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For how the solar nodes themselves are built and maintained, see [Solar Mesh Nodes](solar.md). +Programs, funding, and monitoring resources related to PCW's green-space work. For how the solar nodes themselves are built and maintained, see [Solar Mesh Nodes](solar-mesh-node.md). ## Solar programs in Philadelphia diff --git a/docs/en/installations/green-tech/solar-iot-devices.md b/docs/en/installations/green-tech/solar-iot-devices.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2c8e932 --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/en/installations/green-tech/solar-iot-devices.md @@ -0,0 +1,277 @@ +--- +title: Solar-Powered IoT Devices +--- +# Solar-Powered IoT Devices + +Besides WiFi access points, Philly Community Wireless deploys small networked devices, mainly [PurpleAir air monitors](https://www.purpleair.com/products/classic-plus-air-quality-monitor) at green spaces around the city and [Meshtastic](https://meshtastic.org/) radio nodes. They run on 5V USB power and draw about a watt, but they still need a power source. PCW's existing air monitors (visible on the [PurpleAir map](https://map.purpleair.com/)) run off an outdoor, weatherproofed GFCI outlet, which rules out many sites that already have PCW internet. This page covers powering these devices from solar instead, with most of the detail on air monitors. For getting a device onto the network once it has power, see [Configure IoT Devices](../../for-network-users/configure-IoT.md). + +The air monitor design below is a modified version of the [solar mesh node](solar-mesh-node.md) that powers a 5V PurpleAir monitor instead of a 24V mesh access point. It was developed by Amaris Chen, PCW's University of Pennsylvania intern, building on [Holobiont Lab's](https://holobiontlab.org/) meshbox. + +!!! todo "For Amaris" + + Add a sentence or two in your own words: when you worked on this, what you set out to do, and anything you'd want a volunteer to know before they start. + +## Power needs at a glance + +| Device | Power input | Typical draw | Peak draw | Per day | +|---|---|---|---|---| +| PurpleAir air monitor | 5V, micro USB | 0.18A (~0.9W) ([PurpleAir](https://community.purpleair.com/t/how-much-power-does-a-purpleair-sensor-draw-and-how-much-bandwidth-data-does-it-use/847)) | 0.6A (3W) | ~21.6Wh | +| Meshtastic node (Heltec V3) | 5V, USB-C | ~0.15A (~0.75W), as reported by users | 0.25A (1.25W) | ~18Wh | + +These are the devices' own draws. Whatever powers them (converters, displays, controllers) adds to this; see the [whole-box load](#load) below. + +## Solar air monitor box + +### From mesh node to air monitor + +The Holobiont Lab box charges a 12V battery from a solar panel and boosts it to 24V for a Ubiquiti mesh access point ([Holobiont documentation](https://holobiontlab.org/docs/meshBoxDocumentation.pdf)). The air monitor version keeps the charge controller, temperature disconnect, fuse, and Wago connectors, swaps in a smaller battery, and replaces the 12V to 24V boost converter with a 12V to 5V [buck converter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buck_converter) (a boost converter raises voltage; a buck converter lowers it) and a USB breakout for the monitor's power cable. + +
+ Wiring layout of the Holobiont Lab box: boost converter, charge controller and temperature disconnect above a 12V 50Ah LiFePO4 battery +
Holobiont Lab design for powering a 24V Ubiquiti mesh node
+
+ +
+ Wiring layout of the air monitor box: PurpleAir monitor connected by USB to a breakout board and buck converter, with the charge controller and temperature disconnect above a 12V 10Ah LiFePO4 battery +
Modified design for powering a 5V PurpleAir monitor
+
+ +### Parts list + +| Part | What it does | What we used | Approx. cost | +|---|---|---|---| +| Weather-proof enclosure | Holds everything except the panel and monitor | [Joinfworld 11.4 x 7.5 x 5.5 in junction box](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D3DVQGZ9) | | +| Solar panel, 12V 10W | Charges the battery | [ECO-WORTHY 13.3 x 8.1 in, 10W](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OZC3X1C) | ~$29 | +| [MPPT](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximum_power_point_tracking) charge controller | Converts the panel's output into the right voltage to charge the battery | 4A [BQ24650](https://www.ti.com/product/BQ24650) board, same as the solar mesh node ([review](https://www.beyondlogic.org/review-bq24650-5a-mppt-solar-controller-3s-4s-li-ion-lifepo4-12v-lead-acid/)) | | +| Low-temperature disconnect | Cuts the panel off below freezing, since LiFePO4 is damaged by charging in the cold | [XH-W1209](https://components101.com/modules/w1209-temperature-control-switch) thermostat board, same as the solar mesh node ([manual](../../../assets/files/solar/xh-w1209-thermostat-manual.pdf)) | | +| LiFePO4 battery, 12V 10Ah | Stores power for nights and cloudy days | [NERMAK 12V 10Ah](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B097BRKCQP) | ~$40 | +| In-line fuse holder + 2-3A fuse | Protects against a short | [18 AWG in-line fuse holders](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DT4NCD5V) (Holobiont boxes come