Power Management Atmega328P +CH340G + nRF24L01

Projects General Guidance
1

Hello,
I developed Remote using Arduino Nano and power issues. I was using 4S - 2200mAH battery to power remote but it is not lasting long. I installed only one LED apart from LED mounted on Nano.
So, decided to develop new pcb using Atmega328P-AU plus nRF24L01 plus CH340G. I am new to hardware development. I am uploading schematic developed on easyeda.

Please guide me. Currently, remote is transmitting 5 analog signal and 6 digital signal.

Schematic_Remote_New Project_2022-11-30
Schematic_Remote_New Project_2022-11-301169×827 67.9 KB

2

What do you want help with, specifically?

3

I want experts to review schematic and if any mistake

  1. guide me to correct schematic.
  2. Is any part can be removed without affectting performance?
  3. I am using 12MHz Xtal at CH340G as well as Atmea328P-AU. Can we remove any of it ?
  4. I am looking for 50 M range from NRF.
  5. Can we burn boottloader from USB Type-B?
4

No, you cannot use the serial port to burn a bootloader. To burn the bootloader the ICSP. See: Burning the ATMega328p Bootloader

I really like the MIniCore core.

5

Me too.

Currently using it to test a bare bones ATmega328P board as a LoRaWAN\TTN node, sleep current for timed wakeup is 11uA.

6

The Nano schematic is not a good choice for a low power remote node.

In most all cases the remote node does not need a battery power guzzeling USB port on it, just plug in a USB to serial adapter when you need to program it, like you would with a Pro Mini.

A circuit based on a Pro Mini, and using a low IQ regulator such as a MCP1700, will have a sleep current that is typically less than 10uA.

7

I'd probably remove the CH340 if it's only needed for uploading code or debugging as otherwise it's just taking power from your batteries. You can always connect in a USB-serial board when you are developing / uploading your code, and remove it when done.

8

Thank you all for your valuable feedback. Will work as per guidance

9

As per guidance, i developed board based Pro Mini. Attaching schematic. Tested approximately 6 hours.
Remote_New Project.pdf (183.9 KB)

I am powering circuit by 12V battery (max voltage 12.23V)

Few findings. Further needs your support.

  1. Voltage drops rapidly in start and within few minutes stablizes at 10.86V. Then it gradually depletes with time.
  2. After 6 hours testing, voltage dropped to 9.56V.
  3. Next day, when I started it for further testing considering sufficient charge would be available in battery, it started and stopped working. I changed with fully recharge battery (12.23V) but it didn't start.
  4. I checked voltage at different point in circuit. below are details
    a. Batterry voltage 9.3V
    b. Voltage at Pro Mini Raw 8.7V (drop due to diode)
    c. Voltage at Pro Mini voltage regulator (LG50) IN - 1.15V
    d. Voltage at Pro Mini voltage regulator OUT - 1.15V
    e. Voltage drop between Raw and voltage regulator is 7.85V

With above, pro mini voltage regulator failed due to some reason not able to understand why.
Now I want to replace voltage regulator considering voltage would be culprit. I want to replace LG50 with SPX3819 which has higher voltage range 2.5V to 16V in comparision with LG50 range of 12V. Both have current range of 500mA. Attaching data sheet of both

  1. Please guide on above .
  2. Why voltage drops rapidly in start?

Regards
MIC5219-500mA-Peak-Output-LDO-Regulator-DS20006021A.pdf (1.2 MB)
SPX3819-1888965.pdf (1.1 MB)

10

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