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Measuring power consumption

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(@witchdoc59)
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Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 22
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Hello everyone;   I've built a small weather station using a Lilygo TTGO Display module.  I'm currently powering it with a pair of 18650 batteries.  I have a 4056 charger module to charge the batteries.  Currently charging with USB but want to hook up some solar panels to charge the batteries during the day.  To this end I'd like to measure how much power the ESP32 is using and I need formula for calculating the solar panel output.   So how do I measure the power being used? And how do I calculate the solar panel output required?   

If you know of any good websites I'd be happy to look at those.

All and any comments or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

WD


   
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Ron
 Ron
(@zander)
Father of a miniature Wookie
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 7642
 

@witchdoc95 I am fairly conversant in solar, and can recommend the following site to determine how much solar you can get at that location. https://pvwatts.nrel.gov/pvwatts.php

I don;t know if you plan on charging while simultaneously using power. If so, you may want to look at the following video.

As far as measuring the power the esp32 is using, your VOM measuring current through the USB times 5V should suffice.

First computer 1959. Retired from my own computer company 2004.
Hardware - Expert in 1401, and 360, fairly knowledge in PC plus numerous MPU's and MCU's
Major Languages - Machine language, 360 Macro Assembler, Intel Assembler, PL/I and PL1, Pascal, Basic, C plus numerous job control and scripting languages.
My personal scorecard is now 1 PC hardware fix (circa 1982), 1 open source fix (at age 82), and 2 zero day bugs in a major OS.


   
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noweare
(@noweare)
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Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 131
 

  So how do I measure the power being used? And how do I calculate the solar panel output required?   

I bought one of these. They work great. You can get them from Amazon, Ali-express etc...

power meter

 


   
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Ron
 Ron
(@zander)
Father of a miniature Wookie
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 7642
 

@noweare @witchdoc59 Yes those are handy. If you wanted the OP to see your post, you need to use the Reply link so he gets an email that he has a post addressed to him. I added him to this reply to you so maybe he will now see it.

First computer 1959. Retired from my own computer company 2004.
Hardware - Expert in 1401, and 360, fairly knowledge in PC plus numerous MPU's and MCU's
Major Languages - Machine language, 360 Macro Assembler, Intel Assembler, PL/I and PL1, Pascal, Basic, C plus numerous job control and scripting languages.
My personal scorecard is now 1 PC hardware fix (circa 1982), 1 open source fix (at age 82), and 2 zero day bugs in a major OS.


   
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noweare
(@noweare)
Member
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 131
 

@zander There was only a "Quote" link in his post.


   
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Ron
 Ron
(@zander)
Father of a miniature Wookie
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 7642
 

@noweare Ok, that is true for the first post, then you have to copy the handle off the first post under the OPs icon.

First computer 1959. Retired from my own computer company 2004.
Hardware - Expert in 1401, and 360, fairly knowledge in PC plus numerous MPU's and MCU's
Major Languages - Machine language, 360 Macro Assembler, Intel Assembler, PL/I and PL1, Pascal, Basic, C plus numerous job control and scripting languages.
My personal scorecard is now 1 PC hardware fix (circa 1982), 1 open source fix (at age 82), and 2 zero day bugs in a major OS.


   
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