Hi,
I've recently gotten around to building my doorbell mote from the LowPowerLab kit! I have it wired up and it appears to work. I have a similar setup as mentioned in this thread (https://lowpowerlab.com/forum/general-topics/bellmote-doorbell-detection-(solved)/msg10200/#msg10200) in that all wires meet at the chime instead of at the transformer.
The issue I have is that quick button presses are not always detected. The button needs to be held for about a second in order to ensure detection. Is this expected? While debugging the issue I also noted that it takes about 3 seconds for the chime pin to go back to low after a button press is detected. Here is some logging where the CLOSED message indicates HIGH on the chime pin while OPEN is LOW.
2016-11-10 13:02:50,398 - gateway - DEBUG - SERIAL: *RECV [RSSI=-33,SENDERID=6,DATALEN=35] /n6/d6/CLOSED
2016-11-10 13:02:54,219 - gateway - DEBUG - SERIAL: *RECV [RSSI=-33,SENDERID=6,DATALEN=35] /n6/d6/OPEN
2016-11-10 13:03:12,089 - gateway - DEBUG - SERIAL: *RECV [RSSI=-33,SENDERID=6,DATALEN=35] /n6/d6/CLOSED
2016-11-10 13:03:16,716 - gateway - DEBUG - SERIAL: *RECV [RSSI=-33,SENDERID=6,DATALEN=35] /n6/d6/OPEN
2016-11-10 16:47:55,907 - gateway - DEBUG - SERIAL: *RECV [RSSI=-33,SENDERID=6,DATALEN=35] /n6/d6/CLOSED
2016-11-10 16:48:01,734 - gateway - DEBUG - SERIAL: *RECV [RSSI=-33,SENDERID=6,DATALEN=35] /n6/d6/OPEN
2016-11-10 16:48:09,767 - gateway - DEBUG - SERIAL: *RECV [RSSI=-33,SENDERID=6,DATALEN=35] /n6/d6/CLOSED
2016-11-10 16:48:13,386 - gateway - DEBUG - SERIAL: *RECV [RSSI=-33,SENDERID=6,DATALEN=35] /n6/d6/OPEN
2016-11-10 16:48:24,633 - gateway - DEBUG - SERIAL: *RECV [RSSI=-33,SENDERID=6,DATALEN=35] /n6/d6/CLOSED
2016-11-10 16:48:28,053 - gateway - DEBUG - SERIAL: *RECV [RSSI=-33,SENDERID=6,DATALEN=35] /n6/d6/OPEN
2016-11-10 16:48:44,719 - gateway - DEBUG - SERIAL: *RECV [RSSI=-33,SENDERID=6,DATALEN=35] /n6/d6/CLOSED
2016-11-10 16:48:47,938 - gateway - DEBUG - SERIAL: *RECV [RSSI=-33,SENDERID=6,DATALEN=35] /n6/d6/OPEN
2016-11-10 16:49:06,847 - gateway - DEBUG - SERIAL: *RECV [RSSI=-33,SENDERID=6,DATALEN=35] /n6/d6/CLOSED
2016-11-10 16:49:10,068 - gateway - DEBUG - SERIAL: *RECV [RSSI=-33,SENDERID=6,DATALEN=35] /n6/d6/OPEN
2016-11-10 16:49:28,341 - gateway - DEBUG - SERIAL: *RECV [RSSI=-33,SENDERID=6,DATALEN=35] /n6/d6/CLOSED
2016-11-10 16:49:31,763 - gateway - DEBUG - SERIAL: *RECV [RSSI=-33,SENDERID=6,DATALEN=35] /n6/d6/OPEN
I'll also say that the red LED barely ever lights up. When it does, it's very dim. I believe I have everything soldered correctly. I'll send pics if it will help. Right now, I'm wondering if the sluggish behavior is explainable. I need to ensure I can catch those young spry "ring and run" kids! ;)
Thanks for you time!
Weird.
I would check the soldering to ensure it looks pristine. If you post a photo I can give my opinion.
Which bellmote kit do you have, the purple PCB or the red PCB?
But assuming soldering is good - what type of doorbell circuit/transformer do you have?
Can you measure the AC voltage on the 2 xformer taps? Typically that's an up to 24vac swing.
The BellMote circuit should react instantly, both to ON and OFF, I never saw a lag or delay either in RF response or the red LED. Wiring it the "right way" is also pretty crucial, but that's probably the main challenge of installing this kit, to figure out the "right" way since in AC there is no absolute ground, and getting the DETECT and DISABLE ports right is important.
Heh, I'm a software dev so my soldering is probably far from pristine. ;D My meter reads 12.5v. Red PCB. I'll attach a few pics...
Here are a few snaps! (http://imgur.com/a/gJOXI)
*EDIT: updated link with larger quality images
corywinter,
Can't seem to be able to zoom in on the picture but it appears that one side of the Red (ring) LED is a cold joint and the one end of the resister next to it also appears to be a cold joint.
Edit: Looking more at the photo it looks like there are more joints that could use some attention. What temperature is your iron set at? I would suggest going over all your joints.
Thanks sparky, I'll try to clean them up. I don't have a good iron. Nothing with a temperature control. I suspect it's set on "surface of the sun" temperature. Perhaps it's time to invest in something better.
Looks pretty ok although I'd agree revisiting some of those joints to ensure they are solid.
As far as wiring this is different than mine in the sense that the hookups are at the bell side rather than transformer side but GREEN at least means you get power and your Moteino is happy.
The other 2 wires is where it can get tricky but if your bell works it sounds like you got it right.
Let me know if after resoldering it's still acting the same way.
12v seems real low, usually these xformers are "16v" or "24v".
Thanks Felix. Everything seems solid to me, which is not a resounding endorsement I suppose. I'm still experiencing the same behavior. All the functionality "works", just detection is wonky. I can remote trigger and enable/disable the button. Were you able to determine from the pictures if I have everything constructed correctly? (separate from the soldering I mean) I didn't notice the delay in the chime signal returning slowly to LOW until I began investigating why quick button presses weren't being detected.
In other news, my family has been driven mad with the doorbell! Fun times. :)
I can't see the component close but I would double check polarity of everything and that transistors are matching their positions (they are different).
But again, sounds like everything is OK since all functionality is as expected less the delays which could be for some other reason I can't explain.
I would pull the oscilloscope to see that happens to the detection signal with respect to the doorbell action or xformer input.
I did all that on my bench to put together the blog posts and theory, see this post (https://lowpowerlab.com/2015/04/13/doorbell-moteino/).
That's about the only way I can think you can debug since this involves AC and you want to figure out why the delays are happening and that's not easy with a multimeter which just shows instantaneous readings.