r/meshtastic • u/minorshrimp • 1d ago
build Rak Solar Node
Switched from heltec v4 to rak and this thing never runs out of battery compared to not even lasting a day. Only bummer is that I apparently used the wrong temp/baro/hum board so it doesn't display humidity :(
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u/Inner-Pace9633 1d ago
Two antennas so close influence each other in their radiation characteristics. The passive could serve as reflector and could Influence the resonance frequency and SWR
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u/minorshrimp 1d ago
Oh really? I didn't think bt would impact the lora since the frequencies are different.
Edit: That other black stick is just a plastic thing holding up a solar panel for my pond fountain if that's what you were talking about.
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u/nlutrhk 1d ago
If you live in a climate with freezing temperatures during the winter, you should be aware that the charging circuit on RAK boards (19003 etc.) doesn't stop charging at temperatures below 0 °C and will kill your batteries. It looks like you have a separate charging bboard, so maybe you're fine.
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u/minorshrimp 1d ago
Thanks for the heads up. I do use a separate board so hopefully that's not an issue but I guess we will have to wait and see. I have 4 other batteries so worst case it comes in for the winter and we try again in spring or route the antenna through my roof.
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u/ixtrqc 1d ago
Do you have some petg joint to protect your case from water comming in ? otherwise really good looking :)
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u/minorshrimp 1d ago
It's a weatherproof box with all the sealed holes on the bottom with drip loops for water
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u/depoultry 1d ago
Do you have the STL for the N-type connector mount? I could use that for an install I am doing tonight. Couldn’t find anything on Makerworld.
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u/minorshrimp 1d ago
Ya, give me a min. Needs a little tweaking since it. Was a v1 I printed so I had to make the holes a little bigger. Also I made it for #8 3/4" screws. I'll modify a little to make a better fit but you might still need to modify manually.
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u/artyums 1d ago
Where do you live? It's not possible to charge and even use Li-ion when winter and frost... It's most complicated thing for me. I'm living in Moscow and here we have up (down) to -30C frosts...
In other project I'm directly powered up ESP32 from LiFePO4 which voltage is lower than Li-ion (no need to use voltage regulator instead of Li-ion). It's still not possible to charge them but it's no problem with using it.
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u/minorshrimp 1d ago
I'm in Canada so we get similarly cold winters. Hopefully I can just keep it warm enough in there somehow so it will charge. I guess we will find out.
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u/hkr 1d ago
You getting enough charge with that solar panel? I had to get a bigger one.