I’m doing a project, where I’m in the need of a low power consuming microcontroller but with enough outputs for UART, I2C and SPI for sensors. I would like to code it in Arduino as I know this and have acess for the libraries. Initially I’ve considered the Arduino mega, but as I only need one UART port I can use the Uno and make a bus for the I2C I think.
However the Uno still draws something like 300mW of what I can read, which is pretty much of my energy budget as it will be running all the time. Therefore I have a few questions:
Will it be a huge benefit to take out the micro controller ATmega328 when thinking of power?
1.a: Do you have any rough idea how much it would spare? 10%? 80%?
Would it be an impossible job for a guy without an exceptional understanding of hardcore electronics to do such a job?
There are plenty videos on Youtube explaining how you can reduce current consumption with and Atmega328. And some sites. (i.e. Nick Gammon: http://www.gammon.com.au/power) The old head-honcho of Sparkfun, Nate Seidle (?), also did an article about it years ago on the site here. The atmega328p is particularly suited for low power applications. As voltage for a microcontroller is usually kept constant it is easier to consider current consumption. So 300mW does not mean much if we don’t know what voltage that relates too. Though, for 5 volt operation 60mA would seem alot. You are definitely wasting some. The Uno has too many current draining extra parts, the USB to serial translator being the worst most likely. Learn how to make a bare-bones atmega328 schematic and you can get sleep modes down to micro amps. And once you start up you can use the UART or I2C or whatever internal peripheral.