with one) | ~$7.50 for five | +| F2 (6.3mm spade) crimp terminals | Connect wires to the battery's F2 terminals | [16 AWG spade terminals](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09CYQLG49) | ~$13 for thirty | +| WAGO lever nuts | Join wires without soldering, easy to take apart | Same as the solar mesh node | | +| Adjustable buck converter | Steps 12V down to 5V | [DFRobot DFR0379](https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/dfrobot/DFR0379/7087190) | | +| Female USB A breakout board | Turns the USB cable into screw terminals | [USB A breakout with screw terminals](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GXJ3NJJM) | | +| Micro USB to USB A cable | Carries power to the monitor | | | +| PurpleAir monitor | The load | [PurpleAir Classic Plus](https://www.purpleair.com/products/classic-plus-air-quality-monitor) | | + +PCW also has one [ECO-WORTHY 12V 20Ah](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NB97XGL) battery (~$73, screw terminals) on hand. + +!!! todo "For Amaris" + + Fill in the blank costs and confirm this matches the deployed box. A total cost per box would be useful for grant budgets. + +### Load + +According to [PurpleAir](https://community.purpleair.com/t/how-much-power-does-a-purpleair-sensor-draw-and-how-much-bandwidth-data-does-it-use/847), the air monitors require 5V x 0.18A (~0.9W) to power continuously. This is about 21.6Wh per day, assuming continuous amperage. PCW's earlier notes also record short peaks of up to 0.6A (3W), which the buck converter and cable need to handle. + +PurpleAir [says](https://community.purpleair.com/t/purpleair-classic-minimum-input-voltage/9823) the sensors need a full 5V and a quality cable to run reliably; below that they start to misbehave. Voltage drops along a long or thin cable, so check the voltage at the monitor end, not just at the buck converter. + +The PurpleAir air monitors have female micro USB ports for power. We use a male micro USB to male USB A cord, and so we need a female USB A breakout board with screw-in pins to split into positive and negative wire terminals. + +Existing air monitors' exposed micro USB connections are not water-proof, but PCW has not encountered any issues regarding that. Nonetheless, we may consider sealing the connection with liquid electrical tape. + +!!! question "Review note: the whole box's daily load" + + The 21.6Wh figure is the monitor alone. The box also powers itself around the clock: + + | Draw | Current at 12.8V | Per day | + |---|---|---| + | PurpleAir, after the buck converter's ~12% loss | ~80mA | ~24.5Wh | + | Low-temperature disconnect (XH-W1209): display always on, plus its relay | 35mA idle, 65mA with the relay on ([spec](https://components101.com/modules/w1209-temperature-control-switch)) | ~11-20Wh | + | Buck converter's own idle draw and display, charge controller | not measured | ? | + | **Total** | | **~36-45Wh or more** | + + With Holobiont's settings the disconnect runs in cooling mode, so its relay should stay on (passing the panel's power through) whenever it is warmer than the cutoff, which is most of the year. That puts it near the 65mA end, around 20Wh a day, almost as much as the monitor itself. The total is roughly double the 21.6Wh the battery and panel were sized for. + + Worth measuring the whole box's current at the battery, with and without the monitor plugged in. A battery with a built-in low-temperature charge cutoff would remove the XH-W1209 and its draw entirely. + +### Buck converter + +We use the adjustable [DFR0379 buck converter](https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/dfrobot/DFR0379/7087190) available at UPenn's Detkin Lab. Its [LM2596](https://www.onsemi.com/pdf/datasheet/lm2596-d.pdf) chip has an average efficiency of 88%. + +Notice that there is a button and an LED segment display on board. The display will show the detected input or output voltage, with a red LED lighting up on the corresponding side. The button switches between displaying input and output. + +Before connecting the buck converter to the system, make sure that the output voltage is at 5V. This can be tested by inputting a 12-13V voltage from an external power supply. Black clip on IN- and red on IN+. Next, check the output voltage on the display. You can tune the output voltage by turning the tiny screw on the [trimpot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trimmer_(electronics)) (CCW to decrease). + +
+ A bench power supply set to 13.06V feeding the buck converter, whose display reads 3.52V while a screwdriver turns the trimpot +
In the process of tuning the trimpot
+
+ +### Battery + +[LiFePO4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_iron_phosphate_battery) (lithium iron phosphate) batteries are preferred over LiPo because LiFePO4 batteries are [less prone to overheating, have a longer cycle life, and are more environmentally friendly](https://www.grepow.com/blog/lifepo4-vs-lipo-what-is-the-difference.html). Typically 4-cell LiFePO4 batteries have a nominal voltage of 12.8V (see graph below for voltage at different battery life percentages). + +
+ Open circuit voltage of a 12V LiFePO4 battery against capacity: flat around 13V from 100% to about 25%, then dropping steeply to 10V at 0% +
