The initial sensor area is located near a shed which has mains power, and mains power will be used to power the sensor module. While it would be relatively simple to run a mains extension cord from inside the shed to the sensor box, it would be in contravention of the local electrical code unless installed by a licenced electrician. To overcome this issue, a D.C. power supply will be installed in the shed and low voltage D.C. cabling run out to the sensor box.
The higher the D.C. voltage, the lower the current that will need to be drawn, which will reduce the I2R power loss in the feeder cables. Looking at the readily available, reasonably priced power supplies, it has been decided that a +24V power supply will be used as the primary power supply. This could be directly used if it was later decided to power the second set of sensors using Power over Ethernet (PoE). Where practical, DC-DC regulators based on the LM2596 will be used to obtain the desired voltages for the electronic equipment, and it peak conversion efficiency is around +24V input.
Initially, the Raspberry Pi Zero W was selected as the main processing element and would communicate via Wi-Fi. However, since there was a world-wide shortage of Pi Zeros at the start of the project, it was decided to use a Raspberry Pi 4 for the first stage of the project. This provided the option of connecting to the sensor system via the gigabit Ethernet link in the shed. As a result, the power consumption of the project has increased.
The higher the D.C. voltage, the lower the current that will need to be drawn, which will reduce the I2R power loss in the feeder cables. Looking at the readily available, reasonably priced power supplies, it has been decided that a +24V power supply will be used as the primary power supply. This could be directly used if it was later decided to power the second set of sensors using Power over Ethernet (PoE). Where practical, DC-DC regulators based on the LM2596 will be used to obtain the desired voltages for the electronic equipment, and it peak conversion efficiency is around +24V input.
Initially, the Raspberry Pi Zero W was selected as the main processing element and would communicate via Wi-Fi. However, since there was a world-wide shortage of Pi Zeros at the start of the project, it was decided to use a Raspberry Pi 4 for the first stage of the project. This provided the option of connecting to the sensor system via the gigabit Ethernet link in the shed. As a result, the power consumption of the project has increased.
