Easy and BUDGET friendly Meshtastic Solar Build!

RAK Wireless has finally released a viable solar enclosure that is able to keep the batteries topped off! This video is a review of the new RAK Wireless Solar Unify Enclosure IP67 150x100x45mm with pre-mounted M8 5 Pin and RP-SMA connector.

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Enclosure: (Sold out due to popularity! Be sure to reserve one in the next shipment using the link below!)

WisBlock Meshtastic Starter Kit:

Battery Option 1 (3000mAh):

Battery Option 2 (2000mAh):

Antenna:

Antenna Cable:

Pole mount (if mounting to pole)

Wall mount (if mounting to a wall)

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Product Reviews: Products featured in this video were provided by the manufacturer for review. My opinions are my own and are not influenced by any sponsorship or partnership agreements.

[lordhellfire]

this is 100% exactly what i needed in my life!

[BobBob-ilku]

Total = $174 + tax & shipping if using the links he provided for this build 4/24/24

[adubs.]

I like this a lot because of how clean it is. Thinking about throwing one of these in the back deck of my car.

[TheVybo]

Angle is everything on these little panels. I imagine angling the panel about 45 degrees up and towards south would give more than 50 % better performance. It's really great that these are able to charge while not being angled properly at all.

[vevenaneathna]

the best and cheapest flat lipol batteries are old new stock ipad 2 or 3 replacement batteries. they are about the same capacity as the highest spec 18650 and cost about 2$ each. only issue is you have to chop them up as they come in chains of 3 and that can get a little sparkey if you dont go fast. also the steel tabs on them is a bit too thin to spot weld on but i was able to solder to them easily enough with flux.

[BobBob-ilku]

Id like to see this build with
Hydrophobic Vent added, voltaic enclosures Battery Protection Module, 18650 batteries with holder, Proxicast for weatherproofing the antenn, RAK or other buck boost for the solar panel.

[saxpert]

The antenna at 2.50 is much too close to the mast. This will definitely affect the SWR and resonance frequency. Anyway you have some good ideas for offgrid node. I recommend strictly to measure the spectrum of the site before installing nodes to make sure the node is not affected because the frequency is already full or disturbed.
Don't you use silica gel in the box to avoid condensation?

[observed]

I got RAKs new smaller one. It's staying charged for me in Arizona.

[gregvence]

Have you looked at using and LFP/LiFePO4 battery for powering as they have many more cycles before replacing? That's a path I'm looking at. I guess I'd power the board via the USB and have my own charge controller.

[samhickman]

I built this exact setup a few weeks ago. I used a 5200mah battery and it can go days without a charge and get back up to full with minimal direct sunlight.

Easiest build to date. The case quality also made it much easier to convince a local university to let me install it on the roof of one of their highest buildings.

[timbrophilist]

Any testing in HOT environments? I live in Florida and am wondering how hot it will get inside that enclosure with no way to release heat eventually frying components.

[SmithOffGrid]

Very cool! Excited to see the next video!

[Operator-qggz]

they had a ample amount instock other day but I believe since this video got released, the boxes are all gone

[mediocreman]

Nice job. That is one pricey box, but I can see how some people will choose it for ease of install.

[livinagoodlife]

might wanna put some bird spikes on there to stop bird mess from messing up the panel

[DistinguishedMenofCulture]

@3:29 you say there’s a problem with the solar panel and the angle
why not angle the solar panel to an optimum slant, and then put an angled adapter on the antenna so that it still remains upright?

[radmcgnar]

Any idea when we might see that video regarding the M8 implementation? I recently got the same Unify enclosure and wondering if its possible to wire the M8 to be able to charge the device externally in the winter when the panel can't charge up the batteries sufficiently.

[h]

can you connect the antenna directly on the connector on the enclosure or do you need the coax cable?

[slappomatthew]

thanks. I pretty much already built a kit using most of your stuff with a small harbor frieght clear pelican rip off but this is so much nicer. in for one. thanks!

[CarLiker]

Hey man, i just wanted to say that for battery graphs, the iPhone app is really great. It logs battery percentage from all nodes and shows a nice graph. Id genuinely consider getting a cheap used iPhone just to log the battery percentage of solar nodes