12V LiFePO4 voltage by remaining capacity (source)
+
+ +For the air monitor to last for 3 days without sunlight, the battery should be at least 21.6 * 3 / 12.8 = 5.1Ah. + +!!! question "Review note: battery margin" + + Redone with the whole box's load from the [table above](#load) (~36-45Wh/day), three days needs ~8.5-10.5Ah, so the 10Ah battery has little or no margin. The BMS also shuts the battery off before it is truly empty. The 20Ah battery PCW already has would give about six days at that load. + +We will work with the same temperature disconnect from Holobiont Lab; however, if the battery's [BMS](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery_management_system) (battery management system) has a low-temperature charge cutoff, the temperature disconnect will not be needed. An internal BMS also protects the battery from overcharge, over-discharge, over-current and short circuit. Almost every LiFePO4 battery has a BMS, but most cheaper ones do not cut off charging in the cold, so check the listing for that specifically. + +Some batteries that may work: + +* ~$73 12V 20Ah 6.7"x7.2"x3" Screw Terminal BMS [ECO-WORTHY](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NB97XGL) +* ~$40 12V 10Ah 5.9"x2.6"x3.7" F2 Terminal BMS [NERMAK](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B097BRKCQP) + +!!! todo "For Amaris" + + Does either battery's BMS have a low-temperature charge cutoff? The listings don't say clearly. If the ECO-WORTHY does, it could replace the XH-W1209. + +### Battery safety + +The internal BMS can trip at low voltage, after which the battery terminals read 0V. This is called a sleeping battery; see [how to wake up a sleeping LiFePO4 battery](https://www.batteriesplus.com/blog/power/waking-up-a-lifepo4). In short: charge it at 14.6V and ~1A for our battery. During the Holobiont visit we charged at 1A, then 3A, then 5A. + +The Holobiont Lab design includes a fuse holder near the positive terminal of the battery to prevent overcurrent, which can be caused by a short in the system. The fuse holder with a ring connector end may be transferred to the modified set up for screw terminal batteries. For F2 terminals, fuse holders and female F2 connectors may be purchased: + +* ~$7.50 [Five 18 AWG In-Line Fuse Holders](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DT4NCD5V) +* ~$13 [Thirty 16 AWG 6.3mm Spade (F2) Crimp Terminals](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09CYQLG49) + +As an estimate, the max possible current through the battery is 10W / 12V = 0.83A. Fuses rated between 2-3A are some reasonable choices. + +To keep the system off for troubleshooting or otherwise, disconnect the power wire from the Wago. + +### Solar panel + +According to [this article](https://www.portable-sun.com/blogs/news/peak-sunlight-hours), PA receives an average of 4 hours of peak sunlight per day ("peak sun hours" means the day's sunlight expressed as hours of full-strength sun). The minimum panel wattage can thus be calculated: 21.6 / 4 = 5.4W. Accounting for, let's say, 20% losses (wiring, charge controller, heat, dirt), the panel should be at least 5.4 / 0.8 = 6.75W. + +Moreover, the voltage of the panel should be greater than the voltage of the battery for current to flow into the battery. A panel sold as "12V" actually puts out around 18V at its peak, which is what lets it charge a 12.8V battery. + +This means that the [~$18 11.8"x6.8" 5V 5W USB C solar panel](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CR3X8PF7) previously suggested is not good enough for the air monitor, though it has the ideal dimensions. Solar panels that may work: + +* ~$22 14.9"x7.8" 12V 10W [Futuresolar](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F8Q4TJPR) +* ~$26 17.3"x8.5" 12V 10W [Newpowa](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00W80N8TA) +* ~$29 13.3"x8.1" 12V 10W [ECO-WORTHY](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OZC3X1C) (the one we use) + +!!! question "Review note: size for December" + + Four peak sun hours is a yearly average. [Voltaic Systems](https://blog.voltaicsystems.com/power-purple-air-quality-monitor-from-solar/), who tested solar setups for PurpleAir monitors, size for December, when a south-facing panel in New York (a close match for Philadelphia) gets the equivalent of about 2.2 hours of sun a day, and recommend a 20W panel for one monitor. By that measure a 10W panel makes about 10 x 2.2 x 0.8 = ~18Wh on a December day, short of even the monitor's own ~24.5Wh, before the rest of the box. Philadelphia's own figures can be checked in [NREL's PVWatts calculator](https://pvwatts.nrel.gov/). Holobiont's rule of thumb is to add 40% or more to a panel's rated wattage, since panels always produce less than rated. + +### Assembly + +!!! todo "For Amaris" + + Step-by-step build instructions, in the order you'd do them on a workbench. Holobiont Lab's [meshbox documentation](https://holobiontlab.org/docs/meshBoxDocumentation.pdf) walks through their parts one at a time and is a good model; their workshop with PCW followed the same order. Some things to cover: + + * Tuning the buck converter to 5V before it goes