RFMLF Power monitor and Lost and Found Transmitter (LPD frequency range)

This project incorporates 3 helpful units for model air plain pilots.

      

    (click to the pictures)

•  Battery power monitor 
  
  A dual color LED provides information about the current battery condition. The color and the blinking frequency informs about how good  charge still is. The power monitor provides a kind of memory for the lowest voltage ever reached  since power has been turned on, even in the air. There are 5 different levels.


• Battery power empty warning during flight
  
  Before the battery voltage  of the plain reaches the lowest level, an on board 433 MHz transmitter starts a low voltage warning . Any 433 LPD  hand held receiver can receive the signal.
  

• Lost and Found monitoring if plain escaped
  
  Via a RC channel , a 433 MHz transmitter can be turned on to provide a FM signal for locating a lost plain. The transmitter emits an alternating RF signal with 4 different power levels automatically .  This allows locating of  missing plain in a wide distance range.

 HW: A MSP430F1232 controls a Hope RFM02 transmitter module. 

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Features:

Size : 30mm x 43mm  (without box)

RF range : 4 channels      433.400    MHz    LPD CH 14                 433.800   MHz    LPD CH 30                 434.200   MHz    LPD CH 46                 434.650   MHz    LPD CH 64

Power range : 4 levels       - 13   dBm                                          -  7   dBm                                             1   dBm                                             3   dBm  ( with optimal environment)

Power consumption :        Transmitter active    :      35 mA ( full power setting, LED on)

Voltage :                          3.5 .. 5.4 V external power  (via a standard RC connector)

Battery power monitor :             Battery                           color        blinking frequency     RF low voltage warning   > 5.0 V                                   green                           slow                                     off > 4.8 V                                   green                            fast                                     off > 4.6 V                                   orange                          slow                                    off > 4.4 V                                   orange                           fast                                    off > 4.2 V                                      red                              slow                                    on < 4.2 V                                      red                              fast                                     on

    

Look at the schematic here. (pdf)
The assembly drawing of the PCB can be found here. (pdf)

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