.NET nanoFramework RAK11200 – Brownout Voltage Revisited

The voltage my test setup was calculating looked wrong, then I realised that the sample calculation in the RAK Wireless forums wasn’t applicable to my setup.

I reassembled my RAK11200 WisBlock WiFi Module, RAK19001 WisBlock Base Board, RAK1901 WisBlock Temperature and Humidity Sensor, 1200mAH Lithium Polymer (LiPo) battery, SKU920100 Solar Board test setup, put a new 9V battery (I had forgotten to turn it off last-time) in my multimeter then collected some data. A=ReadValue(), C= ReadRatio(), E= measured battery voltage.

Excel spreadsheet for calculating ratio

I updated the formula used to calculate the battery voltage and deployed the application

public static void Main()
{
    Debug.WriteLine($"{DateTime.UtcNow:HH:mm:ss} devMobile.IoT.RAK.Wisblock.AzureIoTHub.RAK11200.PowerSleep starting");

    Thread.Sleep(5000);

    try
    {
        double batteryVoltage;

        Configuration.SetPinFunction(Gpio.IO04, DeviceFunction.I2C1_DATA);
        Configuration.SetPinFunction(Gpio.IO05, DeviceFunction.I2C1_CLOCK);

        Debug.WriteLine($"{DateTime.UtcNow:HH:mm:ss} Battery voltage measurement");

        // Configure Analog input (AIN0) port then read the "battery charge"
        AdcController adcController = new AdcController();

        using (AdcChannel batteryVoltageAdcChannel = adcController.OpenChannel(AdcControllerChannel))
        {
            batteryVoltage = batteryVoltageAdcChannel.ReadValue() / 723.7685;

            Debug.WriteLine($" BatteryVoltage {batteryVoltage:F2}");

            if (batteryVoltage < Config.BatteryVoltageBrownOutThreshold)
            {
                Sleep.EnableWakeupByTimer(Config.FailureRetryInterval);
                Sleep.StartDeepSleep();
            }
        }
        catch (Exception ex)
        {
...    
}

To test the accuracy of the voltage calculation I am going to run my setup on the office windowsill for a week regularly measuring the voltage. Then, turn the solar panel over (so the battery is not getting charged) and monitor the battery discharging until the RAK11200 WisBlock WiFi Module won’t connect to the network.

.NET nanoFramework RAK11200 – Brownout Voltage

My test setup was a RAK11200 WisBlock WiFi Module, RAK19001 WisBlock Base Board, RAK1901 WisBlock Temperature and Humidity Sensor, 1200mAH Lithium Polymer (LiPo) battery and SKU920100 Solar Board. The test setup uploads temperature, humidity and battery voltage telemetry to an Azure IoT Hub every 5 minutes (short delay so battery life reduced).

The first step was to check that I could get a “battery voltage” value for the RAKWireless RAK11200 WisBlock WiFi Module on a RAK19001 WisBlock Base Board for managing “brownouts” and send to my Azure IoT Hub.

RAK19001 Power supply schematic

The RAK19001 WisBlock Base Board has a voltage divider (R4&R5 with output ADC_VBAT) which is connected to pin 21(AIN0) on the CPU slot connector.

RAK19001 connector schematic

The RAK19001 WisBlock Base Board has quite a low leakage current so the majority of the power consumption should be the RAK11200 WisBlock WiFi Module.

RAK19001 leakage current from specifications

I used AdcController + AdcChannel to read AIN0 and modified the code using the formula (for a RAK4631 module) in the RAK Wireless forums to calculate the battery voltage. (UPDATE This calculation is not applicable to my scenario)

RAK11200 Schematic with battery voltage analog input highlighted

When “slept” the RAK11200 WisBlock WiFi Module power consumption is very low

RAK11200 low power current from specifications
public static void Main()
{
    Debug.WriteLine($"{DateTime.UtcNow:HH:mm:ss} devMobile.IoT.RAK.Wisblock.AzureIoTHub.RAK11200.PowerSleep starting");

    Thread.Sleep(5000); // This do debugger can attach consider removing in realease version

    try
    {
        double batteryVoltage;

        Configuration.SetPinFunction(Gpio.IO04, DeviceFunction.I2C1_DATA);
        Configuration.SetPinFunction(Gpio.IO05, DeviceFunction.I2C1_CLOCK);

        Debug.WriteLine($"{DateTime.UtcNow:HH:mm:ss} Battery voltage measurement");

        // Configure Analog input (AIN0) port then read the "battery charge"
        AdcController adcController = new AdcController();

        using (AdcChannel batteryVoltageAdcChannel = adcController.OpenChannel(AdcControllerChannel))
        {

            // https://forum.rakwireless.com/t/custom-li-ion-battery-voltage-calculation-in-rak4630/4401/7
            // When I checked with multimeter I had to increase 1.72 to 1.9
            batteryVoltage = batteryVoltageAdcChannel.ReadValue() * (3.0 / 4096) * 1.9;

            Debug.WriteLine($" BatteryVoltage {batteryVoltage:F2}");

            if (batteryVoltage < Config.BatteryVoltageBrownOutThreshold)
            {
                Sleep.EnableWakeupByTimer(Config.FailureRetryInterval);
                Sleep.StartDeepSleep();
            }
        }

