Quote Originally Posted by robertpeach View Post
im gonna look into the battery idea actually, but flaws with it could be that over 20 years a rechargeable battery will have effectively "lost its ability to recharge" and also there will be points where the wind is dead for longer than the battery can keep the pic and lcd running...
Pros and cons no matter what. I have one of the "smart thermostats" at the house. It runs on two AA batteries that need changed once a year or so. Might have to be a bit of upkeep for the end user???? I know, not good.
are there any commands to just turn off the pic and then get it back going when the voltage is high enough? cos surely if the pic is turned off... how can it be turned back on again? since the software is obvioulsy not running because the pic is off :S
There is the sleep command but that just puts the PIC in low power mode.

I have a feeling that the best way to go will be an external comparator working a latching relay or FET on the 12 volt line. Rig it so when the voltage drops below X the relay stays off untill the voltage comes back up to Z. Give a little range between the two points.

Then the interrupt thing should work. If the PIC shuts down only from lack of power it will restart.

Just thinking.... Or is it babbling