in the box (already written above; link back to it) + * Crimping the F2 terminals and fitting the fuse holder ([6 steps to crimp ring terminals](https://wesbellwireandcable.com/blog/6-steps-to-crimp-ring-terminals-like-a-pro-copper-hook-up-wire-or-lead-wire/) is a good reference) + * Wiring the charge controller, temperature disconnect, and buck converter through the Wagos, following the diagram above + * Attaching heatsinks ([thermal tape](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=thermal+tape+for+heat+sink)) + * Mounting the box, panel and monitor on site. Panels do best facing south, unshaded, tilted at about the site's latitude (roughly 40° in Philadelphia). The EPA's [guide to siting air sensors](https://www.epa.gov/air-sensor-toolbox/guide-siting-and-installing-air-sensors) covers where the monitor itself should go. + * The order to connect things. The usual rule for charge controllers is battery first, then panel, then load, and the reverse when disconnecting, because the battery powers the controller. Check that this holds for the BQ24650 board. + +### Deployment + +
+ The open enclosure mounted on a wooden fence, showing the charge controller, temperature disconnect, Wagos, buck converter and NERMAK battery + The closed enclosure on the fence, with a PCW do-not-touch sticker on the lid + The solar panel on an angled mount above the fence, with the PurpleAir monitor attached to a post below it +
+ +!!! todo "For Amaris" + + Where and when was this deployed? + +#### First deployment (September 2026) + +After three days of deployment, the PurpleAir monitor went offline, and the voltage of the battery (as captured by the display on the buck converter) was very low, around 10-11V. The battery then went to sleep completely. The battery was recharged to 12.7V and the box left running without the PurpleAir monitor connected. Possible causes: + +* Something was broken in the MPPT board and/or temperature disconnect, so while there is charge across the solar panel output, the battery won't be charged +* There were miscalculations for power usage, and the PurpleAir monitor and buck converter were using more power than expected +* Weather was unusual during the three days of deployment (least likely) + +!!! question "Review note" + + A full 10Ah battery holds about 128Wh. At the planned ~25Wh a day, three days with no charging at all would still leave it around 40%, which on the curve above is still about 13V. Reaching 10-11V in three days means the box was drawing much more than planned, the battery wasn't charging, or it didn't start full. The [whole-box load](#load) points at the second cause: at ~36-45Wh a day, a 10W panel in early September (near the ~4-hour average, so ~32Wh after losses) falls short even on a clear day, and any shade or cloud puts the battery in steady decline. + +!!! todo "For Amaris" + + What did the September 12 session find, and what changed in the design as a result? Once the fix is confirmed, move the relevant checks into the troubleshooting list below. + +### Troubleshooting + +* When the input voltage is 13.0V and the solar panel has been exposed under direct sunlight for ~20-30 minutes, we empirically observe the input voltage rise to 13.1V. This can be used to verify if the solar panel is working properly during that instance of time. +* The buck converter's display doubles as a battery voltmeter: press the button to switch it to input voltage. Compare against the [voltage curve](#battery) to estimate how much charge is left. +* If the battery reads 0V, the BMS has put it to sleep; see [Battery safety](#battery-safety). +* To keep the system off, disconnect the power wire from the Wago. +* Check the fuse for continuity. A blown fuse points to a short during maintenance or a wiring mistake. +* Check the low-temperature disconnect: is its display on, and is it near or below freezing? If so, the panel is deliberately cut off and the battery will not charge. +* Measure the panel voltage at the charge controller input in daylight. It should be well above the battery voltage (around 18V for a "12V" panel); if not, check the panel wiring. + +These checks are adapted from the troubleshooting section of Holobiont Lab's [meshbox documentation](https://holobiontlab.org/docs/meshBoxDocumentation.pdf). See also the troubleshooting section of [Solar Mesh Nodes](solar-mesh-node.md#troubleshooting-solar-mesh-nodes), which covers the shared parts of the box. + +### Design alternatives + +!!! todo "For Amaris" + + Holobiont Lab suggested several alternatives in August, especially if PCW builds more of these. Decide which are worth documenting here (or trying), and delete the rest: + + * [18650](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/18650_battery) cells salvaged from e-bike batteries (Holobiont has spares), or cold-weather 18650s. LiFePO4 remains the safer choice. + * If staying with 12V batteries, a 12V USB charger made for cars or boats could replace the buck converter and breakout board, and would be easier for non-technical volunteers to swap out + * [Battery Hookup](https://batteryhookup.com), a surplus battery supplier in Bensalem + * Powering the monitor from an existing solar mesh