?

                          N Offline
                          N Offline
                          NeverDie
                          Hero Member
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #675

                          @rmtucker said in nRF5 Bluetooth action!:

                          Nick Gammon used a 0.47uf 5.5v capacitor

                          Re-read your link. He used a 0.47F capacitor, not a 0.47uF capacitor. That's a million times difference.

                          0.47F works. I arrived at 10F because it seems to be a sweet spot in the way that supercaps are priced. You can get a lot of Farads for just $2.

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                          • N NeverDie

                            @rmtucker said in nRF5 Bluetooth action!:

                            Nick Gammon used a 0.47uf 5.5v capacitor

                            Re-read your link. He used a 0.47F capacitor, not a 0.47uF capacitor. That's a million times difference.

                            0.47F works. I arrived at 10F because it seems to be a sweet spot in the way that supercaps are priced. You can get a lot of Farads for just $2.

                            R Offline
                            R Offline
                            rmtucker
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #676

                            @NeverDie
                            My Mistake but his results were impressive don't you think?
                            Anyway i was just going to use 4f because i can get one.
                            How are you charging your Cap?

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                            • R rmtucker

                              @NeverDie
                              My Mistake but his results were impressive don't you think?
                              Anyway i was just going to use 4f because i can get one.
                              How are you charging your Cap?

                              N Offline
                              N Offline
                              NeverDie
                              Hero Member
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #677

                              @rmtucker said in nRF5 Bluetooth action!:

                              How are you charging your Cap?

                              6v mini solar panel run through diode and a 2.7v ldo. That works for me indoors even 15-20 feet away from a window.

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                              • N NeverDie

                                @rmtucker said in nRF5 Bluetooth action!:

                                How are you charging your Cap?

                                6v mini solar panel run through diode and a 2.7v ldo. That works for me indoors even 15-20 feet away from a window.

                                R Offline
                                R Offline
                                rmtucker
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #678

                                @NeverDie
                                Hmm the only 2.7v ldo i can see are surface mount in the uk.
                                Thats a no no for me.

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                                • R rmtucker

                                  @NeverDie
                                  Hmm the only 2.7v ldo i can see are surface mount in the uk.
                                  Thats a no no for me.

                                  N Offline
                                  N Offline
                                  NeverDie
                                  Hero Member
                                  wrote on last edited by NeverDie
                                  #679

                                  @rmtucker said in nRF5 Bluetooth action!:

                                  @NeverDie
                                  Hmm the only 2.7v ldo i can see are surface mount in the uk.
                                  Thats a no no for me.

                                  Yeah, I'm using surface mount, but I solder it on manually the old fashioned way. Not all surface mount are difficult just because they're SMD. Simply avoid the ones with too small a pitch.

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                                  • N NeverDie

                                    @rmtucker said in nRF5 Bluetooth action!:

                                    @NeverDie
                                    Hmm the only 2.7v ldo i can see are surface mount in the uk.
                                    Thats a no no for me.

                                    Yeah, I'm using surface mount, but I solder it on manually the old fashioned way. Not all surface mount are difficult just because they're SMD. Simply avoid the ones with too small a pitch.

                                    R Offline
                                    R Offline
                                    rmtucker
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #680

                                    @NeverDie
                                    Part number?

                                    N 1 Reply Last reply
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                                    • R rmtucker

                                      @NeverDie
                                      Part number?

                                      N Offline
                                      N Offline
                                      NeverDie
                                      Hero Member
                                      wrote on last edited by NeverDie
                                      #681

                                      @rmtucker said in nRF5 Bluetooth action!:

                                      @NeverDie
                                      Part number?

                                      http://datasheet.sii-ic.com/en/voltage_regulator/S1313_E.pdf

                                      https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/sii-semiconductor-corporation/S-1313D27-M5T1U3/1662-2523-1-ND/7228815

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                                      • N Offline
                                        N Offline
                                        NeverDie
                                        Hero Member
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #682

                                        Where is the sleep(...) function defined for the nrf5? I've looked, but I can't seem to find which library it is in. Anyone know?

                                        d00616D 1 Reply Last reply
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                                        • N NeverDie

                                          Where is the sleep(...) function defined for the nrf5? I've looked, but I can't seem to find which library it is in. Anyone know?

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                                          d00616D Offline
                                          d00616
                                          Contest Winner
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #683

                                          @NeverDie said in nRF5 Bluetooth action!:

                                          Where is the sleep(...) function defined for the nrf5? I've looked, but I can't seem to find which library it is in. Anyone know?

                                          It's defined in "hal/architecture/MyHwNRF5.cpp"

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