Hardware - DangarStu/Farm-Data-Relay-System GitHub Wiki
Specific use cases:
- A sensor with just a float switch and an internal battery. Possible have only a hearbeat every 24 hours and a wake-on-float-switch feature so the battery will last a long time and not even need a solar cell. A small solar cell attached to the project box would also be possible to extend the battery life without and extra installation effort given this type of device would most likely go in a small open boat.
- A sensor with a float switch and other analogue inputs such as battery voltage. Currently my sensor for Renko doesn't have an internal battery as it runs off the boat's battery and monitors its state of charge. It could have an internal battery that is charged by the house battery to act as a UPS. Something that could be added to this setup is the ability to monitor the duty cycle of the boat's bilge pump. This means supplying the power to the bilge pump from the sensor unit. It would consume quite a bit of power due to the frequency of sampling. A low sample rate runs the risk of missing the times it is on and giving a misleading reading. Another option would be a clamp on current sensor like this https://core-electronics.com.au/non-invasive-current-sensor-30a.html?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAmrS7BhBJEiwAei59i9q7wdbT4wKAvxP3a41Wx-wZCRek1-Pqgh2jl8e5Pg-3KpK2H1n69BoCvT0QAvD_BwE so the bilge circuit doesn't need to be modified.
Modules needed on the custom board
- ESP32
- Buck converter to be able to be powered via 8-32v DC
- Solar charger
- LoRa transceiver
- Isolated analogue and digital inputs
- Outputs?
- NMEA?
- Battery holder?
- GPS?
Current prototype modules used
Tinny version (no external power, no battery monitoring, will last approximately a year)
- ESP32 with LoRa https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/165278530925 (https://meshtastic.org/docs/hardware/devices/lilygo/tbeam/?t-beam=1.1)
- Protoboard. https://core-electronics.com.au/makerverse-protoboard-30-row.html
- Small LoRa antenna. https://core-electronics.com.au/915mhz-lora-antenna-rp-sma-1-2-wave-2dbi.html
- Antenna tail. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004025227254.html
- 18650 Battery for holder. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/396045866247
- Carl's float switch: ? (Note that this will need to be very close to the ESP32 if it is used as a simple unpowered switch)
- Waterproof case: Project box. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/304767089292 (190x280 to be same size as solar cell)
Cruiser version
- ESP32 with LoRa https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007659670298.html or Halmet is more marine focussed with multiple analog and digital inputs, accepts via range of DC input to power it and has NMEA but doesn't have LoRa.
- Protoboard. https://core-electronics.com.au/makerverse-protoboard-30-row.html
- Solar charge controller. https://dlnmh9ip6v2uc.cloudfront.net/datasheets/Prototyping/TP4056.pdf
- 7v - 30v -> 5v buck converter: https://core-electronics.com.au/dc-dc-buck-converter-7-24v-to-5v-4a.html
- Voltage and current measuring. https://core-electronics.com.au/gravity-i2c-digital-wattmeter.html
- 6Ah lithium battery. https://core-electronics.com.au/polymer-lithium-ion-battery-6000mah.html
- Large LoRa antenna. https://core-electronics.com.au/high-gain-omni-outdoor-antenna-with-rp-sma-connector-915mhz-6dbi-lora-au915-as923.html
- Antenna tail.
- Solar cell. https://www.altronics.com.au/p/n0004f-powerhouse-4w-6v-polycrystalline-solar-panel/
- Opto isolator for digital input such as a float switch on a long cable. https://core-electronics.com.au/opto-isolator-breakout.html
- Project box. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/304767089292 (190x280 to be same size as solar cell)
- USB socket. https://core-electronics.com.au/micro-b-round-panel-mount-extension-cable-30cm.html
- Float switch. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/375306321861 https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33004754249.html
- Tinned two core cable.
- Cable glands. https://www.temu.com/goods.html?_bg_fs=1&goods_id=601099521495799&sku_id=17592237476333