1607 IoT Power Consumption Calculator

Estimate Battery Life and Optimize Energy Usage

1607.1 Power Consumption Calculator

Design Energy-Efficient IoT Devices

Calculate power consumption, estimate battery life, and explore optimization strategies for battery-powered IoT devices.

1607.2 Device Configuration

Show code

viewof deviceType = Inputs.select([
  "Custom Configuration",
  "Temperature Sensor (Simple)",
  "Environmental Monitor (Multi-sensor)",
  "GPS Tracker",
  "Smart Lock",
  "Industrial Vibration Sensor"
], {label: "Device Preset:", value: "Temperature Sensor (Simple)"})

// Preset configurations
presets = ({
  "Custom Configuration": { mcu: 5, sensor: 0.5, radio: 120, sleepMcu: 0.005, sleepSensor: 0.001, sleepRadio: 0.001, activeTime: 100, sleepTime: 60000 },
  "Temperature Sensor (Simple)": { mcu: 3, sensor: 0.3, radio: 40, sleepMcu: 0.002, sleepSensor: 0.001, sleepRadio: 0.001, activeTime: 50, sleepTime: 300000 },
  "Environmental Monitor (Multi-sensor)": { mcu: 8, sensor: 5, radio: 120, sleepMcu: 0.01, sleepSensor: 0.1, sleepRadio: 0.001, activeTime: 200, sleepTime: 60000 },
  "GPS Tracker": { mcu: 10, sensor: 25, radio: 150, sleepMcu: 0.01, sleepSensor: 0.5, sleepRadio: 0.001, activeTime: 5000, sleepTime: 300000 },
  "Smart Lock": { mcu: 15, sensor: 0.1, radio: 80, sleepMcu: 0.005, sleepSensor: 0.001, sleepRadio: 0.001, activeTime: 500, sleepTime: 0 },
  "Industrial Vibration Sensor": { mcu: 20, sensor: 10, radio: 120, sleepMcu: 0.05, sleepSensor: 1, sleepRadio: 0.001, activeTime: 1000, sleepTime: 60000 }
})

currentPreset = presets[deviceType]

1607.2.1 Component Power Draw

Show code

viewof mcuActiveCurrent = Inputs.range([0.1, 100], {
  label: "MCU Active Current (mA):",
  value: currentPreset.mcu,
  step: 0.1
})

viewof sensorActiveCurrent = Inputs.range([0, 50], {
  label: "Sensor Active Current (mA):",
  value: currentPreset.sensor,
  step: 0.1
})

viewof radioActiveCurrent = Inputs.range([0, 500], {
  label: "Radio TX Current (mA):",
  value: currentPreset.radio,
  step: 1
})

viewof mcuSleepCurrent = Inputs.range([0.001, 1], {
  label: "MCU Sleep Current (mA):",
  value: currentPreset.sleepMcu,
  step: 0.001
})

viewof sensorSleepCurrent = Inputs.range([0, 1], {
  label: "Sensor Sleep Current (mA):",
  value: currentPreset.sleepSensor,
  step: 0.001
})

viewof radioSleepCurrent = Inputs.range([0, 0.1], {
  label: "Radio Sleep Current (mA):",
  value: currentPreset.sleepRadio,
  step: 0.001
})

1607.2.2 Duty Cycle Configuration

Show code

viewof activeTimeMs = Inputs.range([10, 60000], {
  label: "Active Time per Cycle (ms):",
  value: currentPreset.activeTime,
  step: 10
})

viewof sleepTimeMs = Inputs.range([0, 3600000], {
  label: "Sleep Time per Cycle (ms):",
  value: currentPreset.sleepTime,
  step: 1000
})

viewof transmissionsPerCycle = Inputs.range([0, 10], {
  label: "Transmissions per Cycle:",
  value: 1,
  step: 1
})

viewof txDurationMs = Inputs.range([10, 5000], {
  label: "TX Duration per Transmission (ms):",
  value: 100,
  step: 10
})

