Cannot get a reading from Efergy

hardya · **Joined:** Wed Dec 14, 2011 11:02 am **Posts:** 120

Do any one have any thoughts on this issue? I can try to add some debug code into the relevant functions in the api to get some trace on their behaviour in this particular failure case.

Might that be useful?

libelium-dev · **Joined:** Mon Sep 28, 2009 1:06 pm **Posts:** 7499

Hi hardya,

we are on it, but in august we are a bit short of staff owing to summer holidays, we will need you to be a bit patient, we will give you an answer as soon as possible.

Regards.

hardya · **Joined:** Wed Dec 14, 2011 11:02 am **Posts:** 120

OK, cool. I shall do some debug output as well any way and give my observations as there is always a possibility it may shed some light.

Also if there is any way to contact any one else who has used efergy with the old boards that would be good.

Thanks again.

hardya · **Joined:** Wed Dec 14, 2011 11:02 am **Posts:** 120

Hi, just wondered how you are getting on with this and whether you have anything to report / suggest.

Is there any particular debug output you would like me to produce to help resolve the problem.

I can probably add debug to certain areas of the api code that is being called upon during the execution of my program making those calls, if that may shed light on the problem.

If so, please let me know the best places to place debug and what you would like to get visibility of.

Regards,

Andrew

libelium-dev · **Joined:** Mon Sep 28, 2009 1:06 pm **Posts:** 7499

hardya,

Sorry for our delay, part of our team is on Holidays till next week.

We will be back to you ASAP.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

Regards.

hardya · **Joined:** Wed Dec 14, 2011 11:02 am **Posts:** 120

Fair enough, but what about...

Quote:

Is there any particular debug output you would like me to produce to help resolve the problem.

I can probably add debug to certain areas of the api code that is being called upon during the execution of my program making those calls, if that may shed light on the problem.

If so, please let me know the best places to place debug and what you would like to get visibility of.

I can maybe do that in the mean time so they have it as soom as they are available to look at it.

hardya · **Joined:** Wed Dec 14, 2011 11:02 am **Posts:** 120

So do you want me to produce any debug then?

If so do you have any particular parts of the code and variables you want visibility to?

libelium-dev · **Joined:** Mon Sep 28, 2009 1:06 pm **Posts:** 7499

Hi hardya,

first of all, sorry for the delay in answering but summer months are pretty messy.

We have been performing some tests and think the best option is that you try to replicate our tests with your board, and check if you get the same results. API version used is v027.

I copy the code used at the end of this message. In it we turn on the Sensor Board and go through a series of states, advancing by sending any character through the USB. We start in a Waiting state and then advance through four different configurations of load resistor, 50 ohms, 100 ohms, 200 ohms and 500 ohms. We have used a 1500W source to measure the result, getting outputs of 0.36V, 0.69V, 1.0V and 2.0V approximately, noting a non-linear behavior but a clearly rising value, in the order of the one expected.

If you are still getting the same results as in your tests, i'm afraid we will have to start an RMA process, we will wait for your response.

This is the code we have used:

Quote:

void setup()
{
  USB.begin();
  USB.println("Start Smart Metering Efergy Example");

  SensorSmart.setBoardMode(SENS_ON);
}

void loop()
{

  ////////////////////////////

  while(USB.available()==0)
  {
    USB.println("Waiting");
    delay(500);
  }
  USB.flush();

  /////////////////////////////
  SensorSmart.setSensorMode(SENS_ON, SENS_SMART_EFERGY);
  SensorSmart.setLoadResistor(50);
  USB.println("50");
  delay(100);
  USB.flush();
  delay(100);
  while(USB.available()==0)
  {
    USB.print("Efergy: ");
    USB.println(SensorSmart.readValue(SENS_SMART_EFERGY));
    delay(500);
  }
  USB.flush();
  SensorSmart.setSensorMode(SENS_OFF, SENS_SMART_EFERGY);
  delay(100);
  /////////////////////////////

  /////////////////////////////
  SensorSmart.setSensorMode(SENS_ON, SENS_SMART_EFERGY);
  SensorSmart.setLoadResistor(100);
  USB.println("100");
  delay(100);
  USB.flush();
  delay(100);
  while(USB.available()==0)
  {
    USB.print("Efergy: ");
    USB.println(SensorSmart.readValue(SENS_SMART_EFERGY));
    delay(500);
  }
  USB.flush();
  SensorSmart.setSensorMode(SENS_OFF, SENS_SMART_EFERGY);
  delay(100);
  /////////////////////////////