node instead of its own box. Holobiont thought the mesh node's battery and panel could probably handle both. + + Other options that came up in PCW's own notes: + + * A PWM solar charge controller with built-in 5V USB outputs (about $17), which would replace the MPPT board, buck converter and USB breakout in one part. An earlier PCW setup guide paired one with the same NERMAK 10Ah battery in a 7.9 x 7.9 x 3.7 inch junction box. + * A battery with a built-in low-temperature charge cutoff, to drop the XH-W1209 and its constant draw (see the [load table](#load)) + * A 20W panel instead of 10W, per the [December sizing note](#solar-panel) + +## Meshtastic nodes + +PCW's Meshtastic nodes are Heltec V3 boards (from Iffy Books), built on an ESP32 chip and powered at 5V over USB-C. Users report an average draw of about 0.15A with peaks around 0.25A (1.25W), a little less than an air monitor. A small 5V 5W USB panel can't power one directly: output drops to nothing at night and sags on cloudy days, and the same goes for air monitors. Either way the device needs a battery between it and the panel. + +Options Holobiont Lab suggested for Meshtastic specifically: + +* Off-the-shelf solar chargers made for USB-powered Meshtastic devices, such as the [YetiWurks solar charger](https://www.yetiwurks.com/product/solar/), which Holobiont has run for a couple of years. It has a protection board but no documented low-temperature disconnect; Holobiont has read of units running for years unmaintained in North Dakota and Minnesota. +* Projects that repurpose the internals of solar lights, such as the [Meshtastic Harbor Breeze solar node](https://www.instructables.com/Meshtastic-Harbor-Breeze-Solar-Node/) +* ESP32 boards with a built-in solar input for charging 18650 cells + +!!! todo "For PCW staff" + + How is the node from the September 18 Bok install powered, and could the air monitor box power a Meshtastic node too, from the same USB breakout with a USB-C cable? Add what's been tried. + +## Powering IoT devices over PoE + +Where a site already has power and a PCW install, an air monitor can instead be powered over Ethernet: a PoE switch or injector sends power down the cable, and a PoE splitter at the far end steps it down to 5V micro USB (or USB-C for a Meshtastic node). The adapter at the monitor end needs heat-shrink tubing to keep moisture out. The same approach can run a monitor off a solar box's battery through a PoE injector, as in the sketch below ([editable source](../../../assets/files/solar/air-monitor-solar-poe.drawio), opens in [diagrams.net](https://app.diagrams.net/)). + +
+ Diagram: a solar panel charges a battery in a weatherproof enclosure with cable glands; the battery feeds a PoE injector, which sends power down an Ethernet cable to a PoE to micro USB adapter covered in heat-shrink tubing, which powers the air monitor +
Powering an air monitor from a solar box over PoE (PCW sketch, 2025)
+
+ +!!! todo "For PCW staff" + + PCW's notes mark this as tested once but not yet by Eugene. Once confirmed, document the parts here or on its own page and link it. + +## Further resources + +* [Holobiont Lab meshbox documentation](https://holobiontlab.org/docs/meshBoxDocumentation.pdf) ([PCW's copy](../../../assets/files/solar/holobiont-meshbox-documentation.pdf), in case that link moves) +* [XH-W1209 thermostat manual](../../../assets/files/solar/xh-w1209-thermostat-manual.pdf), the vendor's sheet for the low-temperature disconnect +* [Power PurpleAir Quality Monitor From Solar](https://blog.voltaicsystems.com/power-purple-air-quality-monitor-from-solar/), Voltaic Systems' tested sizing for the same monitor +* PurpleAir community: [power and data use](https://community.purpleair.com/t/how-much-power-does-a-purpleair-sensor-draw-and-how-much-bandwidth-data-does-it-use/847) and [running off the grid](https://community.purpleair.com/t/off-the-grid/119) +* EPA: [guide to siting and installing air sensors](https://www.epa.gov/air-sensor-toolbox/guide-siting-and-installing-air-sensors) +* [More on the MPPT solar controller](https://www.beyondlogic.org/review-bq24650-5a-mppt-solar-controller-3s-4s-li-ion-lifepo4-12v-lead-acid/) +* [6 steps to crimp ring terminals](https://wesbellwireandcable.com/blog/6-steps-to-crimp-ring-terminals-like-a-pro-copper-hook-up-wire-or-lead-wire/) +* [Green Technology Resources](green-technology.md), including environmental monitoring programs in Philadelphia diff --git a/docs/en/installations/solar.md b/docs/en/installations/green-tech/solar-mesh-node.md similarity index 87% rename from docs/en/installations/solar.md rename to docs/en/installations/green-tech/solar-mesh-node.md index 2e3b67d..ac3d856 100644 --- a/docs/en/installations/solar.md +++ b/docs/en/installations/green-tech/solar-mesh-node.md @@ -20,14 +20,14 @@ Philly Community Wireless is actively supporting sustainable green spaces focuse PCW installed a solar mesh node in Norris Square Neighborhood Projects Colobo Gardens in 2021. Batteries typically last a couple of years at least before needing replacement. The access point sits at the top of a bamboo mast, high enough to clear the garden's structures, with the solar panel and enclosure mounted below it.
