Wireless Sensors: Is Energy-Harvesting Possible?

March 21, 2014

A reader sent us the following "Real Answers" question, can you help us answer it?

We'll save ourselves and our customers significant money by using wireless sensors in places to connect multiple machines across varying distances, many in the 1000-ft range.

First issue: Update rates will vary from 10/sec to 1/sec with some others transmitting on status-change only. So we have options for powering the sensors. At these rates, can we use energy-harvesting methods? What's the general state of battery life for these conditions? There even are a few spots where PV is an option.

Second issue: We hear that the level of encryption has a big effect on battery life, which no one seems to talk about. Any practical advice for these issues?

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