Meshtastic solar charging - quick first look
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 28 ноя 2024
- I ordered a cheap solar panel from EBay to experiment with. Here is the first trial at dusk on a dark and gloomy day.
For more info about Meshtastic activity in and around Brighton, UK see
/ 3696312513946679
A much larger Facebook group is Meshtastic UK
/ 625434626178266
I have a similar panel maintaining a 18650 and my repeater node for more than 1 year. Excellent efficiency.
Great to hear!
I am very effectively using a 1 watt 5v solar panel that has kept the RAk with GPS above 90% for several weeks now. I do not use the solar charge port as it can be damaged if input wattage exceeds .75 watts. I connect the solar panel to the USB - C port as it is more tolerant of higher input wattage.
Good to know !
having done some further reading the solar circuit is only rated at 0.75 amps I wouldn't risk it with a 10w panel. Reading on the forums there is also a problem if the short circuit current of the panel is above 0.8 amps
Oh - whoops. That is a design shortcoming of the charger circuit. I have some better charger regulator boards coming from Wisblock. Will use one of those in the system. I also discovered it is a 20W panel not 10W but I think that is a little over-optimistic from the manufacturer.
I just measured the output from the panel standing in the sun indoors. It's luckily only 0.4A because of my dirty window. If I open the window it goes up to 0.9A. The output is stated as 5V but it actually delivers 6.2V ! Will not clean the window yet ;-)
What about winter time? Batteries don't like cold. Less light = less power to keep it running.
I don't like cold either...
interesting.. do you have a parts list apart from the wis block/rak etc?.. did the case come with the solar panel?.
The solar panel was bought separately from the case. It is much bigger.
is it just me or is your battery plug polarity reversed. hope you dont damage the wisblock.
You're right, it's reversed. I had to remove the pins and swap them over in my plug.
Me too. I recently had to do that
It seems to be correct as everything works fine. Some of those power cables with tiny plug have the red/black coulours reversed. You really have to be careful with that !!!!!
@@fotografm
Killed my first Wisblock with a reverse wired 100ma whoop battery. Fried the core instantly. Main board was fine though.
@@75burbguy oh dear !
Panel is plenty oversize... 2W panel is very sufficient
I think you are right.
what's the maximum charge current the wisblock is rated for?
Certainly the max voltage is 5.5V
.75 watts