Meshtastic Solar Node for 6w Soshine Panel. (Nevernode Solar S1)

This is a solar enclosure for the Soshine 6w solar panel. It is designed for Meshtastic but can be used for any project that can run on a 6 watt panel (like MeshCore). It will be waterproof if properly sealed.

- The pole photo is outdated. The 8mm acrylic light-pipe for the light sensor was replaced with a 4mm fiber-optic cable.

Meshtastic is a free open-source, off-grid, decentralized, encrypted communication mesh network that uses the LoRa protocol, which allows you to send text messages and sensor data over very long distances to other people that also has a portable\solar node. Useful if normal communication systems fail or are unavailable for whatever reason (power outage, network overloads, natural disasters, remote locations, cyber attacks, war, etc.)

- The current distance record is 331km, but you should not expect this in normal use. These are high altitude mountain nodes. Nodes are heavily dependent on line-of-sight for long range. Range will usually be limited by the distance to the horizon, with clear line-of-sight.

If you're wondering why the panel is vertical, that's because it's designed for Northern climates where panels should be almost vertical in our dark winters. The Soshine panel is so overpowered for this use, it does not need any tilt. It should also keep the panel cleaner.

- All-in-one enclosure. No external cables.

- Waterproof. Tested underwater for 15 hours.

- Everything is PETG for me. ASA should be even better, if you can print it well.

- Air-gapped system where the enclosure is not in direct contact with the panel (less heat transfer).

- Fully adjustable MPPT setpoint and charge voltage, making it multi-chemistry.

- Mounts are for a 38mm\1.5" pole, with a 35mm optional reducer.

- Should only be in repeater\router mode if it's placed at high altitudes, like a mountain.

- The holes on the panel should be checked to make sure the enclosure fits. Soshine could change it.

- Enclosure is 110x265x37mm externally. 87x192x26.5mm Internally.

- 71.8x249.8mm panel hole distance, center to center.

- Optional light sensor.

- Probably forgot something.

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The license is currently restricted on this because the .step files might be put on the store, and I don't think I can have conflicting licenses.

Links:

- RAK Starter Kit (868 Europe. 915 US).

- CN3795 MPPT Solar Controller (eBay).

- Soshine 6w Solar Panel (Ali) , (Amazon) .

- N-Type Connector (eBay).

- ALFA Antenna (eBay US) , Amazon (915) , ALFA store (Latvia, International). (Beware of fake ALFAS)

- USB Connector 1 (eBay), Connector 2 (Ali).

- 3mm Silicone Foam Seal (eBay).

- INA3221 Current\Voltage board ( Tindie ).

- VEML7700 Light Sensor (eBay) , (Ali) . To track the sun.

- 3mm (4mm outer) Fiber-Optic cable for the light sensor (eBay).

- 12mm wide galvanized pipe-clamp (stainless might be too stiff).

- Screws M3: 12x 20mm (8 pass through mounts, 4 for panel), and 10x 15mm for the rest of the lid.

- 1x 8mm max, for systemplate.

- 10x 22mm min, for mount reinforcement.

Note: Newer Soshine panels apparently come with a box on the back that has a threaded insert. This box may be harder to remove if the lid is fused shut. I would check if the store still can do custom orders without this box attached, to make it far less likely to break the panel connectors.

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Home Assistant:

It's possible to get data from the nodes into HA in a couple ways. I'm using the manual MQTT method described on the Meshtastic website. You need to manually configure some stuff in the YAML config file. There is anther way I'm not familiar with too. I'm not going into detail on HA, as it's out of scope for this.

You can get statistics on the solar panel, battery, temperature, humidity, light, and other supported sensors. The yellow voltage line is the solar panel. You can see the MPPT function active when it clamps the voltage down to around 6v during charging, then it releases.

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