@jmd : I tried to build myself a step-up circuit using the MCP1640, inductor, capacitors and resistors to deliver 3.3V from a single AA.

It worked well, but only for very low currents, anything over 20mA was not working. So I research and found out that those switching power regulators, specially the step-up ones need to be carefully designed and are very likely to under-perform or not work at all in a breadboard or protoboard. The MCP1640 even have a suggested PCB design which you must follow to get it working at full performance.

Hello,

I was just trying to find something similar, but I'm more interested in the step-up part, to use with one or two AA/AAA to power my circuits. That was the closest thing I found from "reality": https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/340271897/whisper-node

I tried to build a step-up circuit myself but wasn't that easy... looks like those switching regulators don't work very well in breadboard, they're all SMTs with very fine pitch and they need other components like the inductor that can add some cost. Also found those ones ready to use: https://www.pololu.com/product/2561, it's not the most expensive but I'm not sure if they will keep the power consumption low at stand-by.

You mentioned 100mA and one year... are you planning to sleep those power-hungry components most of the time correct? :wink:

Thanks again, learned a lot... I decide to give a try there, I also had a look on some components' datasheet and seems to be what I need... Let's see, if end up getting the boards I'll publish a review here later.

Nice.. you project looks really cool! I didn't understand much about the step-up you are using. You mentioned 2x50mA, so do you use one output for the radio module and the other for the MCU or simply put both outputs together? believe a RF transmission + MCU would bit very close if not over that, no?!

Are you producing any prototype? Do you have any idea if it will become a product some day? :smiley:

I'm asking that because I'm really after something like that, but this Kickstarter project was the closest I can get... everything else uses an el-cheapo LDO regulator. I never got anything from Kickstarter before, don't trust very much. I think for the price worth trying.

Danke!

Hello,

I've just found this project: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/340271897/whisper-node

Looks like the board is very similar to the Moteino, another Arduino Clone... but looks like it also runs with very low power, like a single AA. My idea is to have a board like that and use it together with sensors (temp/humidity/presence) and as a smart switch, to control things remotely. I really liked the idea of running on normal (cheap) Alkaline batteries (not li-po)...

This still a Kickstarter, does anyone know if there's already exist a similar board available on the market or should I go for it?

Thanks