Low power datalogger for hydrometeorological variables in high mountain based on ESP32, LDO with low quiescent current and P-channel MOSFET

Abstract

The monitoring of hydrometeorological variables inhigh mountain regions is crucial for understanding the impactsof climate change and managing water resources. This studypresents the development of a low power datalogger designed forlong-term deployment in remote, high-altitude environments. Thedatalogger integrates a ESP32, a low dropout regulator (LDO)with low quiescent current and a P-channel MOSFET to optimizeenergy consumption, achieving an autonomy of approximately 15months with a 18650 battery (1800 mAh). The device supportsvarious communication protocols to measure key hydrometeo-rological parameters such as wind speed and direction, solarradiation, surface temperature, and atmospheric pressure andhumidity. Field tests demonstrated consistent performance, witha power consumption of 14 µA in deep sleep mode. This designensures reliable data collection with minimal maintenance, mak-ing it a valuable tool for environmental monitoring in challenginghigh mountain conditions.