Low power datalogger for hydrometeorological variables in high mountain based on ESP32, LDO with low quiescent current and P-channel MOSFET

Lujan-Leon J.P.; Alvarado-Lugo R.A.; Coaguila S.; Obando L.T.; Campana J.C.; Anacona P.I. · Proceedings of the IEEE Central America and Panama Convention, CONCAPAN (2024) · DOI: 10.1109/concapan63470.2024.10933604

Resumen

The monitoring of hydrometeorological variables in high mountain regions is crucial for understanding the impacts of climate change and managing water resources. This study presents the development of a low power datalogger designed for long-term deployment in remote, high-altitude environments. The datalogger integrates a ESP32, a low dropout regulator (LDO) with low quiescent current and a P-channel MOSFET to optimize energy consumption, achieving an autonomy of approximately 15 months with a 18650 battery (1800 mAh). The device supports various communication protocols to measure key hydrometeorological parameters such as wind speed and direction, solar radiation, surface temperature, and atmospheric pressure and humidity. Field tests demonstrated consistent performance, with a power consumption of 14 μA in deep sleep mode. This design ensures reliable data collection with minimal maintenance, making it a valuable tool for environmental monitoring in challenging high mountain conditions.