Hello all.
I have been playing around with battery operated sensors just lately.
The circuit involves a pic18f1320, 2 lm35s,a reset circuit, a 3V reg for
reference purposes, a 4 way dil switch for config purposes, a LED and a
ER400TS easy radio.

I have done obvious things like power the sensors, the reference, the
switch, the led and the radio from port pins. I have also increased
resistor values dramatically eg. The led is in series with a 2k2
resistor.

I am using a tl499a to pump a 3V supply up to five volts for the micro
and the radio.

My questions are:
1. are monolithic capacitors a good choice for ripple suppression
or should I use something else?

2. will lowering the value of the capacitors used lower leakage and
hence current consumption?

3. I purchased some low leakage electros from jaycars (100 uF) but
this didn't seem to make any difference to using the el cheapos from
WWE, why is this? And,

4. Does anybody have any suggestions as to how I may lower current
consumption even further?


Regards
Chris Holme