Harbor Breeze Solar Node (~$10 Build)

Overview

The Harbor Breeze Solar Node converts a $10–15 Harbor Breeze 60-lumen solar LED floodlight (Lowe’s item #SL1832) into a weatherproof, solar-powered mesh node. The floodlight already includes a solar panel (~0.5 W / 90 mA at 5 V), an 18650 battery bay, a charge circuit, and a weatherproof enclosure — the hard parts are done for you.

Total cost including radio: approximately $60–70. Enclosure + solar hardware alone: $10–15.

Bill of Materials

Assembly Overview

1. Remove the back cover of the floodlight housing.
2. Remove the LED assembly and cut existing wires near the board.
3. Drill a 1/4″ hole through the housing for the SMA bulkhead connector.
4. Install the RAK WisBlock base board and core module inside the housing.
5. Wire the battery: red = positive (+).
6. Wire the solar panel to the JST “5V SOLAR” header — verify polarity before connecting.
7. Weatherproof all cable entry points and the SMA hole with silicone sealant.
8. Reinstall the back cover.

Critical Warnings

• Do NOT exceed 6 V on the solar input. The Harbor Breeze panel is rated ~0.5 W trickle charge. Do not substitute a higher-voltage panel.
• Verify solar wire polarity before connecting to the JST header. Reverse polarity will damage the charge circuit.
• This panel provides trickle charge only — not suitable for high-duty-cycle backbone repeaters. Nodes that transmit frequently will discharge the battery faster than the panel can recharge it.

Best For

• Fence lines and yard boundary sensors
• Low-traffic area coverage (parking lots, fields, trails)
• Budget-conscious deployments where AC power is unavailable

Not recommended for high-traffic backbone repeaters or nodes that need continuous uptime.