1607.2.3 Battery Configuration

Show code

viewof batteryType = Inputs.select([
  "AA Alkaline (2500 mAh)",
  "AAA Alkaline (1200 mAh)",
  "CR2032 Coin Cell (225 mAh)",
  "CR123A Lithium (1500 mAh)",
  "18650 Li-Ion (2600 mAh)",
  "Custom"
], {label: "Battery Type:", value: "AA Alkaline (2500 mAh)"})

batteryCapacities = ({
  "AA Alkaline (2500 mAh)": 2500,
  "AAA Alkaline (1200 mAh)": 1200,
  "CR2032 Coin Cell (225 mAh)": 225,
  "CR123A Lithium (1500 mAh)": 1500,
  "18650 Li-Ion (2600 mAh)": 2600,
  "Custom": 1000
})

viewof batteryCapacity = Inputs.range([100, 10000], {
  label: "Battery Capacity (mAh):",
  value: batteryCapacities[batteryType],
  step: 50
})

viewof batteryCount = Inputs.range([1, 4], {
  label: "Number of Batteries:",
  value: 1,
  step: 1
})

viewof batteryEfficiency = Inputs.range([50, 100], {
  label: "Battery Efficiency (%):",
  value: 85,
  step: 5
})

1607.3 Power Analysis Results

Show code

calculations = {
  // Total active current (all components)
  const totalActiveCurrent = mcuActiveCurrent + sensorActiveCurrent;

  // TX current (MCU + radio)
  const txCurrent = mcuActiveCurrent + radioActiveCurrent;

  // Sleep current
  const totalSleepCurrent = mcuSleepCurrent + sensorSleepCurrent + radioSleepCurrent;

  // Cycle calculations
  const cycleTimeMs = activeTimeMs + sleepTimeMs;
  const txTimeMs = transmissionsPerCycle * txDurationMs;
  const processingTimeMs = activeTimeMs - txTimeMs;

  // Handle edge case where TX time exceeds active time
  const effectiveTxTime = Math.min(txTimeMs, activeTimeMs);
  const effectiveProcessingTime = Math.max(0, activeTimeMs - effectiveTxTime);

  // Energy per cycle (in mA*ms = µAh / 1000)
  const processingEnergy = totalActiveCurrent * effectiveProcessingTime;
  const txEnergy = txCurrent * effectiveTxTime;
  const sleepEnergy = totalSleepCurrent * sleepTimeMs;
  const cycleEnergy = processingEnergy + txEnergy + sleepEnergy;

  // Convert to µAh per cycle
  const cycleEnergyUah = cycleEnergy / 3600000 * 1000; // mA*ms to µAh

  // Cycles per hour
  const cyclesPerHour = cycleTimeMs > 0 ? 3600000 / cycleTimeMs : 0;

  // Average current (µA)
  const avgCurrentUa = cycleTimeMs > 0 ? (cycleEnergy / cycleTimeMs) * 1000 : 0;
  const avgCurrentMa = avgCurrentUa / 1000;

  // Duty cycle percentage
  const dutyCycle = cycleTimeMs > 0 ? (activeTimeMs / cycleTimeMs) * 100 : 100;

  // Battery life
  const totalCapacity = batteryCapacity * batteryCount * (batteryEfficiency / 100);
  const batteryLifeHours = avgCurrentMa > 0 ? totalCapacity / avgCurrentMa : Infinity;
  const batteryLifeDays = batteryLifeHours / 24;
  const batteryLifeMonths = batteryLifeDays / 30;
  const batteryLifeYears = batteryLifeDays / 365;

  return {
    totalActiveCurrent,
    txCurrent,
    totalSleepCurrent,
    cycleTimeMs,
    effectiveTxTime,
    effectiveProcessingTime,
    processingEnergy,
    txEnergy,
    sleepEnergy,
    cycleEnergy,
    cycleEnergyUah,
    cyclesPerHour,
    avgCurrentUa,
    avgCurrentMa,
    dutyCycle,
    totalCapacity,
    batteryLifeHours,
    batteryLifeDays,
    batteryLifeMonths,
    batteryLifeYears
  };
}

// Format battery life display
batteryLifeDisplay = {
  const years = calculations.batteryLifeYears;
  if (years >= 10) return `${years.toFixed(0)}+ years`;
  if (years >= 1) return `${years.toFixed(1)} years`;
  if (calculations.batteryLifeMonths >= 1) return `${calculations.batteryLifeMonths.toFixed(1)} months`;
  if (calculations.batteryLifeDays >= 1) return `${calculations.batteryLifeDays.toFixed(1)} days`;
  return `${calculations.batteryLifeHours.toFixed(1)} hours`;
}

html`
<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fit, minmax(200px, 1fr)); gap: 15px; margin: 20px 0;">
  <div style="background: linear-gradient(135deg, #27AE60, #2ECC71); padding: 25px; border-radius: 12px; text-align: center; color: white;">
    <div style="font-size: 36px; font-weight: bold;">${batteryLifeDisplay}</div>
    <div style="font-size: 14px; opacity: 0.9;">Estimated Battery Life</div>
  </div>

