1. sensor on time. that sounds like a good idea. but the sensor needs time to stabilize once it goes on. also, during the stabilization period it squeaks out random out put signals.
2. currently it runs on 5v reg voltage. however it can run on 3.3 to 3.7. I use 3.7v lith batteries and it steps the out put to 5v. I use one of those portable back up phone charges only there are 3 and sometimes 4 batteries in parallel.
that's about to change and I will just power with the 3.7v parallel battery packs and figure out an undercharge circuit protection/ charging system later.
today I was met with a challenge. the 12v digital timer circuit with the mechanical relay "appears" (can't find a schematic) to always have 12v power going to it. and it seems that it uses the ground (and a transistor) to switch the electromagnet on/complete the circuit. I based that on the diode that protects from the collapse of the magnetic field.
it has 17 different ON/OFF capabilities and lets you choose what ever day or days you want it to operate, darn!
I am progressing nicely on my transistor studies so it hasn't been a wash out of a day.
I have learned something.
Hi,
Well if something takes too much time to boot up, then it may not make a good candidate for duty cycling. It depends on the required duty cycle too though. If it boots in 1 second and you only need to check the scene every 10 seconds, then you can power down for 8 or 9 seconds and power up for 1 second or so, and that may do it. If you need to see the scene every 2 seconds you cant save as much obviously. It is one of those things, may work for some sensors not for others. In some cases all you can do is increase battery capacity so you get longer run time.