- The full solar mesh node at Colobo Gardens: the access point atop the bamboo mast, with the solar panel mounted on the roof below
The full solar mesh node at Colobo Gardens: the access point atop the bamboo mast, with the solar panel mounted on the roof below
- The solar panel on its angled mount at the roof edge, with the wiring running down to the enclosure
The solar panel on its angled mount at the roof edge, with the wiring running down to the enclosure
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ PCW installed a solar mesh node in Norris Square Neighborhood Projects Colobo Ga The weather-proof enclosure holds everything that is not the panel or the access point: the battery, the charge controller, and the PoE injector that carries power up to the AP over a single Ethernet run.
- The open enclosure, with the battery, charge controller and PoE injector labelled
Inside the enclosure at Colobo Gardens
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ The weather-proof enclosure holds everything that is not the panel or the access ## Troubleshooting Solar Mesh Nodes -For additional troubleshooting help, check out the 'Troubleshooting' section (pg. 12) of the [Meshbox Documentation](https://holobiontlab.org/docs/meshBoxDocumentation.pdf). Holobiont Lab's [meshbox docs](https://holobiontlab.org/r&d/meshbox) cover the design these nodes are based on in more detail. +For additional troubleshooting help, check out the 'Troubleshooting' section (pg. 12) of the [Meshbox Documentation](https://holobiontlab.org/docs/meshBoxDocumentation.pdf) ([PCW's copy](../../../assets/files/solar/holobiont-meshbox-documentation.pdf)). Holobiont Lab's [meshbox docs](https://holobiontlab.org/r&d/meshbox) cover the design these nodes are based on in more detail. Common issues include: diff --git a/docs/en/installations/install-planning.md b/docs/en/installations/install-planning.md index 3f55134..47bd0ce 100644 --- a/docs/en/installations/install-planning.md +++ b/docs/en/installations/install-planning.md @@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ is the reference we work from. The points that come up most often on PCW install ### Outdoor placement Outdoor APs should be mounted where they are radio-visible to the mesh APs at the home installs in -range, and high enough to clear whatever is around them. On [solar nodes](solar.md), that usually +range, and high enough to clear whatever is around them. On [solar nodes](green-tech/solar-mesh-node.md), that usually means the AP sits at the top of the mast with the panel and enclosure mounted below it. For how to configure an AP once it is placed, see the diff --git a/docs/es/index.md b/docs/es/index.md index aacf929..3a503ac 100644 --- a/docs/es/index.md +++ b/docs/es/index.md @@ -46,8 +46,8 @@ Si tiene más preguntas, no dude en escribirnos a info@phillycommunitywireless.o **Solar** -- [Nodos solares de malla](installations/solar.md) -- [Recursos de tecnología verde](installations/green-technology.md) +- [Nodos solares de malla](installations/green-tech/solar-mesh-node.md) +- [Recursos de tecnología verde](installations/green-tech/green-technology.md) ### Para usuarios de la red diff --git a/docs/es/installations/green-technology.md b/docs/es/installations/green-tech/green-technology.md similarity index 97% rename from docs/es/installations/green-technology.md rename to docs/es/installations/green-tech/green-technology.md index 1a8d18a..20f2ecd 100644 --- a/docs/es/installations/green-technology.md +++ b/docs/es/installations/green-tech/green-technology.md @@ -4,11 +4,11 @@ title: Recursos de tecnología verde !!! note "Traducción preliminar" - Esta página es una traducción preliminar y está pendiente de revisión. Si encuentra un error, la [versión en inglés](../../../installations/green-technology/) es la referencia. + Esta página es una traducción preliminar y está pendiente de revisión. Si encuentra un error, la [versión en inglés](../../../../installations/green-tech/green-technology/) es la referencia. # Recursos de tecnología verde -Programas, financiamiento y recursos de monitoreo relacionados con el trabajo de PCW en espacios verdes. Para saber cómo se construyen y se mantienen los nodos solares, consulte [Nodos solares de malla](solar.md). +Programas, financiamiento y recursos de monitoreo relacionados con el trabajo de PCW en espacios verdes. Para saber cómo se construyen y se mantienen los nodos solares, consulte [Nodos solares de malla](solar-mesh-node.md). ## Programas solares en Filadelfia diff --git a/docs/es/installations/green-tech/solar-iot-devices.md b/docs/es/installations/green-tech/solar-iot-devices.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6c0f07b --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/es/installations/green-tech/solar-iot-devices.