  <div style="background: linear-gradient(135deg, #3498DB, #5DADE2); padding: 25px; border-radius: 12px; text-align: center; color: white;">
    <div style="font-size: 36px; font-weight: bold;">${calculations.avgCurrentUa.toFixed(1)}</div>
    <div style="font-size: 14px; opacity: 0.9;">Average Current (µA)</div>
  </div>

  <div style="background: linear-gradient(135deg, #E67E22, #F39C12); padding: 25px; border-radius: 12px; text-align: center; color: white;">
    <div style="font-size: 36px; font-weight: bold;">${calculations.dutyCycle.toFixed(2)}%</div>
    <div style="font-size: 14px; opacity: 0.9;">Duty Cycle</div>
  </div>

  <div style="background: linear-gradient(135deg, #9B59B6, #8E44AD); padding: 25px; border-radius: 12px; text-align: center; color: white;">
    <div style="font-size: 36px; font-weight: bold;">${calculations.cyclesPerHour.toFixed(1)}</div>
    <div style="font-size: 14px; opacity: 0.9;">Cycles per Hour</div>
  </div>
</div>
`

1607.4 Energy Breakdown

Show code

energyPercentages = {
  const total = calculations.processingEnergy + calculations.txEnergy + calculations.sleepEnergy;
  return {
    processing: total > 0 ? (calculations.processingEnergy / total * 100) : 0,
    tx: total > 0 ? (calculations.txEnergy / total * 100) : 0,
    sleep: total > 0 ? (calculations.sleepEnergy / total * 100) : 0
  };
}

html`
<div style="background: white; border-radius: 12px; padding: 20px; box-shadow: 0 2px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.1);">
  <h4 style="margin-top: 0; color: #2C3E50;">Energy per Cycle Breakdown</h4>

  <div style="margin: 15px 0;">
    <div style="display: flex; justify-content: space-between; margin-bottom: 5px;">
      <span>Processing (MCU + Sensors)</span>
      <span style="font-weight: bold;">${energyPercentages.processing.toFixed(1)}%</span>
    </div>
    <div style="background: #eee; border-radius: 10px; height: 20px; overflow: hidden;">
      <div style="background: #3498DB; width: ${energyPercentages.processing}%; height: 100%;"></div>
    </div>
  </div>

  <div style="margin: 15px 0;">
    <div style="display: flex; justify-content: space-between; margin-bottom: 5px;">
      <span>Radio Transmission</span>
      <span style="font-weight: bold;">${energyPercentages.tx.toFixed(1)}%</span>
    </div>
    <div style="background: #eee; border-radius: 10px; height: 20px; overflow: hidden;">
      <div style="background: #E74C3C; width: ${energyPercentages.tx}%; height: 100%;"></div>
    </div>
  </div>

  <div style="margin: 15px 0;">
    <div style="display: flex; justify-content: space-between; margin-bottom: 5px;">
      <span>Sleep Mode</span>
      <span style="font-weight: bold;">${energyPercentages.sleep.toFixed(1)}%</span>
    </div>
    <div style="background: #eee; border-radius: 10px; height: 20px; overflow: hidden;">
      <div style="background: #27AE60; width: ${energyPercentages.sleep}%; height: 100%;"></div>
    </div>
  </div>

  <div style="margin-top: 20px; padding: 15px; background: #f8f9fa; border-radius: 8px;">
    <strong>Optimization Tip:</strong>
    ${energyPercentages.tx > 50
      ? html`<span style="color: #E74C3C;">Radio transmission dominates power usage. Consider reducing TX power, using shorter payloads, or transmitting less frequently.</span>`
      : energyPercentages.processing > 50
      ? html`<span style="color: #3498DB;">Processing dominates power usage. Optimize algorithms, reduce sensor sampling, or use lower MCU clock speed.</span>`
      : html`<span style="color: #27AE60;">Good balance! Sleep mode is the largest contributor, which is ideal for battery life.</span>`
    }
  </div>
</div>
`