        Debug.WriteLine($"{DateTime.UtcNow:HH:mm:ss} Wifi connecting");

        if (!WifiNetworkHelper.ConnectDhcp(Config.Ssid, Config.Password, requiresDateTime: true))
        {
            if (NetworkHelper.HelperException != null)
            {
                Debug.WriteLine($"{DateTime.UtcNow:HH:mm:ss} WifiNetworkHelper.ConnectDhcp failed {NetworkHelper.HelperException}");
            }

            Sleep.EnableWakeupByTimer(Config.FailureRetryInterval);
            Sleep.StartDeepSleep();
        }
        Debug.WriteLine($"{DateTime.UtcNow:HH:mm:ss} Wifi connected");

        // Configure the SHTC3 
        I2cConnectionSettings settings = new(I2cDeviceBusID, Shtc3.DefaultI2cAddress);

        string payload ;

        using (I2cDevice device = I2cDevice.Create(settings))
        using (Shtc3 shtc3 = new(device))
        {
            if (shtc3.TryGetTemperatureAndHumidity(out var temperature, out var relativeHumidity))
            {
                Debug.WriteLine($" Temperature {temperature.DegreesCelsius:F1}°C Humidity {relativeHumidity.Value:F0}% BatteryVoltage {batteryVoltage:F2}");

                payload = $"{{\"RelativeHumidity\":{relativeHumidity.Value:F0},\"Temperature\":{temperature.DegreesCelsius:F1}, \"BatteryVoltage\":{batteryVoltage:F2}}}";
            }
            else
            {
                Debug.WriteLine($" BatteryVoltage {batteryVoltage:F2}");

                payload = $"{{\"BatteryVoltage\":{batteryVoltage:F2}}}";
            }

#if SLEEP_SHT3C
            shtc3.Sleep();
#endif
        }

        // Configure the HttpClient uri, certificate, and authorization
        string uri = $"{Config.AzureIoTHubHostName}.azure-devices.net/devices/{Config.DeviceID}";

        HttpClient httpClient = new HttpClient()
        {
            SslProtocols = System.Net.Security.SslProtocols.Tls12,
            HttpsAuthentCert = new X509Certificate(Config.DigiCertBaltimoreCyberTrustRoot),
            BaseAddress = new Uri($"https://{uri}/messages/events?api-version=2020-03-13"),
        };
        httpClient.DefaultRequestHeaders.Add("Authorization", SasTokenGenerate(uri, Config.Key, DateTime.UtcNow.Add(Config.SasTokenRenewFor)));

        Debug.WriteLine($"{DateTime.UtcNow:HH:mm:ss} Azure IoT Hub device {Config.DeviceID} telemetry update start");

        HttpResponseMessage response = httpClient.Post("", new StringContent(payload));

        Debug.WriteLine($"{DateTime.UtcNow:HH:mm:ss} Response code:{response.StatusCode}");

        response.EnsureSuccessStatusCode();
    }
    catch (Exception ex)
    {
        Debug.WriteLine($"{DateTime.UtcNow:HH:mm:ss} Azure IoT Hub telemetry update failed:{ex.Message} {ex?.InnerException?.Message}");

        Sleep.EnableWakeupByTimer(Config.FailureRetryInterval);
        Sleep.StartDeepSleep();
    }

    Sleep.EnableWakeupByTimer(Config.TelemetryUploadInterval);
#if SLEEP_LIGHT
    Sleep.StartLightSleep();
#endif
#if SLEEP_DEEP
    Sleep.StartDeepSleep();
#endif
}

The nanoFramework.Hardware.Esp32.Sleep functionality supports LightSleep and DeepSleep states. The ESP32 device can be “woken up” by GPIO pin(s), Touch pad activity or by a Timer.

RAK11200+RAK19007+RAK1901+ LiPo battery test rig

After some “tinkering” I found the voltage calculation was surprisingly accurate (usually within 0.01V) for my RAK19001 and RAK19007 base boards.

When the battery voltage was close to its minimum working voltage of the ESP32 device it would reboot when the WifiNetworkHelper.ConnectDhcp method was called. This would quickly drain the battery flat even when the solar panel was trying to charge the battery.

Now, before trying to connect to the wireless network the battery voltage is checked and if too low (more experimentation required) the device goes into a deep sleep for a configurable period (more experimentation required). This is so the solar panel can charge the battery to a level where wireless connectivity will work.

.NET nanoFramework RAK11200 – Azure IoT Hub HTTP Power conservation

My test setup was a RAK11200 WisBlock WiFi Module, RAK19007 WisBlock Base Board, RAK1901 WisBlock Temperature and Humidity Sensor and Keweisi KWS-MX19 USB Tester DC 4V-30V 0-5A Current Voltage Detector to measure the power consumption of my test setup.