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +title: Dispositivos IoT solares +--- + + +!!! note "Traducción pendiente" + Esta página todavía se está redactando en inglés. Consulte la [versión en inglés](../../../../installations/green-tech/solar-iot-devices/) mientras tanto. + +# Dispositivos IoT solares + +Esta página explica cómo alimentar con energía solar los dispositivos pequeños que PCW instala en la red, sobre todo monitores de calidad del aire PurpleAir y nodos de radio Meshtastic. Incluye la lista de piezas, el consumo de energía, la batería, el panel solar y la instalación de la caja solar para monitores de aire, basada en los [nodos solares de malla](solar-mesh-node.md). + +Para conectar un dispositivo a la red una vez que tiene energía, consulte [Configurar dispositivos IoT](../../for-network-users/configure-IoT.md). diff --git a/docs/es/installations/solar.md b/docs/es/installations/green-tech/solar-mesh-node.md similarity index 87% rename from docs/es/installations/solar.md rename to docs/es/installations/green-tech/solar-mesh-node.md index b6188f5..99b1206 100644 --- a/docs/es/installations/solar.md +++ b/docs/es/installations/green-tech/solar-mesh-node.md @@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ title: Nodos solares de malla !!! note "Traducción preliminar" - Esta página es una traducción preliminar y está pendiente de revisión. Si encuentra un error, la [versión en inglés](../../../installations/solar/) es la referencia. + Esta página es una traducción preliminar y está pendiente de revisión. Si encuentra un error, la [versión en inglés](../../../../installations/green-tech/solar-mesh-node/) es la referencia. # Descripción general de los nodos solares de malla @@ -25,14 +25,14 @@ Philly Community Wireless apoya activamente espacios verdes sostenibles enfocado En 2021, PCW instaló un nodo solar de malla en Colobo Gardens, de Norris Square Neighborhood Projects. Por lo general, las baterías duran por lo menos un par de años antes de necesitar reemplazo. El punto de acceso está en la parte superior de un mástil de bambú, a una altura suficiente para sobrepasar las estructuras del huerto, con el panel solar y la caja montados debajo.
- El nodo solar de malla completo en Colobo Gardens: el punto de acceso en lo alto del mástil de bambú, con el panel solar montado en el techo debajo
El nodo solar de malla completo en Colobo Gardens: el punto de acceso en lo alto del mástil de bambú, con el panel solar montado en el techo debajo
- El panel solar en su soporte inclinado en el borde del techo, con el cableado que baja hasta la caja
El panel solar en su soporte inclinado en el borde del techo, con el cableado que baja hasta la caja
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ En 2021, PCW instaló un nodo solar de malla en Colobo Gardens, de Norris Square La caja resistente a la intemperie contiene todo lo que no es el panel ni el punto de acceso: la batería, el controlador de carga y el inyector PoE (alimentación a través de Ethernet), que lleva la alimentación hasta el AP a través de un solo cable Ethernet.
- La caja abierta, con la batería, el controlador de carga y el inyector PoE rotulados
El interior de la caja en Colobo Gardens
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ La caja resistente a la intemperie contiene todo lo que no es el panel ni el pun ## Solución de problemas de los nodos solares de malla -Si necesita más ayuda para resolver problemas, consulte la sección 'Troubleshooting' (solución de problemas, pág. 12) de la [Meshbox Documentation](https://holobiontlab.org/docs/meshBoxDocumentation.pdf) (en inglés). La [documentación de meshbox](https://holobiontlab.org/r&d/meshbox) de Holobiont Lab explica con más detalle el diseño en el que se basan estos nodos. +Si necesita más ayuda para resolver problemas, consulte la sección 'Troubleshooting' (solución de problemas, pág. 12) de la [Meshbox Documentation](https://holobiontlab.org/docs/meshBoxDocumentation.pdf) (en inglés; [copia de PCW](../../../assets/files/solar/holobiont-meshbox-documentation.pdf)). La [documentación de meshbox](https://holobiontlab.org/r&d/meshbox) de Holobiont Lab explica con más detalle el diseño en el que se basan estos nodos. Los problemas comunes incluyen: diff --git a/docs/es/installations/install-planning.md b/docs/es/installations/install-planning.md index 0c7bc45..959e66e 100644 --- a/docs/es/installations/install-planning.md +++ b/docs/es/installations/install-planning.md @@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ es la referencia con la que trabajamos. Los puntos que surgen con más frecuenci ### Ubicación en exteriores Los AP exteriores deben montarse donde sean