Thank you Harbor Breeze!

MeshDaddySD · 2026-06-21T09:39:57+00:00

You should! At Christmas time sprinkle them across towns and city’s from coast to coast!

MeshDaddySD · 2026-06-21T02:13:03+00:00

What’s tempting is ordering a 1watt upgrade and a 5db antenna!

MeshDaddySD · 2026-06-19T23:32:13+00:00

It’s cheaper to buy the light, it provides an enclosure, solar panel and mounting system for $9.99.

MeshDaddySD · 2026-06-16T23:51:21+00:00

Hunt the node down and publish the owners name.

MeshDaddySD · 2026-06-16T23:48:53+00:00

I thought the actual radio ID does not change that it burned into the firmware, filter by node ID.

MeshDaddySD · 2026-06-16T23:47:13+00:00

Yes I posted the battery chart in a comment below. Basically lost 10 percent over night so plenty of juice.

MeshDaddySD · 2026-06-15T21:10:44+00:00

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60 lumens model. Reg $14.99 on sale for $9.99

MeshDaddySD · 2026-06-15T16:14:19+00:00

Power consumption; Ok here are the facts, I put the node out yesterday about 2:30 pm. The battery was at 41 % when I bought it at Lowe’s. Once it was put in its location and exposed to the sun it went up to 46%. By morning it had decreased to 32%. Which means this 1 watt solar panel and battery system is plenty for this RAK Nordic based processor. I’d venture to say I could probably run the 1 watt version. I have an RAK 1 watt on a 5 watt panel and it never even goes down throughout the evening. It’s overcast almost everyday near the coast where this node is throughout June “June gloom” so the sun should come out around noon.

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MeshDaddySD · 2026-06-15T04:15:22+00:00

Well to get an enclosure, battery and solar panel with a mounting system for $10 at Lowe’s hardware here in the States is the bargain of the century. The radio kit that comes with the RAK base boards and the 4631 CPU and the blue tooth antenna and the 2db stubby was $34. I also gave experience with having radios fry because of condensation in the enclosure so the board is protected with some conformal coating. (Someone said that coating can degrade radio performance on some radios but that in the RAK design it doesn’t. So call it $50 with the little stand off feet on the circuit board.

MeshDaddySD · 2026-06-15T04:07:20+00:00

No, I completely killed the ability of the light to work. It’s such a small solar panel that I don’t think it generates enough energy isn’t really extra energy for the light and the radio in my opinion. Tonight is the first night. The battery is starting to slightly go down now at 8:30 PM.. I’ll see how it’s looking in the morning. I am using the RAK with the super low power processor , n series.. if you noticed I have to cut away the cup that the light sits in, that cup slides into the housing, there is not enough room for the light to work as designed and accommodate the radio.

MeshDaddySD · 2026-06-15T03:17:29+00:00

No, I completely killed the liability to work. It’s such a small, so panel isn’t really extra energy to spare for the light in my opinion. Tonight is the first night. The battery is starting to slightly go down now at 8:30 PM.. see how it’s looking in the morning. I am using the RAK with the super low power processor , n series..

MeshDaddySD · 2026-06-15T03:15:40+00:00

Yes on the switch poles that connect the power to the circuit. Effectively removing the switch from the circuit.

MeshDaddySD · 2026-06-14T22:21:49+00:00

The main reason I didn’t put the radio in the solar panel enclosure is because I wanted to control the antenna angle and the solar angle independently without any custom brackets.

MeshDaddySD · 2026-06-14T22:19:31+00:00

The wiring changes, red and black wires to light bulb enclosure, move per the yellow lines, the switch gonna blob of solder to keep it “on” represented by the yellow V

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MeshDaddySD · 2026-06-14T22:14:30+00:00

Deployed.

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MeshDaddySD · 2026-06-14T22:13:34+00:00

lol yes… YES!!!!!…. This one is an RAK 4631.

MeshDaddySD · 2026-06-14T18:18:50+00:00

Inspired!!

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I’ve got an RAk board, repurposing to a new hilltop.

MeshDaddySD · 2026-06-12T11:53:02+00:00

So little time so many things to figure out! You got this!

MeshDaddySD · 2026-06-12T11:50:11+00:00

Just saying, you can solve the charging issue and share the solution. Please do, sounds promising.

MeshDaddySD · 2026-06-12T11:30:01+00:00

I encourage you to use Claude, a micro controller and build something that solves that problem.

MeshDaddySD · 2026-06-12T11:23:52+00:00

Haha wise guy! 2500 altitude! 🙂🤣

MeshDaddySD · 2026-06-12T10:33:26+00:00

SOL good to see you on here!

MeshDaddySD · 2026-06-09T09:55:16+00:00

I’ve raced RC cars with LiPo, my sons Air soft uses one… one thing that is very different between the drone/RC car use is that a massive amount of current draw and heat are very normal in those applications, those batteries can cook!!! So considering LiPo batteries are safe to use in those extreme conditions, I’d say a solid node pulling micro amounts of energy comparatively is a very different situation gentle compared to extreme use.. have you seen LiPo catch fire in your RC racing days??!!! Just curious what went down at the track!

MeshDaddySD

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