I’ve run into a power issue with my Boron. This is the first time using this board so bear with me if this is a simple problem. I’m building a dust sensor project running a Sharp GP2Y1010AU0F specifically this one. Im trying to run it off the 3.3v pin on the Boron and when I power it up with a USB cable the sensor shows power but the charge status LED turns onto orange and doesn’t change and the Status LED doesn’t do anything. I previously ran this on a Photon and had no problems.
I’m guessing this is a power draw issue but the Boron should be able to supply more current than the photon so I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong. Any ideas what I can do to fix this?
A lit charging LED would indicate it is charging.
However, depending on the current remaining after powering all your connected circuitry may be quite small and hence you won't see the SoC of the battery change over a really long period.
Also, how much current can your USB source deliver?
Are you powering the sensor from the 3v3 pin?
Then yes. But the current a GPIO can drive on the Boron is less (14mA) than on the Photon (25mA).
This sensor requires 20ma according to the specifications. So if it is powered from a GPIO pin you have an issue, if its powered from the 3V3 directly - then there is something else wrong. Perhaps post some pictures of how its connected?
Does the problem appear if the module is NOT connected at all?
Im connected to a Macbook Pro with USB C so to my knowledge that should be plenty of current for the Boron and the sensor.
Yes I'm supplying the sensors VCC pin with the 3v3 on the Boron. I also do have the ILED pin on the sensor connected to a digital io pin but it shouldn't be drawing current when I first plug in.
The minute I unplug the sensor the boron enters its normal boot-up process.
I cannot vouch for USB C, but for USB 2.0 and 3.0 a USB device should start off with a max. current demand of no more than 100mA and then negotiate it's actual need.
Have a try with a USB charger and see whether anything changes.
Just had some success. I tried unplugging both the ILED and Aout neither of which helped. But I just plugged into a LiPo and it has booted up and everything seems to be working properly.
When the LiPo helps I’d suspect there is a sudden current spike when the system is plugged in which can’t be met by the USB supply fast enough. LiPos are much more responsive.
This is a known issue with 2G and 3G Electrons which can’t be used reliably without LiPo or extra fast USB/Vin supply.
Interesting, ok. I was originally hoping to run the system without a lipo and instead use a small AC-DC stepdown connected directly to the VBUS pin. I’m guessing if that isn’t fast enough I’ll need to add a supplemental Lipo.
You could also try a better power supply.
I've had good luck with these 5V, 2A, (has the micro USB connector already), for Boron LTE's without a Li-Po. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0117O020U/
But since you mentioned you plan to land the input source on the Vusb Pin, you also have the option of using a 12V power supply (instead of 5V) for additional operating margin. With a 12V supply, changes to the Device OS firmware would have less chance of impacting the Boron in the future.
One other thing you could try with your current USB supply.
What when you use SYSTEM_MODE(SEMI_AUTOMATIC) and wait a short while with spinning up the cellular modem?
This way you could have two smaller power surges instead of one big one immediately.
