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Harbor Breeze Solar Node (~$10 Build)

Overview

The Harbor Breeze Solar Node converts a $10–10 - 15 Harbor Breeze 60-lumen solar LED floodlight (Lowe’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 $60–60 - 70. Enclosure + solar hardware alone: $10–10 - 15.

Bill of Materials

ItemCost
Harbor Breeze 60LM Solar LED Light (Lowe’Lowe's #SL1832)$10–10 - 15
RAK4631 WisBlock Core (nRF52840 + SX1262)$18–18 - 24
RAK19007 WisBlock Base Board (USB-C + JST)$9.99
915 MHz LoRa Antenna 2 dBi SMA whip$5–5 - 10
u.FL to SMA Bulkhead Pigtail (~10 cm)~$5
18650 cell (if not included or depleted)$5–5 - 10
Misc: heat-shrink, silicone sealant~$5
Total (approx.)~$60–60 - 70

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”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.

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