Environmental Monitoring Station Powered by a Solar Panel

If you want to use your senseBox without power connection, it is now possible with a solar panel. As an extra we show how the LoRa data network is working. So that you can position your senseBox on distant places around the world! At the end we show you, how you can make your own power switch to toggle if you want to use the solar panel to load the battery.


Station setup powered with solar
Station setup powered with solar

Materials

Setup

Disclaimer: Due to the higher complexity of this setup it is recommended to be used by experienced arduino and open hardware users.

First you build up the senseBox as usual. You can look things up in the instruction manual benutzen. To make sure the senseBox is using the battery and the battery is charged meanwhile, you need the Adafruit Powerboost 1000C.

Powerboost construction
Powerboost construction

Power Switch (optional)

The power switch should be connected to the powerboost. You need solder hardware for this. How exactly this is done, can be read here. Now we can use the power switch to regulate the input from the solar panel to the battery.

Build-in switch in housing
Build-in switch in housing

In this example a hole is drilled into the case, so you can access it whenever you want.

Programming

There is nothing special to be programmed in this example. As long as the power supply is working you can use every sketch from the previous sections. In regards to the LoRa-bee you should first check if there is a network around. Also you have to register on the TTN website to gain an access key. All of this is covered in our LoRa bee tutorial.

Usage

Example construction on a roof
Example construction on a roof

After 2 days of testing with a rather big 6600 mAh battery, it shows that with sufficient sunlight (2-3 hours a day) the battery remains at least at constant charge level. This means that if you want to operate the station in the open without main power supply, this is very well possible with the help of a solar cell, even a long time without direct sunlight can be intercepted with a large battery. You should only clean the cell once in a while, as pollen or dirt will settle there.

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