Kit demos solar-powered sensor network

Kit combines thin-film battery, solar panel, MCU, and transceiver for always-on wireless sensor network

The eZ430-RF2500-SEH solar-energy-harvesting development kit uses ambient light to power an always-on wireless sensor network. The kit combines a Cymbet EnerChip solid-state lithium thin-film battery with a micropower MSP430 MCU, a CC2500 2.4-GHz RF transceiver, a small solar panel, and the eZ430-RF2500 development tool. The design highlights the elimination of system batteries, which cost time and money to periodically replace, especially in remote locations.

The solar panel connected through the EnerChip energy-harvesting module delivers enough power to run the wireless application even under low ambient light. EnerChips allow the design to send up to 400 transmissions from a single charge when no ambient light is available.

The kit also includes a demo CD, code examples, demo source code, and user guides. (Complete kit, $149 — available now.)

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