Electronic – Possible battery solutions for 1000mAh capacity and >10 year life

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I'm looking into the possibility of running a wireless sensor node for up to 10 years on a single battery. I think the average current draw is likely to be around 70uA, with the peak current draw possibly being 20mA(the average takes this into account). System voltage can be between 2.5-3V.

This seems like it might be a requirement in more and more projects as the area of IoT and remote sensors continues to grow. I was hoping to get some suggestions for a few different possible solutions that balance cost and capability.

I thought about a CR123A as a possible battery, or even just a couple of AAA batteries. A li-ion rechargeable cell was also a consideration, but I think maybe the self-discharge might be a factor after that length of time and recharging/energy harvesting might be difficult or costly.

Best Answer

First, let's see how much energy or capacity you need. 70 µA for 10 years comes out to 6.1 Ah, and you say this is at 3 V. That's a lot more than a CRxxxx battery can do.

Another problem is that you need a battery that is good for 10 years regardless of discharge. Many batteries aren't specified for such a long shelf life, let alone service life. For this kind of application, you need to have conversations with field engineers from battery companies. Take a look at Tadiran. They are aiming for this kind of application.

Another option is a lithium rechargeable with a small solar panel. At 70 µA average, a 18650 cell is way more than enough. It could easily ride out a few weeks with no sun at all. Just a few hours of sun a week would be enough with a modest panel.

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