RAK11200 + RAK19007 +RAK1901+Keweisi KWS-MX19 test setup

The baseline version of the RAK11200 WisBlock WiFi Module software had no power conservation functionality.

public static void Main()
{
    DateTime sasTokenValidUntilUtc = DateTime.UtcNow;

    Debug.WriteLine($"{DateTime.UtcNow:HH:mm:ss} devMobile.IoT.RAK.Wisblock.AzureIoTHub.RAK11200.PowerConservation starting");

    Configuration.SetPinFunction(Gpio.IO04, DeviceFunction.I2C1_DATA);
    Configuration.SetPinFunction(Gpio.IO05, DeviceFunction.I2C1_CLOCK);

    if (!WifiNetworkHelper.ConnectDhcp(Config.Ssid, Config.Password, requiresDateTime: true))
    {
        if (NetworkHelper.HelperException != null)
        {
             Debug.WriteLine($"{DateTime.UtcNow:HH:mm:ss} WifiNetworkHelper.ConnectDhcp failed {NetworkHelper.HelperException}");
        }

        Thread.Sleep(Timeout.Infinite);
    }

    string uri = $"{Config.AzureIoTHubHostName}.azure-devices.net/devices/{Config.DeviceID}";

    // not setting Authorization here as it will change as SAS Token refreshed
    HttpClient httpClient = new HttpClient
    {
        SslProtocols = System.Net.Security.SslProtocols.Tls12,
        HttpsAuthentCert = new X509Certificate(Config.DigiCertBaltimoreCyberTrustRoot),
        BaseAddress = new Uri($"https://{uri}/messages/events?api-version=2020-03-13"),
    };

    I2cConnectionSettings settings = new(I2cDeviceBusID, Shtc3.DefaultI2cAddress);
    I2cDevice device = I2cDevice.Create(settings);
    Shtc3 shtc3 = new(device);

    AdcController adcController = new AdcController();
    AdcChannel batteryChargeAdcChannel = adcController.OpenChannel(AdcControllerChannel);

    string sasToken = "";

    while (true)
    {
        DateTime standardisedUtcNow = DateTime.UtcNow;

        Debug.WriteLine($"{DateTime.UtcNow:HH:mm:ss} Azure IoT Hub device {Config.DeviceID} telemetry update start");

        if (sasTokenValidUntilUtc <= standardisedUtcNow)
        {
            sasTokenValidUntilUtc = standardisedUtcNow.Add(Config.SasTokenRenewEvery);

            sasToken = SasTokenGenerate(uri, Config.Key, sasTokenValidUntilUtc);

            Debug.WriteLine($" Renewing SAS token for {Config.SasTokenRenewFor} valid until {sasTokenValidUntilUtc:HH:mm:ss dd-MM-yy}");
        }

        if (!shtc3.TryGetTemperatureAndHumidity(out var temperature, out var relativeHumidity))
        {
            Debug.WriteLine($" Temperature and Humidity read failed");

            continue;
        }

        double batteryCharge = batteryChargeAdcChannel.ReadRatio() * 100.0;

        Debug.WriteLine($" Temperature {temperature.DegreesCelsius:F1}°C Humidity {relativeHumidity.Value:F0}% BatteryCharge {batteryCharge:F1}%");

        string payload = $"{{\"RelativeHumidity\":{relativeHumidity.Value:F0},\"Temperature\":{temperature.DegreesCelsius.ToString("F1")}, \"BatteryCharge\":{batteryCharge:F1}}}";

        try
        {
            using (HttpContent content = new StringContent(payload))
            {
                content.Headers.Add("Authorization", sasToken);

                using (HttpResponseMessage response = httpClient.Post("", content))
                {
                    Console.WriteLine($"{DateTime.UtcNow:HH:mm:ss} Response code:{response.StatusCode}");

                    response.EnsureSuccessStatusCode();
                 }
            }
        }
        catch (Exception ex)
        {
            Debug.WriteLine($"{DateTime.UtcNow:HH:mm:ss} Azure IoT Hub POST failed:{ex.Message} {ex?.InnerException?.Message}");
        }

        Debug.WriteLine($"{DateTime.UtcNow:HH:mm:ss} Azure IoT Hub telemetry update done");

        Thread.Sleep(Config.TelemetryUploadInterval);
    }
}

When the program was “idle” the current varied between 0.067A to 0.074A with “spikes” when transmitting.

The second version of the application could be configured to “sleep” the RAK11200 WisBlock WiFi Module and RAK1901 WisBlock Temperature and Humidity Sensor. The RAK11200 WisBlock WiFi Module can be put into a LightSleep or DeepSleep.

public static void Main()
{
    Debug.WriteLine($"{DateTime.UtcNow:HH:mm:ss} devMobile.IoT.RAK.Wisblock.AzureIoTHub.RAK11200.PowerSleep starting");

    Thread.Sleep(5000);

    try
    {
        Configuration.SetPinFunction(Gpio.IO04, DeviceFunction.I2C1_DATA);
        Configuration.SetPinFunction(Gpio.IO05, DeviceFunction.I2C1_CLOCK);

        Debug.WriteLine($"{DateTime.UtcNow:HH:mm:ss} Wifi connecting");

        if (!WifiNetworkHelper.ConnectDhcp(Config.Ssid, Config.Password, requiresDateTime: true))
       {
            if (NetworkHelper.HelperException != null)
            {
                 Debug.WriteLine($"{DateTime.UtcNow:HH:mm:ss} WifiNetworkHelper.ConnectDhcp failed {NetworkHelper.HelperException}");
            }

            Sleep.EnableWakeupByTimer(Config.FailureRetryInterval);
            Sleep.StartDeepSleep();
        }

        Debug.WriteLine($"{DateTime.UtcNow:HH:mm:ss} Wifi connected");

        // Configure the SHTC3 
        I2cConnectionSettings settings = new(I2cDeviceBusID, Shtc3.DefaultI2cAddress);
        I2cDevice device = I2cDevice.Create(settings);
        Shtc3 shtc3 = new(device);

