@toroidalcore@masto.hackers.town
Post #1519818
2026-04-21 02:15 UTC
I've got a semi-permanent #Meshtastic node setup, the antenna is just hung from a hook on my porch. It's run from a little USB supply connected to a 12-volt 12 Ah LiFePO4 battery, which is charged by a 10-watt solar panel. No charge controller. The panel is just sitting on my porch and gets on for about half the day.
It's very simple, and actually probably overkill for this node for the most part, but it's kept it up for more than 25 days.
#solar #SmallSolar
Replies (2)
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@vervain@sunny.garden 2026-04-21 02:35
@_L1vY_@mstdn.social Are you going to start learning mesh? @toroidalcore@masto.hackers.town
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@toroidalcore@masto.hackers.town 2026-04-21 05:21
@flipsideza@fosstodon.org Sort of. This is a LiFePO4 battery with a built-in BMS, so when it's overcharged it will disconnect the battery. Whatever else it's powering will see the raw panel voltage, which for a 12 V panel will actually be around 20-22 V. Well, when it's loaded it will go down a little. The battery would normally clamp it to something like 12-14 V, but a lighter load will run it at a slightly higher voltage. It depends on the panel's IV curve, along with temperature, etc.