  /////////////////////////////
  SensorSmart.setSensorMode(SENS_ON, SENS_SMART_EFERGY);
  SensorSmart.setLoadResistor(200);
  USB.println("200");
  delay(100);
  USB.flush();
  delay(100);
  while(USB.available()==0)
  {
    USB.print("Efergy: ");
    USB.println(SensorSmart.readValue(SENS_SMART_EFERGY));
    delay(500);
  }
  USB.flush();
  SensorSmart.setSensorMode(SENS_OFF, SENS_SMART_EFERGY);
  delay(100);
  /////////////////////////////

  /////////////////////////////
  SensorSmart.setSensorMode(SENS_ON, SENS_SMART_EFERGY);
  SensorSmart.setLoadResistor(500);
  USB.println("500");
  delay(100);
  USB.flush();
  delay(100);
  while(USB.available()==0)
  {
    USB.print("Efergy: ");
    USB.println(SensorSmart.readValue(SENS_SMART_EFERGY));
    delay(500);
  }
  USB.flush();
  SensorSmart.setSensorMode(SENS_OFF, SENS_SMART_EFERGY);
  delay(100);
  /////////////////////////////

}

Thank you very much for your patience, best regards.

hardya · **Joined:** Wed Dec 14, 2011 11:02 am **Posts:** 120

It seems to get your code to work one must send something TO the USB port to get anything back. This seemed to work best without the XBee Module. I would be interested in your comments regarding this.

I explained in my earlier post I had used 1kw and 2kw. I have no mechanism to match your test with exactly 1500 Watts. Therefore I used 2Kw. However the results are very similar with just 1Kw. With zero they are as expected, very small, e.g. 0.000345, etc.

I did not try every combination of different motes/sensor board/sensor as that would have taken for ever! However I did five tests and each test had a completely different set of Mote/Sensor board/Sensor. I think I bought 10 sensor boards and sensors, but I only have 5 here right now so have just tested the five. The results are below:

I am using efergy sensors and the OLD smart sensor boards without a version number. How will you be able to tell what is at fault and needs replacement?

Will you replacement them with the old or the new boards? If the new boards then how is calibration done?

Thanks.

TEST 1:

Code:

Start Smart Metering Efergy Example
50
Efergy: 0.1930533409
100
Efergy: 0.2225451946
200
Efergy: 0.2353513479
500
Efergy: 0.2531357288
Waiting
50
Efergy: 0.1931563377
100
Efergy: 0.2224078655
200
Efergy: 0.2349050283
500
Efergy: 0.2530327320
Waiting
50
Efergy: 0.1923323440
100
Efergy: 0.2220302104
200
Efergy: 0.2349050283
500
Efergy: 0.2531357288
Waiting
50
Efergy: 0.1927786636
100
Efergy: 0.2224078655
200
Efergy: 0.2354543447
500
Efergy: 0.2533760547
Waiting
50
Efergy: 0.1934653282
100
Efergy: 0.2226825237
200
Efergy: 0.1533646106
500
Efergy: 0.0007553216
Waiting
50
Efergy: 0.0007209888
100
Efergy: 0.0006866559
200
Efergy: 0.0006866559
500
Efergy: 

TEST 2:

Code:

500
Efergy: 0.2527923822
Efergy: 0.2527580499
Efergy: 0.2528610467
Waiting
Waiting
Waiting
Waiting
Waiting
Waiting
Waiting
Waiting
50
Efergy: 0.1936026573
Efergy: 0.1936369895
Efergy: 0.1939116573
Efergy: 0.1939459896
100
Efergy: 0.2229228496
Efergy: 0.2230945110
Efergy: 0.2233005285
Efergy: 0.2233005285
Efergy: 0.2231975317
200
Efergy: 0.2356946706
Efergy: 0.2355916738
Efergy: 0.2355573415
Efergy: 0.2355573415
Efergy: 0.2355916738
Efergy: 0.2355916738
500
Efergy: 0.2530327320
Efergy: 0.2530670642
Efergy: 0.2531013965
Efergy: 0.2530670642
Efergy: 0.2530670642
Efergy: 0.2531357288
Efergy: 0.2530670642
Efergy: 0.2532043933
Efergy: 0.2532387256
Efergy: 

TEST 3:

Code:

