Electrodragon NRF Pro Mini Sensor Board

[patt896]

I've identified multiple Pro Mini NRF24l01 PCB Sensor Boards
http://dutch-arduino-tinkering.blogspot.com/2014/01/arduino-pro-mini-33v-wireless-nrf24l01.html
https://www.openhardware.io/view/480/nRF24L01-Pro-Mini-Bottom-Shield
https://www.openhardware.io/view/561/JMP-Arduino-Pro-Mini-Multisensor-Board-v21
https://forum.mysensors.org/uploads/files/1440959677580-board.png
https://github.com/tonnerre33/Soil_Moisture_Sensor_MD-cr/blob/master/Soil_Moisture_Sensor_SMD-cr.csvS

But none match Electrodragons :
http://www.electrodragon.com/product/nrf24duino-arduino-mini-plus-nrf24l01-board/

[patt896]

And Electrodragon also offers a Mini Boost Buck DC Board 1.8-5V to 3.3V, for Battery Juice R2:
http://www.electrodragon.com/product/mini-boost-buck-dc-board-1-8-5v-3-3v/

Use full battery juice!
• Super mini size 11.5×9.5mm, SOT23-6 IC with only three caps
• Input Voltag 1.8-5V, output 3.3V up to 150mA
• Constant Frequency Operation at All Loads. Low Noise Constant Frequency (1.2MHz)
Operation
• Automatic Soft-Start Reduces Inrush Current
• Shutdown Current <1 uA, No load current is 1.77mA.
• Short-Circuit Protection
• No Inductors
• Standard 2.54 pin output, 3.3V-GND-VIN (face to top), can be used as a normal SMD part.
Testing for reference:
• 1.8V VIN -> 3.3V output
• 1.5V VIN -> 3.1xV output, still can drive a lot MCUs.

Updated to R2:

[rvendrame]

Just a comment for this board, the minimum current consumption in mySensors Sleep() that I could achieve is ~700uA, with 2XAA batteries.

According to seller, this the benchmark for this board.

I should have enquired it first, before buying 10 boards... one more lesson learned!

[ncollins]

I had similar high power consumption issues with this NRFduino from electrodragon. It turns out it was the attached flash module that was consuming a lot of power.

I was able to reduce the sleep current by immediately powering down the flash module.

#include<SPIFlash.h>
 
// load user settings
#include "config.h"
// include supporting libraries
#ifdef MY_GATEWAY_ESP8266
  #include <ESP8266WiFi.h>
#endif
// load MySensors library
#include <MySensors.h>
// load NodeManager library
#include "NodeManager.h"

// create a NodeManager instance
NodeManager nodeManager;
SPIFlash flash(8);

// before
void before() {
  // setup the serial port baud rate
  Serial.begin(MY_BAUD_RATE);  
  flash.powerDown();

[rvendrame]

@nikola-collins , yes, I just got the same conclusion. After installing the latest SPIFlash lib from lowpowerlab.com, and changed the constructor to "SPIFlash flash(8)" (like your code), seems that now I have ~12uA in sleep mode.

Thanks anyway!

[xreichardx]

I am considering ordering several of these for new and future sensors. I thought I saw this board supported by myscontroller bootloader in 13pre or the github dev branch but cant seem to find it at the moment.

Has anyone tried this FOTA?

--Reichard

[ncollins]

@xreichardx I have not tried the myscontroller bootloader, sorry.