I’m testing flexible thin-film solar panels for my next repeater setup. So far they seem to be usable, but they still need to proof themselves over a longer time period and different weather conditions.

I’ve designed a stationary solar node (SSNvA) that sits into a 40mm PVC pipe, which serves as enclosure and as antenna pole. The radio (Heltec T114) and the antenna (Ziisor 8DBi 55cm) fit into the top end of the pole.

The battery (32700 6500mAh LiFePO4) along with the MPPT-controller (SDBK03TA) and MBS are inserted into the bottom end of the pole. Im using a cheap 5V 10W solar panel, that already comes with a wall mount. It just needs an adapter to mount it to the pole.

I’ve added a Scruton helix to the pole, just to give it a better chance to withstand the fall weather.

I’ve designed a new variant of my Mobile Solar Node (MSVvB). It uses a 18650 Lithium-Ion battery instead of a Lithium-Polymer cell:

The case a little thicker in comarison to variant A (MSVvA) and the antenna and the Heltec T114 board had to be rearranged:

I’ve started a new project, working on a set of LoRa devices for a local (MeshCore or Meshtastic) network.

My first design is a solar powered mobile mesh node (MSNvA):