        // Assuming that if TryGetTemperatureAndHumidity fails accessing temperature or relativeHumidity will cause an exception
        shtc3.TryGetTemperatureAndHumidity(out var temperature, out var relativeHumidity);

#if SLEEP_SHT3C
        shtc3.Sleep();
#endif

        // Configure Analog input (AIN0) port then read the "battery charge"
        AdcController adcController = new AdcController();
        AdcChannel batteryChargeAdcChannel = adcController.OpenChannel(AdcControllerChannel);

        double batteryCharge = batteryChargeAdcChannel.ReadRatio() * 100.0;

        Debug.WriteLine($" Temperature {temperature.DegreesCelsius:F1}°C Humidity {relativeHumidity.Value:F0}% BatteryCharge {batteryCharge:F1}");

        // Assemble the JSON payload, should use nanoFramework.Json
        string payload = $"{{\"RelativeHumidity\":{relativeHumidity.Value:F0},\"Temperature\":{temperature.DegreesCelsius.ToString("F1")}, \"BatteryCharge\":{batteryCharge:F1}}}";

        // Configure the HttpClient uri, certificate, and authorization
        string uri = $"{Config.AzureIoTHubHostName}.azure-devices.net/devices/{Config.DeviceID}";

        HttpClient httpClient = new HttpClient()
        {
            SslProtocols = System.Net.Security.SslProtocols.Tls12,
            HttpsAuthentCert = new X509Certificate(Config.DigiCertBaltimoreCyberTrustRoot),
            BaseAddress = new Uri($"https://{uri}/messages/events?api-version=2020-03-13"),
        };
        httpClient.DefaultRequestHeaders.Add("Authorization", SasTokenGenerate(uri, Config.Key, DateTime.UtcNow.Add(Config.SasTokenRenewFor)));

        Debug.WriteLine($"{DateTime.UtcNow:HH:mm:ss} Azure IoT Hub device {Config.DeviceID} telemetry update start");

        HttpResponseMessage response = httpClient.Post("", new StringContent(payload));

        Debug.WriteLine($"{DateTime.UtcNow:HH:mm:ss} Response code:{response.StatusCode}");

        response.EnsureSuccessStatusCode();
    }
    catch (Exception ex)
    {
        Debug.WriteLine($"{DateTime.UtcNow:HH:mm:ss} Azure IoT Hub telemetry update failed:{ex.Message} {ex?.InnerException?.Message}");

        Sleep.EnableWakeupByTimer(Config.FailureRetryInterval);
        Sleep.StartDeepSleep();
    }

    Sleep.EnableWakeupByTimer(Config.TelemetryUploadInterval);
#if SLEEP_LIGHT
    Sleep.StartLightSleep();
#endif
#if SLEEP_DEEP
    Sleep.StartDeepSleep();
#endif
 }

The LightSleep or DeepSleep based code is significantly less complex because the allocation and deallocation of resources does not have to be managed because the application is restarted when the WakeUp Timer triggers.

Both LightSleep and DeepSleep reduced the idle current to 0.000A. The Keweisi KWS-MX19 USB Tester DC 4V-30V 0-5A Current Voltage Detector is not a precision laboratory instrument. I couldn’t detect if sleeping the RAK1901 WisBlock Temperature and Humidity Sensor or LightSleep vs. DeepSleep made any difference. But it did show the power consumption of my setup could be significantly reduced by using the ESP32 LightSleep and DeepSleep functionality.

.NET nanoFramework RAK11200 – Azure IoT Hub HTTP battery charge monitoring

The first step was to check that I could get a “battery charge” value for the RAKWireless RAK11200 WisBlock WiFi Module on a RAK19007 WisBlock Base Board to send to an Azure IoT Hub.

RAK1702 Schematic with voltage divider to ADC_VBAT connection highlighted
RAK1701 Schematic with ADC_VBAT to CPU slot connection highlighted

The RAK19007 WisBlock Base Board has a voltage divider (R3&R4 with output ADC_VBAT) which is connected (via R7) to pin 21(AIN0) on the CPU slot connector.

RAK11200 schematic with CPU Slot to ESP32-WROVER-B connection highlighted

The AIN0(pin 21) of the RAK11200 WisBlock WiFi Module is connected to SENSOR_VP(pin4) of the Espressif ESP32-WROVER-B so I could measure the battery charge.

RAK11200+RAK19007+RAK1901+ LiPo battery test rig

My test setup was a RAK11200 WisBlock WiFi Module, RAK19007 WisBlock Base Board, RAK1901 WisBlock Temperature and Humidity Sensor and 1200mAH Lithium Polymer (LiPo) battery which uploads temperature, humidity and battery charge telemetry to an Azure IoT Hub every 10 minutes.

