Difference between revisions of "Mesh/Power"

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== Low power nodes ==
== Low power nodes ==


The [[Mesh/hardware experiments|hardware experiments]] page lists some nodes that can be used with low power.
The [[Mesh/Hardware experiments|hardware experiments]] page lists some nodes that can be used with low power.


We can probably assume power usage of about 1 watt for most of the lower power stuff but probably not a lot less.
We can probably assume power usage of about 1 watt for most of the lower power stuff but probably not a lot less.
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Some USB battery packs don't allow charging and discharging at the same time. We ordered a selection of the cheaper units and tested them. Here are the results:
Some USB battery packs don't allow charging and discharging at the same time. We ordered a selection of the cheaper units and tested them. Here are the results:


* [http://www.ebay.com/itm/321850110492 2600 mAh CoolGo pack] - $6.79 - Works!
* [http://www.ebay.com/itm/321850110492 2600 mAh CoolGo pack] - $6.79 - Works and verified at 2600 mAh!
* [http://www.ebay.com/itm/301573240761 2600 mAh No-name "extruded aluminum square" with button] - $6 - Works!
* [http://www.ebay.com/itm/301573240761 2600 mAh No-name "extruded aluminum square" with button] - $6 - Works but only ~1300 mAh capacity :(
* [http://www.ebay.com/itm/181725452512 2600 mAh PowerBank "extruded plastic square" without button] - $3.75 - Works!
* [http://www.ebay.com/itm/181725452512 2600 mAh PowerBank "extruded plastic square" without button] - $3.75 - Works but max charge rate 500 mA :(
* [http://www.ebay.com/itm/252224862952 2000 mAh Motorola flat pack with integrated micro-usb cable] - $6 - No discharge while charging :(
* [http://www.ebay.com/itm/252224862952 2000 mAh Motorola flat pack with integrated micro-usb cable] - $6 - No discharge while charging :(
* [http://www.ebay.com/itm/221974269792 Cylindrical unit without included 18650 battery] - $1.25 - Waiting for it to arrive.
* [http://www.ebay.com/itm/221974269792 Cylindrical unit without included 18650 battery] - $1.25 - Waiting for it to arrive.
Most of these are rated to charge and discharge at 1 A, except the cheaper "PowerBank" which is rated at 1 A discharge but only 500 mA for charging which would limit charging to 2.5 W.


Assuming that these batteries actually have a capacity of 2600 mAh at 5v that's 13 Wh which is enough to power a 1 watt router like the NEXX WT2030F for 13 hours. That means that 2600 mAh is not enough to carry such a device through the night during winter in Oakland since the longest night is just under 14.5 hours long. It's probably a good idea to double the capacity since the capacity will drop over the lifetime of the battery.
Assuming that these batteries actually have a capacity of 2600 mAh at 5v that's 13 Wh which is enough to power a 1 watt router like the NEXX WT2030F for 13 hours. That means that 2600 mAh is not enough to carry such a device through the night during winter in Oakland since the longest night is just under 14.5 hours long. It's probably a good idea to double the capacity since the capacity will drop over the lifetime of the battery.

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