from Hacker News

Hardware and Firmware Issues in Using Ultra-Low Power MCUs

by pietrofmaggi on 1/5/15, 5:19 PM with 8 comments

• by keenerd on 1/5/15, 10:42 PM

  Just wanted to say that everything in this article about the MCU, capacitors and diodes is spot on. (I don't do work with coin cell batteries, but I do have experience with using very small rechargeables and very small solar panels.)

  To add to it, don't use zener diodes for over-voltage protection. They are extremely leaky. And if you need high value MLCC capacitors you are better off making them yourself from a stack of (more common) 10uF ceramic caps.

• by fpgaminer on 1/6/15, 2:51 AM

  Articles like these are great. For those working with ultra-low power MCUs, it's a gold mine of knowledge, data, and wisdom. For everyone else (like me), it finds value as an inspiration. The article stands as an example of what good engineering looks like; the kind of attention to detail and depth of thoughtfulness we should strive to pour into our own projects.

• by sp332 on 1/5/15, 9:31 PM

  Noob question: why doesn't dropping the voltage increase the current?

• by yuhong on 1/5/15, 10:15 PM

  I wonder if it is possible to actually design a battery that has 20-30 years life.