Waiting
Waiting
Waiting
50
Efergy: 0.1847791194
Efergy: 0.1848821163
Efergy: 0.1844701290
Efergy: 0.1844701290
Efergy: 0.1845387935
100
Efergy: 0.2141336679
Efergy: 0.2140993356
Efergy: 0.2140306711
Efergy: 0.2141336679
Efergy: 0.2139963388
Efergy: 0.2143053293
Efergy: 0.2143396615
Efergy: 0.2145113468
Efergy: 0.2144426822
Efergy: 0.2145113468
Efergy: 0.2147516727
Efergy: 0.2148203372
Efergy: 0.2148203372
Efergy: 0.2146830081
Efergy: 0.2147173404
Efergy: 0.2146830081
Efergy: 0.2150606632
Efergy: 0.2150263309
Efergy: 0.2149576663
Efergy: 0.2149919986
Efergy: 0.2147860050
Efergy: 0.2149576663
Efergy: 0.2149919986
Efergy: 0.2149919986
Efergy: 0.2149233341
Efergy: 0.2150263309
200
Efergy: 0.2280384540
Efergy: 0.2280041217
Efergy: 0.2281071186
Efergy: 0.2282444477
Efergy: 0.2281757831
Efergy: 0.2281757831
Efergy: 0.2281757831
Efergy: 0.2280384540
Efergy: 0.2281757831
Efergy: 0.2282787799
Efergy: 0.2282444477
Efergy: 0.2281757831
Efergy: 0.2282444477
Efergy: 0.2284161090
Efergy: 0.2282787799
Efergy: 0.2282787799
Efergy: 0.2282444477
Efergy: 0.2281414508
Efergy: 0.2282101154
Efergy: 0.2282444477
Efergy: 0.2283474445
Efergy: 0.2281071186
Efergy: 0.2280727863
Efergy: 0.2280727863
Efergy: 0.2280384540
Efergy: 0.2282444477
Efergy: 0.2282444477
Efergy: 0.2283131122
Efergy: 0.2283474445
Efergy: 0.2285191059
500
Efergy: 0.2464065074
Efergy: 0.2465438365
Efergy: 0.2465781688
Efergy: 0.2464751720
Efergy: 0.2465438365
Efergy: 0.2465438365
Efergy: 0.2465095043
Waiting
Waiting
Waiting
Waiting
Waiting
Waiting
Waiting
Waiting
Waiting
50
Efergy: 0.1856031227
Efergy: 0.1858091163
Efergy: 0.1857747840
Efergy: 

TEST 4:

Code:

Waiting
Waiting
Waiting
50
Efergy: 0.1879720687
Efergy: 0.1878347396
Efergy: 0.1879034042
Efergy: 0.1877660751
Efergy: 0.1880407428
100
Efergy: 0.2178759336
Efergy: 0.2178416013
Efergy: 0.2177042722
Efergy: 0.2176699399
200
Efergy: 0.2305790901
Efergy: 0.2307850837
Efergy: 0.2307507514
Efergy: 0.2307850837
500
Efergy: 0.2490157842
Efergy: 0.2489471197
Efergy: 0.2489471197
Efergy: 0.2489814519
Efergy: 

TEST 5:

Code:

Waiting
Waiting
Waiting
50
Efergy: 0.1864271068
Efergy: 0.1864614391
Efergy: 0.1864957714
Efergy: 0.1865987682
Efergy: 0.1866331005
100
Efergy: 0.2169489622
Efergy: 0.2169489622
Efergy: 0.2169832944
Efergy: 0.2172236204
Efergy: 0.2172579526
Efergy: 0.2173609495
200
Efergy: 0.2306477546
Efergy: 0.2304417610
Efergy: 0.2304760932
Efergy: 0.2304760932
Efergy: 0.2304417610
Efergy: 0.2306134223
500
Efergy: 0.2487067937
Efergy: 0.2489471197
Efergy: 0.2487067937
Efergy: 0.2487411260
Efergy: 0.2487754583
Efergy: 0.2488784551
Efergy: 

libelium-dev · **Joined:** Mon Sep 28, 2009 1:06 pm **Posts:** 7499

Hi hardya,

Regarding the USB issue, yes, it awaits for you to send a character to the USB input of the microcontroller using a serial terminal. It was thought to read it directly from the computer because it is the easiest way with the configuration in our lab, but you may do the same with two XBees paired and configured in transparent mode, but you will have to turn them on in the code.

About the tests, it is pretty weird that you are getting so dispare results with all the five differente boards and five different sensors. With 1kW I'd expect lower values than with our results, but not that much, and of course an increase of the same order with the load resistance value, which we are not seeing in our results. If it were happening only with one mote I'd think of a hardware failure, in the board or the sensor, but it is pretty unlikely with five different boards and sensors. One question, to which wire did you connect the current clam?

Regards.