Hi @GertSanders,
Do you happen to still have the Eagle project files from version 3 you created and shared on OSH Park? I'd like to add a set of pads for the mini smd version of the NRF24L01. If not, I'll just use the version 2 files from openhardware.io and try my best to recreate the changes you made between them.
Kind regards,
AH
Does anybody have a link to a fixed version of this board? It's exactly what I am looking for form-wise, but I'd be nice if VCC was wired to 3.3v out of the box. Thanks!!
In order to properly test it, I should probably start with all new batteries. I did capacity testing on some of the older batteries and then retested their capacity again to see if the numbers matched. They didn't. So, given the small sample size, I'd be weary that there might be too much noise in the sample to draw conclusions if I start with batteries that are already impaired.
What became clear though is that batteries which just sit in a drawer can degrade quite a lot, and that it's not from overuse or re-charging. That's just what happens to NiMH batteries as they age. I guess it shouldn't be surprising, because that's what we expect from alkaline batteries also. But maybe some of the impairment was due to allowing their charge to fall while being stored? That seems to hold true for SLA batteries. Not sure about NiMH batteries.
So, unfortunately, I just don't have the data to say what the effects of trickle charging might be. If it turned out to actually extend the useful life of rechargeable batteries, then that would be an interesting outcome. Maybe someone reading this will feel inspired to conduct such a test and post the results.
@Mishka Very nice work indeed. One question though: I don't see an antenna of any kind built into the PCB. Maybe I'm just not seeing it, or is there none? I do see a connection for an off-board near field antenna, but off-hand I don't see where the antenna is for 2.4Ghz RF.
Oh, I see it now. You're using a chip antenna. Got it.
Well, now that you've been using it for a while, how is the Raybeacon working out for you?