# Battery powered ESP8266 WiFi for Live GPS tracking

**URL:** <https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/battery-powered-esp8266-wifi-for-live-gps-tracking/7743>\
**Category:** Adafruit\
**Created:** [17 May 2020 22:12 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/battery-powered-esp8266-wifi-for-live-gps-tracking/7743 "2020-05-17T22:12:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Anwar122411](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@Anwar122411](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Anwar122411)\
**Post date:** [17 May 2020 22:12 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/battery-powered-esp8266-wifi-for-live-gps-tracking/7743/1 "2020-05-17T22:12:25Z")

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Hi,

I would like to preface by mentioning that I am new to the hardware side of microcontrollers. I would be very grateful for any opinions and input.

I have spent the better part of a week researching how to create a wearable battery powered WiFi live GPS tracker. I am confident that a **micro-usb powered** WiFi GPS tracker is feasible using the Node MCU + NEO-6M GPS module configuration.  
I was planning to buy a Node MCU and Neo-6M GPS and make my own Voltage Regulator to connect a LiPo battery but saw that Adafruit sells the Feather Huzzah that is essentially a battery operable ESP8266 WiFi.

The project for the most part is a proof of concept - that will only need to run for three hours. I am aware that a wearable ESP8266 transmitting its location every 10 seconds is power hungry to a point that renders it unfeasible for long prediods of time. (Elected for a 4400mAh)

I have created a “shopping list” and am finally ready to get started, however I am after a final clarification from the community if I have included everything neccessary or whether there is a better solution or if the project is a futile.

Shopping list

- U-blox NEO-6M GPS Module
- Adafruit Feather HUZZAH with ESP8266 WiFi
- Hook-Up Stranded Wire - White (22 AWG) - Rx -\> Tx
- Hook-Up Stranded Wire - Black (22 AWG) - Gnd
- Hook-Up Stranded Wire - Red (22 AWG) - _VCC -\> 3V3?_
- Polymer Lithium Ion Battery (LiPo) 3.7V 4400mAh

Other

- Lithium Battery Charger

Any help is greatly appreciated - any improvements or advice whether this is possible would really help me out. Thank you in advance,

Cheers,  
A

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**Author:** ![Oliver](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forum.core-electronics.com.au/oliver/32/3315_2.png) [@Oliver](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Oliver)\
**Post date:** [15 June 2020 00:59 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/battery-powered-esp8266-wifi-for-live-gps-tracking/7743/2 "2020-06-15T00:59:00Z")

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Hi A,

It all looks pretty sensible to me! The continuous output of the 3.3v regulator on the Huzzah is 250mA , and the 6M GPS module pulls 67mA max so you should be ok on the power supply front - that setup should last a lot longer than 3h.

See the NEO data sheet: [https://www.u-blox.com/sites/default/files/products/documents/NEO-6\_DataSheet\_(GPS.G6-HW-09005).pdf](https://www.u-blox.com/sites/default/files/products/documents/NEO-6_DataSheet_(GPS.G6-HW-09005).pdf)

And the Huzzah power management page: [https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-feather-huzzah-esp8266/power-management](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-feather-huzzah-esp8266/power-management)

Oliver  
Core Electronics | Support