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Hi I am new to the forum…couldn’t figure out how to open a new topic…so I answer to this topic as it has to do with the SenseCap Solar Node P1-Pro.

Title: SEN55 (Grove environmental sensor) not detected on SenseCAP Solar Node P1-Pro

Hi everyone,

I’m trying to connect a Seeed Grove All-in-one Environmental Sensor (SEN55) to my SenseCAP Solar Node P1-Pro via the Grove I2C port, but the sensor is not being detected by the firmware.

Setup:

  • SenseCAP Solar Node P1-Pro
  • Grove SEN55 environmental sensor connected via standard 4-pin Grove cable to the node’s I2C Grove port
  • Firmware: 2.7.26.54e0d8d, firmwareEdition: VANILLA (confirmed via meshtastic --info)

What I’ve already checked/tried:

  • Environment Telemetry and Air Quality modules are both enabled (environmentMeasurementEnabled: true, airQualityEnabled: true)
  • Reseated the Grove cable on both ends
  • Full device reboot after connecting the sensor
  • Captured the serial debug log via PuTTY around several reboots – the local node only ever sends DeviceTelemetry (battery, voltage, etc.), never EnvironmentTelemetry or AirQualityTelemetry for itself
  • Ran meshtastic --request-telemetry environment --dest "^local" via the Python CLI – got “No response from node” (timeout, not an actual firmware-version issue since 2.7.26 is well above the stated minimum)

My current suspicion: the SEN55 requires a 5V ±10% supply per Sensirion’s datasheet (the fan won’t spin reliably below that), while the Solar Node’s Grove port may only be supplying 3.3V. Could someone confirm what voltage the P1-Pro’s Grove port actually outputs? I couldn’t find this documented on the wiki page, and the SEN55 doesn’t appear on the list of tested/supported sensors there either.

Is the SEN55 known to work with the Solar Node P1-Pro at all, and if so, is there a recommended way to step up the Grove port voltage to 5V, or a different power tap on the board that provides 5V?

Thanks in advance for any pointers!

SenseCAP Solar Node P1-Pro for Meshtastic - Unboxing
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Hi there,

So Welcome here…

Good call posting to an alike topic, Bravo :clap:

And YES, you are also correct, It’s a common failure/oversight. You sensor is a Hard and FAST 5Vdc device(+/-10% is for the FAN),and the Grove ONLY outputs 3.3Vdc. :v:

Add an External 5v supply to your sensor and everything will show, you have the rest under control.

HTH
GL :slight_smile: PJ :v:

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Hi PJ_Glasso,
thanks für your reply.
However I wonder how exactly to add the 5v to my sensor. It’s hanging outside and I’d prefer to make use of the solar power of the solar node to run the fan.
I was thinking of something like a 3.3V to 5V voltage converter. Does anyone have any ideas or specific product recommendations?
Wolle

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Hi there,

So, I get it, but even the most efficient Boost converter will use extra current draining the battery faster, What is the current draw from the sensor on the bench under perfect conditions. Does the Sensor require any Pre-heat or startup time?

If all the numbers are small then try it, certainly won’t break anything it just won’t work as it is now.

Keep plugging away though, any 3.3v version of Sensor available or does Grove make one already ? This stuff is ALL standard until you try to use something not in the catalog , :thinking:

HTH
GL :slight_smile: PJ:v:

I saw recently a guy , similar situation He ended up spliting the the soloar panel 5Vdc, with a small battery charger board that gave him a thru-port, also. Plugs the 5V sensor in one port of the charger/splitter so the SOlar pannel powers the Sensor and the Node.:v:
I think it was this one, from Pihut? YMMV :crossed_fingers:

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