Test machine.idle() - fw 1.4.0.b1

[affoltep]

Hi

I want to reduce the power consumption to do some field tests of the LoPy device. So I included the new implemented machine.idle() command to my SW. But I couldn't remark an impact to the battery lifetime.

So I want to analyze the function a little closer with this simple code:

import machine
from machine import Timer
from machine import Pin
#import pycom

#Initiate LED
led = Pin('G16', mode=Pin.OUT)

#Init board
#pycom.heartbeat(False)


def drip(p):
    led.toggle()
    machine.idle()
        
#Init Alarm
alarm = Timer.Alarm(drip, 30,  periodic=True)

In that example the heartbeat is always flashing, as well during the time of machine.idle(). Should it do that? Remains one core of the CPU active?
Does anybody got a remarkable drop of energy consumption, by using machine.idle()? Do I use the function in a wrong way?