View topic - [BitCloud] Checking External Battery Level

Search

[BitCloud] Checking External Battery Level

AVR Freaks Forum Index » AVR (8-bit) Technical Forums » AVR Wireless forum

Author

Message

bt0618

Posted: Feb 23, 2012 - 05:05 AM

Joined: Feb 02, 2012
Posts: 25

Hello all,

I am using 2-AA batteries to power up my STK600-ATMEGA128RFA1 node and I was wondering if there was a way to check the remaining battery life.

I am using AVR Studios 4's platform and BitCloud's library, more specifically, the WSNDemo.

My components is a STK600-ATMEGA128RFA1 and a STK600.

Thanks in advance

alexru

Posted: Feb 23, 2012 - 08:55 AM

Joined: Apr 15, 2009
Posts: 4982
Location: San Jose, CA

There is no standard way to do this. You might connect your power line to an ADC input (using divider and, probably, some kind of switch to not drain more current than necessary) and measure battery voltage and predict battery life based on this measurement.

_________________
The opinions and views expressed by me on this forum are my own and do not represent my employer or anyone else that I'm affiliated with.

dak664

Posted: Feb 23, 2012 - 01:08 PM

Joined: Jun 15, 2008
Posts: 1779
Location: North Carolina USA

BATMON has a 75 millivolt resolution:

Code:

/* Bandgap can't be measured against supply voltage in this chip. */

/* Use BATMON register instead */

  BATMON = 16; //give BATMON time to stabilize at highest range and lowest voltage

...

  for ( i=16; i<31; i++) {

    BATMON = i;

    if ((BATMON&(1<<BATMON_OK))==0) break;

  }

  bat=2550-75*16-75+75*i;  //-75 to take the floor of the 75 mv transition window

bt0618

Posted: Feb 27, 2012 - 01:32 AM

Joined: Feb 02, 2012
Posts: 25

Thank you for your replies!

I have decided to follow alexru's method.

My group looked up the voltage of a new battery and compared it to the current voltage from our used battery (voltage divider being used)

Now we just have to edit the code a bit to take into consideration the voltage of a dead battery so that we can create an equation that shows how close a battery is to dying.

Once again, thank you for your replies!

Jump to:

All times are GMT + 1 Hour

AVR Freaks Forum Index » AVR (8-bit) Technical Forums » AVR Wireless forum

AVRFreaks.net

Search