I used AdcController + AdcChannel to read the AIN0 value which was then inserted in the Java Script Object Notation(JSON) telemetry payload.

 public class Program
 {
     private const int I2cDeviceBusID = 1;
     private const int AdcControllerChannel = 0;

     public static void Main()
     {
         DateTime sasTokenValidUntilUtc = DateTime.UtcNow;

         Debug.WriteLine($"{DateTime.UtcNow:HH:mm:ss} devMobile.IoT.RAK.Wisblock.AzureIoTHub.RAK11200.PowerBaseline starting");

         Configuration.SetPinFunction(Gpio.IO04, DeviceFunction.I2C1_DATA);
         Configuration.SetPinFunction(Gpio.IO05, DeviceFunction.I2C1_CLOCK);

         if (!WifiNetworkHelper.ConnectDhcp(Config.Ssid, Config.Password, requiresDateTime: true))
         {
             if (NetworkHelper.HelperException != null)
             {
                 Debug.WriteLine($"{DateTime.UtcNow:HH:mm:ss} WifiNetworkHelper.ConnectDhcp failed {NetworkHelper.HelperException}");
             }

             Thread.Sleep(Timeout.Infinite);
         }

         string uri = $"{Config.AzureIoTHubHostName}.azure-devices.net/devices/{Config.DeviceID}";

         // not setting Authorization here as it will change as SAS Token refreshed
         HttpClient httpClient = new HttpClient
         {
             SslProtocols = System.Net.Security.SslProtocols.Tls12,
             HttpsAuthentCert = new X509Certificate(Config.DigiCertBaltimoreCyberTrustRoot),
             BaseAddress = new Uri($"https://{uri}/messages/events?api-version=2020-03-13"),
         };

         I2cConnectionSettings settings = new(I2cDeviceBusID, Shtc3.DefaultI2cAddress);
         I2cDevice device = I2cDevice.Create(settings);
         Shtc3 shtc3 = new(device);

         AdcController adcController = new AdcController();
         AdcChannel batteryChargeAdcChannel = adcController.OpenChannel(AdcControllerChannel);

         string sasToken = "";

         while (true)
         {
             DateTime standardisedUtcNow = DateTime.UtcNow;

             Debug.WriteLine($"{DateTime.UtcNow:HH:mm:ss} Azure IoT Hub device {Config.DeviceID} telemetry update start");

             if (sasTokenValidUntilUtc <= standardisedUtcNow)
             {
                 sasTokenValidUntilUtc = standardisedUtcNow.Add(Config.SasTokenRenewEvery);

                 sasToken = SasTokenGenerate(uri, Config.Key, sasTokenValidUntilUtc);

                 Debug.WriteLine($" Renewing SAS token for {Config.SasTokenRenewFor} valid until {sasTokenValidUntilUtc:HH:mm:ss dd-MM-yy}");
             }

             if (!shtc3.TryGetTemperatureAndHumidity(out var temperature, out var relativeHumidity))
             {
                 Debug.WriteLine($" Temperature and Humidity read failed");

                 continue;
             }

             double batteryCharge = batteryChargeAdcChannel.ReadRatio() * 100.0;

             Debug.WriteLine($" Temperature {temperature.DegreesCelsius:F1}°C Humidity {relativeHumidity.Value:F0}% BatteryCharge {batteryCharge:F1}%");

             string payload = $"{{\"RelativeHumidity\":{relativeHumidity.Value:F0},\"Temperature\":{temperature.DegreesCelsius.ToString("F1")}, \"BatteryCharge\":{batteryCharge:F1}}}";

             try
             {
                 using (HttpContent content = new StringContent(payload))
                 {
                     content.Headers.Add("Authorization", sasToken);

                     using (HttpResponseMessage response = httpClient.Post("", content))
                     {
                         Console.WriteLine($"{DateTime.UtcNow:HH:mm:ss} Response code:{response.StatusCode}");

                         response.EnsureSuccessStatusCode();
                     }
                 }
             }
             catch (Exception ex)
             {
                 Debug.WriteLine($"{DateTime.UtcNow:HH:mm:ss} Azure IoT Hub POST failed:{ex.Message} {ex?.InnerException?.Message}");
             }

             Debug.WriteLine($"{DateTime.UtcNow:HH:mm:ss} Azure IoT Hub telemetry update done");

             Thread.Sleep(Config.TelemetryUploadInterval);
         }
     }
...
}

I used Azure IoT Explorer to monitor the Azure IoT Hub device telemetry to see how BatteryCharge value decreased to a level where the device wouldn’t transmit.

Azure IoT Explorer telemetry – device connected to a USB charger (11:01:19) then un-plugged (11:02:02)
Azure IoT Explorer telemetry – Last two messages sent by the device

With no use of the “power conservation” functionality of the ESP32-WROVER-B powered by a 1200mAH battery the device ran for approximately 11hrs (11:00am – 10:00pm).

RAK2305 Wisblock AIN0 pin highlighted

I think the RAK2305 will not be able to measure “battery charge” as the SENSOR_VP pin on the Espressif ESP32-WROVER-B is not connected to AIN0.

.NET nanoFramework RAK11200 – Azure IoT Hub HTTP SAS Keys

This is a significantly improved .NET nanoFramework Azure IoT Hub client (inspired by this nanoFramework sample) which “automatically” generates and then renews the SAS Token connection string used for authorisation.

