LoRA Radio and switching 12V relays, encountering very strange problem

[mh512]

Hello All

I have an Arduino Mega, Adafruit RFM96W 433MHz LoRa Transceiver Breakout and 2 Channel OptoCoupler Relay Module.

The Arduino Mega runs a sketch that waits for the press of a button and then:

If Button A:

• Switches on a 12V pump connected to the Relay for 30 seconds
• Then sends a radio message (using RH-RF94 library) to another device

If Button B:

• Sends a radio message (using RH-RF94 library) to another device

The Ardunio is being powered by the USB connector.

The Relay Board has it's own 5V supply and is connected to the arduino by a digital line (for the pump) and the Vcc to Arduino 5V

I don't use the Arduino Vcc to power the relay board, it has it's own 5V supply into JDVcc (see below) schematic of the relay board:

There is a 12V power supply in the COM terminal, then the +ve lead of the pump is in NO.

The problem:
When the 12V power supply is connected to the COM terminal the Arduino will freeze when trying to send a radio message (send) - even if the pump has not been activated and there is no 12V current flowing.

I have only seen this happen when I have an antenna on an extension wire connected to the LoRa transceiver. If there is no antenna, or a very short antenna with no extension wire I do not see this problem.

An antenna on a extension wire works no problem if I unplug the 12V supply from the relay board - even if the transformer is left plugged in within the project enclosure.

I am very confused by this.

Initially, I suspected there was some sort of power surge going on when the pump started (big motor) but I see this problem even if the pump never runs, all it takes is the 12V power supply be applied to the relay.

Is it possible that the 12V transformer is creating EM interference that's coupling onto a long antenna cable?

Thanks for any help.

[srnet]

First establish if with none of the relay, punp or optocoupler stuff connected, does the Mega reset when the LoRa device sends a transmission ?

If there is no antenna

Operating the LoRa device without an antenna is bad. It might already be fried.

[mh512]

Hi, no it doesn't reset if I disconnect that stuff which I guess rules out the power supplies.

It works fine with a short antenna with the relays connected, but not a long one.

[srnet]

Any chance you could say what a 'short antenna' is and what a 'long antenna is' and provide a schematic of how they are both connected ?

[dlloyd]

You'll need to remove the jumper and also remove any GND wire from the 3.3V Lora or Arduino 5V supply to the relay board.