1607.5 Detailed Calculations

Show code

html`
<div style="background: white; border-radius: 12px; padding: 20px; box-shadow: 0 2px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.1);">
  <h4 style="margin-top: 0; color: #2C3E50;">Calculation Details</h4>

  <table style="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 14px;">
    <tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;">
      <td style="padding: 10px;"><strong>Active Current (MCU + Sensors)</strong></td>
      <td style="padding: 10px; text-align: right;">${calculations.totalActiveCurrent.toFixed(2)} mA</td>
    </tr>
    <tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;">
      <td style="padding: 10px;"><strong>TX Current (MCU + Radio)</strong></td>
      <td style="padding: 10px; text-align: right;">${calculations.txCurrent.toFixed(2)} mA</td>
    </tr>
    <tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;">
      <td style="padding: 10px;"><strong>Sleep Current (Total)</strong></td>
      <td style="padding: 10px; text-align: right;">${(calculations.totalSleepCurrent * 1000).toFixed(1)} µA</td>
    </tr>
    <tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;">
      <td style="padding: 10px;"><strong>Processing Time per Cycle</strong></td>
      <td style="padding: 10px; text-align: right;">${calculations.effectiveProcessingTime.toFixed(0)} ms</td>
    </tr>
    <tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;">
      <td style="padding: 10px;"><strong>TX Time per Cycle</strong></td>
      <td style="padding: 10px; text-align: right;">${calculations.effectiveTxTime.toFixed(0)} ms</td>
    </tr>
    <tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;">
      <td style="padding: 10px;"><strong>Total Cycle Time</strong></td>
      <td style="padding: 10px; text-align: right;">${(calculations.cycleTimeMs / 1000).toFixed(1)} seconds</td>
    </tr>
    <tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;">
      <td style="padding: 10px;"><strong>Energy per Cycle</strong></td>
      <td style="padding: 10px; text-align: right;">${calculations.cycleEnergyUah.toFixed(3)} µAh</td>
    </tr>
    <tr style="border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;">
      <td style="padding: 10px;"><strong>Effective Battery Capacity</strong></td>
      <td style="padding: 10px; text-align: right;">${calculations.totalCapacity.toFixed(0)} mAh</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td style="padding: 10px;"><strong>Battery Life</strong></td>
      <td style="padding: 10px; text-align: right;">${calculations.batteryLifeDays.toFixed(1)} days (${calculations.batteryLifeYears.toFixed(2)} years)</td>
    </tr>
  </table>
</div>
`

1607.6 Power Optimization Tips

MCU Optimization

Use deep sleep modes: ESP32 deep sleep uses 10 µA vs 40 mA active
Lower clock speed: Reduce from 240 MHz to 80 MHz for 3x power savings
Disable unused peripherals: ADC, I2C, SPI when not needed
Use interrupts instead of polling: Wake only when needed

Radio Optimization

Reduce TX power: -20 dBm vs +20 dBm = 100x less power
Minimize payload size: Smaller packets = shorter airtime
Batch transmissions: Send multiple readings in one packet
Use efficient protocols: LoRaWAN SF7 vs SF12 = 32x less airtime

Sensor Optimization

Power sensors only when reading: Use GPIO to control sensor power
Use low-power sensor modes: Many sensors have standby modes
Reduce sampling rate: Does your app need readings every second?
Use analog sensors: Often lower power than digital sensors

1607.7 Common Device Power Profiles

Device Type	Active Current	Sleep Current	Typical Battery Life
Temperature sensor (simple)	3-5 mA	2-10 µA	3-5 years (AA)
Environmental monitor	10-20 mA	50-100 µA	6-12 months (AA)
GPS tracker	30-50 mA	10-50 µA	1-7 days (Li-Ion)
Smart lock	15-30 mA	5-20 µA	1-2 years (AA x4)
Video doorbell	200-500 mA	1-5 mA	Requires wired power

1607.1 Power Consumption Calculator

1607.2 Device Configuration

1607.2.1 Component Power Draw

1607.2.2 Duty Cycle Configuration

1607.2.3 Battery Configuration

1607.3 Power Analysis Results

1607.4 Energy Breakdown

1607.5 Detailed Calculations

1607.6 Power Optimization Tips

1607.7 Common Device Power Profiles

1607.8 Related Resources