RAK11200 + RAL19001 + RAK1901 test hardware

My test setup was a RAKwireless RAK11200 WisBlock WiFi Module, RAK19001 WisBlock Dual IO Base Board and RAK1901 WisBlock Temperature and Humidity Sensor

public static void Main()
{
   DateTime sasTokenValidUntilUtc = DateTime.UtcNow;

   Debug.WriteLine($"{DateTime.UtcNow:HH:mm:ss} devMobile.IoT.RAK.Wisblock.AzureIoHub.RAK1901.SasKey starting");

...         
   string uri = $"{Config.AzureIoTHubHostName}.azure-devices.net/devices/{Config.DeviceID}";

   // not setting Authorization here as it will change as SAS Token refreshed
   _httpClient = new HttpClient
   {
      SslProtocols = System.Net.Security.SslProtocols.Tls12,
      HttpsAuthentCert = new X509Certificate(Config.DigiCertBaltimoreCyberTrustRoot),
      BaseAddress = new Uri($"https://{uri}/messages/events?api-version=2020-03-13"),
   };

   I2cConnectionSettings settings = new(I2cDeviceBusID, Shtc3.DefaultI2cAddress);
   I2cDevice device = I2cDevice.Create(settings);
   Shtc3 shtc3 = new(device);

   string sasToken = "";

   while (true)
   {
      DateTime standardisedUtcNow = DateTime.UtcNow;

      Debug.WriteLine($"{DateTime.UtcNow:HH:mm:ss} Azure IoT Hub device {Config.DeviceID} telemetry update start");

      if (sasTokenValidUntilUtc <= standardisedUtcNow)
      {
         sasTokenValidUntilUtc = standardisedUtcNow.Add(Config.SasTokenRenewEvery);

         sasToken = SasTokenGenerate(uri, Config.Key, sasTokenValidUntilUtc);

         Debug.WriteLine($" Renewing SAS token for {Config.SasTokenRenewFor} valid until {sasTokenValidUntilUtc:HH:mm:ss dd-MM-yy}");
      }

      if (!shtc3.TryGetTemperatureAndHumidity(out var temperature, out var relativeHumidity))
      {
         Debug.WriteLine($" Temperature and Humidity read failed");

         continue;
      }

      Debug.WriteLine($" Temperature {temperature.DegreesCelsius:F1}°C Humidity {relativeHumidity.Value:F0}%");

      string payload = $"{{\"RelativeHumidity\":{relativeHumidity.Value:F0},\"Temperature\":{temperature.DegreesCelsius.ToString("F1")}}}";

      try
      {
         using (HttpContent content = new StringContent(payload))
         {
            content.Headers.Add("Authorization", sasToken);

            using (HttpResponseMessage response = _httpClient.Post("", content))
            {
               Console.WriteLine($"{DateTime.UtcNow:HH:mm:ss} Response code:{response.StatusCode}");

               response.EnsureSuccessStatusCode();
            }
         }
      }
     catch (Exception ex)
     {
         Debug.WriteLine($"{DateTime.UtcNow:HH:mm:ss} Azure IoT Hub POST failed:{ex.Message} {ex?.InnerException?.Message}");
      }

      Debug.WriteLine($"{DateTime.UtcNow:HH:mm:ss} Azure IoT Hub telemetry update done");

      Thread.Sleep(Config.TelemetryUploadInterval);
   }
}

How long a SAS Token is valid for and how often it has to be renewed is specified in the config.cs file

public class Config
{
   public const string DeviceID = "RAK11200-RAK19001";
   public const string AzureIoTHubHostName = "...";
   public const string Key = "...";
   public readonly static TimeSpan SasTokenRenewFor = new TimeSpan(24, 0, 0);
   public readonly static TimeSpan SasTokenRenewEvery = new TimeSpan(0, 30, 0);
   public readonly static TimeSpan TelemetryUploadInterval = new TimeSpan(0, 10, 0);

   public const string Ssid = "Orcon-Wireless";
   public const string Password = "160220502280";
...
}

The SasTokenGenerate method is based on code from an old blog post “Azure IoT Hub SAS Tokens revisited again” from, late 2019

public static string SasTokenGenerate(string resourceUri, string key, DateTime sasKeyTokenUntilUtc)
{
   long sasKeyvalidUntilUtcUnix = sasKeyTokenUntilUtc.ToUnixTimeSeconds();

   string stringToSign = $"{HttpUtility.UrlEncode(resourceUri)}\n{sasKeyvalidUntilUtcUnix}";

   var hmac = SHA.computeHMAC_SHA256(Convert.FromBase64String(key), Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(stringToSign));

   string signature = Convert.ToBase64String(hmac);

   return $"SharedAccessSignature sr={HttpUtility.UrlEncode(resourceUri)}&sig={HttpUtility.UrlEncode(signature)}&se={sasKeyvalidUntilUtcUnix}";
}

I use Azure IoT Explorer to monitor the telemetry and the application appears to run reliably for weeks

Azure IoT Explorer displaying test rig telemetry(22/09)
Azure IoT Explorer displaying test rig telemetry(03/10)

.NET nanoFramework RAK11200 – Azure IoT Hub HTTP SAS Tokens

This is the simplest .NET nanoFramework Azure IoT Hub client I could come up with (inspired by this nanoFramework sample).

My test setup was a RAKwireless RAK11200 WisBlock WiFi Module, RAK5005 WisBlock Base Board or RAK19001 WisBlock Dual IO Base Board and RAK1901 WisBlock Temperature and Humidity Sensor

RAK112000+RAK5005-O+RAK1901 Test rig
RAK112000+RAK19001+RAK1901 Test rig

I used a RAK1901 WisBlock Temperature and Humidity Sensor because it has nanoFramework.IoTDevice library support

public class Program
{
    private static TimeSpan SensorUpdatePeriod = new TimeSpan(0, 30, 0);

    private static HttpClient _httpClient;

    public static void Main()
    {
        Debug.WriteLine("devMobile.IoT.RAK.Wisblock.AzureIoHub.RAK1901 starting");

