If you seek to estimate the power consumption, you can read through the
data sheet for the 128L from Atmel if you're using that group of motes. The
schematics for other sensor boards are available online, and you find the
parts used and then can use those datasheets to determine / estimate their
respective current draw.
In my opinion, in order to "really" calculate energy consumption with
any credibility, you should use an external, well-regulated power supply and
continually monitor current. Unfortunately, the sample rate for current
monitoring might be reasonably untenable, so you could make an integrator
(monitoring the voltage drop across a very small valued resistor (0.01 Ohm)
and sample that periodically (and reset it each time). The location of that
resistor might be right at the input of your DC supply. That way you're
getting a true measure of energy consumption. It shouldn't be too hard of a
circuit to put together. Otherwise, others have shown that doing the
power/energy estimation using just battery voltage is unreliable. I think
measuring current and voltage continuously has it's problems in that you may
not sample during the period your radio is on/transmitting causing a lower
estimated average power.
Regards,
Kurt
> Steve and Philip,
>Thanks for the replies.
> One more question. Is there any pointer towards the amount of current
drawn by the MCU(Atmega128L) for > the different sleep modes available:
> Idle
> ADC Noise Reduction
> Power-Down
> Power-Save
> Standby
> Extended Standby
> I need to calculate the energy consumption for finding the life of the
battery in the mote that runs my application.
> Regards
> Mayur
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