visibles por radio para los AP de malla de las instalaciones domésticas -dentro del alcance, y lo bastante altos para superar lo que tengan alrededor. En los [nodos solares](solar.md), eso normalmente +dentro del alcance, y lo bastante altos para superar lo que tengan alrededor. En los [nodos solares](green-tech/solar-mesh-node.md), eso normalmente significa que el AP va en la parte superior del mástil, con el panel y la caja montados debajo. Para saber cómo configurar un AP una vez ubicado, consulte la guía diff --git a/includes/abbreviations.es.md b/includes/abbreviations.es.md index 9bbe832..777dfd2 100644 --- a/includes/abbreviations.es.md +++ b/includes/abbreviations.es.md @@ -15,3 +15,7 @@ *[GFCIs]: Tomacorrientes GFCI (interruptor de circuito por falla a tierra) — cortan la corriente cuando detectan una falla; son obligatorios para la energía en exteriores. *[GFCI]: Tomacorriente GFCI (interruptor de circuito por falla a tierra) — corta la corriente cuando detecta una falla; es obligatorio para la energía en exteriores. *[SSID]: Identificador de red — el nombre que transmite una red wifi. +*[MPPT]: Seguimiento del punto de máxima potencia — un controlador de carga solar que ajusta su carga para sacar la mayor potencia posible del panel. +*[BMS]: Sistema de gestión de baterías — el circuito dentro de una batería de litio que la protege de la sobrecarga, la descarga excesiva y el desequilibrio entre celdas. +*[LiFePO4]: Litio ferrofosfato — una química de batería de litio más segura y duradera que otros tipos de litio, pero que no debe cargarse bajo cero. +*[AWG]: Calibre de alambre estadounidense (American wire gauge) — el estándar para el grosor del cable; un número menor indica un cable más grueso. diff --git a/includes/abbreviations.md b/includes/abbreviations.md index 07831b8..7e00fb0 100644 --- a/includes/abbreviations.md +++ b/includes/abbreviations.md @@ -15,3 +15,7 @@ *[GFCIs]: Ground-fault circuit interrupters — outlets that cut power when they detect a fault, required for outdoor power. *[GFCI]: Ground-fault circuit interrupter — an outlet that cuts power when it detects a fault, required for outdoor power. *[SSID]: Service set identifier — the name a WiFi network broadcasts. +*[MPPT]: Maximum power point tracking — a solar charge controller that adjusts its load to pull the most power out of the panel. +*[BMS]: Battery management system — the circuit inside a lithium battery that protects it from over-charging, over-discharging and cell imbalance. +*[LiFePO4]: Lithium iron phosphate — a lithium battery chemistry that is safer and longer-lived than other lithium types, but must not be charged below freezing. +*[AWG]: American wire gauge — the standard for wire thickness; a smaller number is a thicker wire. diff --git a/mkdocs.dev.yml b/mkdocs.dev.yml index a1165b5..0fc27e0 100644 --- a/mkdocs.dev.yml +++ b/mkdocs.dev.yml @@ -35,9 +35,10 @@ nav: - Wireless Settings: device-configuration/wireless-settings.md - Useful Software: device-configuration/useful-software.md - Unpoller: device-configuration/unpoller.md - - Solar: - - Solar Mesh Nodes: installations/solar.md - - Green Technology Resources: installations/green-technology.md + - Green Tech: + - Solar Mesh Nodes: installations/green-tech/solar-mesh-node.md + - Solar IoT Devices: installations/green-tech/solar-iot-devices.md + - Green Technology Resources: installations/green-tech/green-technology.md - Software & Infrastructure: - Overview: software-infrastructure/overview.md diff --git a/mkdocs.yml b/mkdocs.yml index 5a0ffc2..e969d49 100644 --- a/mkdocs.yml +++ b/mkdocs.yml @@ -81,8 +81,9 @@ plugins: Manual configuration: Configuración manual Troubleshoot Unifi Devices: Solución de problemas de dispositivos Unifi Hardware: Hardware - Solar: Solar + Green Tech: Tecnología verde Solar Mesh Nodes: Nodos solares de malla + Solar IoT Devices: Dispositivos IoT solares Green Technology Resources: Recursos de tecnología verde Networking and Device Configuration: Redes y configuración de dispositivos Set a Static IP Address: Configurar una IP estática @@ -130,9 +131,10 @@ nav: - Manual configuration: device-configuration/configure-edgerouter-x.md - Configure Unifi APs: device-configuration/configure-ap-mesh.md - Troubleshoot Unifi Devices: device-configuration/troubleshoot-devices.md - - Solar: - - Solar Mesh Nodes: installations/solar.md - - Green Technology Resources: installations/green-technology.md + - Green Tech: + - Solar Mesh Nodes: installations/green-tech/solar-mesh-node.md + - Solar IoT Devices: installations/green-tech/solar-iot-devices.md + - Green Technology Resources: installations/green-tech/green-technology.md - For network users: - Connecting to the network: for-network-users/connect-to-the-network.md