        Configuration.SetPinFunction(Gpio.IO04, DeviceFunction.I2C1_DATA);
        Configuration.SetPinFunction(Gpio.IO05, DeviceFunction.I2C1_CLOCK);

        if (!WifiNetworkHelper.ConnectDhcp(Config.Ssid, Config.Password, requiresDateTime: true))
        {
            if (NetworkHelper.HelperException != null)
            {
                Debug.WriteLine($"WifiNetworkHelper.ConnectDhcp failed {NetworkHelper.HelperException}");
            }

            Thread.Sleep(Timeout.Infinite);
        }

        _httpClient = new HttpClient
        {
            SslProtocols = System.Net.Security.SslProtocols.Tls12,
            HttpsAuthentCert = new X509Certificate(Config.DigiCertBaltimoreCyberTrustRoot),
            BaseAddress = new Uri($"https://{Config.AzureIoTHubHostName}.azure-devices.net/devices/{Config.DeviceID}/messages/events?api-version=2020-03-13"),
        };
        _httpClient.DefaultRequestHeaders.Add("Authorization", Config.SasKey);

        I2cConnectionSettings settings = new(1, Shtc3.DefaultI2cAddress);
        I2cDevice device = I2cDevice.Create(settings);
        Shtc3 shtc3 = new(device);

        while (true)
        {
            if (shtc3.TryGetTemperatureAndHumidity(out var temperature, out var relativeHumidity))
            {
                Debug.WriteLine($"Temperature {temperature.DegreesCelsius:F1}°C  Humidity {relativeHumidity.Value:F0}%");

                string payload = $"{{\"RelativeHumidity\":{relativeHumidity.Value:F0},\"Temperature\":{temperature.DegreesCelsius.ToString("F1")}}}";

                try
                {
                    using (HttpContent content = new StringContent(payload))
                    using (HttpResponseMessage response = _httpClient.Post("", content))
                    {
                        Console.WriteLine($"{DateTime.UtcNow:HH:mm:ss} Response code:{response.StatusCode}");

                        response.EnsureSuccessStatusCode();
                    }
                }
                catch(Exception ex)
                {
                    Debug.WriteLine($"Azure IoT Hub POST failed:{ex.Message}");
                }
            }

            Thread.Sleep(SensorUpdatePeriod);
        }
    }
}

I generated the Azure IoT Hub Shared Access Signature(SAS) Tokens (10800 minutes is 1 week) with Azure IoT Explorer (Trim the SAS key so it starts with SharedAccessSignature sr=….)

Azure IoT Explorer SAS Token Generation

I was using Azure IoT Explorer to monitor the telemetry and found that the initial versions of the application would fail after 6 or 7 hours. After reviewing the code I added a couple of “using” statements which appear to have fixed the problem as the soak test has been running for 12hrs, 24hrs, 36hrs, 48hrs, 96hrs

.NET nanoFramework RAK2305 – I2C SHT3C

The RAKwireless RAK2305 WisBlock WiFi Interface module is also based on an Expressif ESP32 processor which is supported by the .NET nanoFramework. The RAK2305 WisBlock WiFi Interface module plugs into an IO Slot rather than a Core Slot so I wanted to see if Inter-Integrated Circuit(I2C) bus devices would work with it.

RAL2305 Schematic

The RAK2305 WisBlock WiFi Interface has one I2C port and TXD0/RXD0 are not connected to the base board’s Universal Serial Bus(USB) port.

RAK2305, RAK5005-O and RAK1901 test rig with the FTDI 3V3 pin disconnected

The I2C1 the SDA(serial data) and SCL(serial clock line) have to be mapped to physical pins on the Expressif ESP32 processor using the nanoFramework ESP32 support NuGet. package

                Configuration.SetPinFunction(Gpio.IO04, DeviceFunction.I2C1_DATA);
                Configuration.SetPinFunction(Gpio.IO05, DeviceFunction.I2C1_CLOCK)

The test project uses a RAK1901 WisBlock Temperature and Humidity Sensor(SHTC3) WisBlock Sensor (which has nanoFramework.IoTDevice library support) plugged into a RAK5005 WisBlock Base Board.

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Copyright (c) September 2022, devMobile Software
//
// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
// You may obtain a copy of the License at
//
//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
//
// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
// limitations under the License.
//
// https://docs.rakwireless.com/Product-Categories/WisBlock/RAK2305
//
// https://docs.rakwireless.com/Product-Categories/WisBlock/RAK11200
//
// https://store.rakwireless.com/products/rak1901-shtc3-temperature-humidity-sensor
//
// https://github.com/nanoframework/nanoFramework.IoT.Device/tree/develop/devices/Shtc3
//
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
namespace devMobile.IoT.RAK.Wisblock.RAK1901
{
   using System;
   using System.Diagnostics;
   using System.Device.I2c;
   using System.Threading;

   using nanoFramework.Hardware.Esp32;

   using Iot.Device.Shtc3;

   public class Program
   {
      public static void Main()
      {
         Debug.WriteLine("devMobile.IoT.RAK.Wisblock.RAK11200RAK1901 starting");

         try
         {
            // RAK11200 & RAK2305
            Configuration.SetPinFunction(Gpio.IO04, DeviceFunction.I2C1_DATA);
            Configuration.SetPinFunction(Gpio.IO05, DeviceFunction.I2C1_CLOCK);

