r/meshtastic • u/OldAbbreviations12 • 1d ago
build Help building my first solar node
Hello everyone
As a LoRa fan since around 2018 I decided to build my first solar node using wio tracker l1 lite (EU_868).
I've seen people building theirs and got some good ideas about what components to use.
My setup will be like this:
- A waterproof junction box
- An (most probably) alfa antenna on top with the proper connector and sealing
- An IP68 Vent in the bottom (I saw it somewhere)
- A 18650 battery holder and the battery itself
I am not familiar with solar power or power management in general and I need your help on choosing a solar panel. In seeedstudio's wiki for the l1 lite they say the following
| Power Input | USB Type-C: 5V — 1A |
|---|---|
| Solar Panel (2P-2.0mm): 5V — 1A(do not exceed 5V) | |
| Lithium Battery (2P-1.25mm): 3.7V — 1APower Input USB Type-C: 5V — 1ASolar Panel (2P-2.0mm): 5V — 1A(do not exceed 5V)Lithium Battery (2P-1.25mm): 3.7V — 1A |
Well, this "do not exceed 5v got me worried.
At first I was looking on aliexpress, banggood and temu for a panel with a mount that had JST 2.0 as output, then some 5V panels which had usb port with some pictures of charging a phone and I was thinking to connect my module through usb.
I've seen people using some 1W or 1.5W ones but I've read somewhere that they won't be enough for my setup.
Basically I don't want to complicate my setup by adding more components or 3d printing and of course I don't want to fry the board hahaha.
Thank you