If I ignore the deep sleep and running them off batteries, I now have a nice working setup for a plugged in sensor. I think I'll tweak/redesign the PCB now I know what components are sensible and needed and order some.
I'll probably change a few bits to enable multiple power options, maybe add a few jumper points for various options like disconnecting the regulator.
I'm also wondering how easy it would be to add some dip switches to give each module its own unique id rather than programming each one specifically.
I placed my first aliexpress order yesterday - a lvds cable for my laptop (the one ordered previously rather unsurprisingly didn't turn up and has been refunded via paypal).
I keep adding things to my basket but then chickening out on ordering stuff. So much stuff I want.
Definitely cut the power LED. That alone will probably run the batteries flat fairly quickly. How reliable is it waking from sleep?
Probably not an issue for you if you're going to switch to WiFi sensors but with the RF24s you can route the signal through another close radio to get better range. Not if the middle one is sleeping though.
3xAA NiMH (no regulator)
Deep sleep for around 50-55 seconds (can't remember exactly)
100 hours
Assuming it has actually died overnight and not just failed to wake from deep sleep (which I guess could be considered the same thing, it's in a coma!)
Everything goes in to a MySQL database, then it's PHP + Flot to do the charts.
I think you can do plenty of stuff without turning the WiFi on, there's specific commands in the sketch for the WiFi so I imagine you could wrap them in some sort of if/else to decide whether you want the WiFi to be used.
My problem is that I'm reporting the temperature every minute, which I won't be changing, so I'll never get a year off just a battery.
Some Lithium battery charging boards arrived yesterday for me to charge some 18650s pulled from a laptop battery. I also discovered a new version the same day I ordered which also have discharge protection for unprotected cells, so I'm waiting for them to arrive then I'll have a setup which will be...
Code:
Solar Panel
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Charging/Protection Board -> ESP8266
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18650 cell
Definitely possible but I've had a look at other remote control type heating system and I'm sure they check the temp at least every minute.
I'd imagine the older type bimetallic rotary dials could flick on/off fairly regularly, unless they naturally have some sort of hysteresis curve.
In reality it very rarely clicks on for just a minute. It takes a few minutes for the radiators to get warm and the room heat up enough to hit the target temperature. Even if it does only need to increase by 0.5C
That's definitely possible. Only reason I'm not doing that is because it would leave gaps on my chart. I could fix that by running a script every minute or so and if a value hasn't been sent just repeat the last value.