            I2cConnectionSettings settings = new(1, Shtc3.DefaultI2cAddress);

            using (I2cDevice device = I2cDevice.Create(settings))
            using (Shtc3 shtc3 = new(device))
            {
               while (true)
               {
                  if (shtc3.TryGetTemperatureAndHumidity(out var temperature, out var relativeHumidity))
                  {
                     Debug.WriteLine($"Temperature {temperature.DegreesCelsius:F1}°C  Humidity {relativeHumidity.Value:F0}%");
                  }

                  Thread.Sleep(10000);
               }
            }
         }
         catch (Exception ex)
         {
            Debug.WriteLine($"SHTC3 initialisation or read failed {ex.Message}");

            Thread.Sleep(Timeout.Infinite);
         }
      }
   }
}
Visual Studio Output window displaying SHT31 temperature & humidity values

I tried to get the RAK2305 WisBlock WiFi Interface going on a RAK19001 WisBlock Dual IO Base Board but the RAK1901 WisBlock Temperature and Humidity Sensor wouldn’t work in any of the six WisBlock sensor ports.

RAK2305, RAK19001 and RAK1903 test rig with the FTDI 3V3 pin disconnected

The header pins I had to soldered onto RAK2305 WisBlock WiFi Interface had to be trimmed to it would fit on the RAK19001 WisBlock Dual IO Base Board.

RAK2305 Clearance issue on RAK19001

One of the RAK19001 WisBlock Dual IO Base Board product features is

“The power supply for the WisBlock modules boards can be controlled by the WisBlock Core modules to minimize power consumption”.

My configuration does not have WisBlock Core module so I think the WisBlock Sensor Module were not powered.

.NET nanoFramework RAK11200 – I2C SHT3C & SHT31

The RAKwireless RAK11200 WisBlock WiFi Module module is based on an Expressif ESP32 processor which is supported by the .NET nanoFramework and I wanted to explore the different ways Inter-Integrated Circuit(I2C) devices could be connected.

The RAK11200 WisBlock WiFi Module has two I2C ports and on the RAK5005 WisBlock Base Board the Wisblock Sensor, and RAK1920 WisBlock Sensor Adapter Module Grove Socket are connected to I2C1.

RAK11200 Schematic

The I2C1 the SDA(serial data) and SCL(serial clock line) have to be mapped to physical pins on the RAK11200 WisBlock WiFi Module using the nanoFramework ESP32 support NuGet. package

                Configuration.SetPinFunction(Gpio.IO04, DeviceFunction.I2C1_DATA);
                Configuration.SetPinFunction(Gpio.IO05, DeviceFunction.I2C1_CLOCK)

The first sample project uses a RAK1901 SHTC3 WisBlock Sensor because it plugs into the RAK5005 WisBlock Base Board.

RAK5005 Baseboard, RAK1901 Sensor and RAK11200 Core WisBlock modules
public static void Main()
{
    Debug.WriteLine("devMobile.IoT.RAK.Wisblock.SHTC3 starting");

    try
    {
        Configuration.SetPinFunction(Gpio.IO04, DeviceFunction.I2C1_DATA);
        Configuration.SetPinFunction(Gpio.IO05, DeviceFunction.I2C1_CLOCK);

        I2cConnectionSettings settings = new(1, Shtc3.DefaultI2cAddress);

        using (I2cDevice device = I2cDevice.Create(settings))
        using (Shtc3 shtc3 = new(device))
        {
            while (true)
            {
                if (shtc3.TryGetTemperatureAndHumidity(out var temperature, out var relativeHumidity))
                {
                    Debug.WriteLine($"Temperature {temperature.DegreesCelsius:F1}°C  Humidity {relativeHumidity.Value:F0}%");
                }

                Thread.Sleep(10000);
            }
        }
    }
    catch (Exception ex)
    {
        Debug.WriteLine($"SHTC3 initialisation or read failed {ex.Message}");

        Thread.Sleep(Timeout.Infinite);
    }
}
Visual Studio Output window displaying SHT3C temperature & humidity values

The second sample uses a Seeedstudio Grove – Temperature & Humidity Sensor (SHT31) pluged into a RAK1920 Sensor Adapter for Click, QWIIC and Grove Modules.

RAK5005 Baseboard, RAK1920 Sensor, RAK11200 Core WisBlock modules and Seeedstudio Grove SHT31
public static void Main()
{
    Debug.WriteLine("devMobile.IoT.RAK.Wisblock.SHT31 starting");

    try
    {
        Configuration.SetPinFunction(Gpio.IO04, DeviceFunction.I2C1_DATA);
        Configuration.SetPinFunction(Gpio.IO05, DeviceFunction.I2C1_CLOCK);

        I2cConnectionSettings settings = new(1, (byte)I2cAddress.AddrLow);

        using (I2cDevice device = I2cDevice.Create(settings))
        using (Sht3x sht31 = new(device))
        {

            while (true)
            {
                var temperature = sht31.Temperature;
                var relativeHumidity = sht31.Humidity;

                Debug.WriteLine($"Temperature {temperature.DegreesCelsius:F1}°C  Humidity {relativeHumidity.Value:F0}%");

                Thread.Sleep(10000);
            }
        }
    }
    catch (Exception ex)
    {
        Debug.WriteLine($"SHT31 initialisation or read failed {ex.Message}");

        Thread.Sleep(Timeout.Infinite);
     }
}
Visual Studio Output window displaying SHT31 temperature & humidity values

The SHTC3 and SHT31 sensors were used because they both have nanoFramework.IoTDevice library support.