Components
Battery-Powered Microcontrollers: Sleep Modes Explained
How to make an ESP32 or STM32 project run for months on batteries.
· 3 min read
Key takeaways
- Deep sleep can cut current to microamps.
- Radio use is the biggest power drain.
- Remove or disable power LEDs on dev boards.
Sleep modes
Both ESP32 and STM32 offer light sleep, deep sleep and standby modes that shut down most of the chip.
Radios
Wi-Fi transmissions draw large current peaks. Batch data and transmit rarely.
Hardware tweaks
Use an efficient regulator and remove always-on LEDs.
Frequently asked questions
Products mentioned in this article
Keep reading
Electronics
Noise-Cancelling Headphones Buying Guide: What Actually Matters
Hybrid ANC, codecs, battery life and multipoint explained — how to pick wireless noise-cancelling headphones without overpaying.
7 min read
Components
ESP32-S3 vs STM32: Which Microcontroller Should You Use?
A practical comparison of ESP32-S3 and STM32F411 boards for IoT, robotics and maker projects — connectivity, power, tooling and price.
9 min read
Carbon Fiber & Materials
Carbon Fiber Sheets Explained: 3K Twill, Thickness and CNC Tips
What 3K twill means, how to choose carbon fiber sheet thickness, and how to cut and drill carbon fiber safely for drones, RC and builds.
8 min read