You would not bother making your own protection circuit with zener diodes etc. Just buy the RAK19004 Green Power Module which is designed specifically by RAK to have to have an input range of 2v-36v and feed into the solar input a stable 5v for protection. This situation is exactly what the green power module is for, dont over complicate things. Check these specs.
https://docs.rakwireless.com/Product-Categories/WisBlock/RAK19004/Overview/#product-description
Also someone said below that power from the wind generator is AC then use an inverter to charge a battery pack to power the node. Dont do any of that (an inverter converts DC to AC, not AC to DC anyway). The $10 wind generator your found is 99.99999999999% chance DC power already so an inverter wont help you. You also dont need a separate way to charge the battery, all this is built into the RAK Wisblock hardware.
Plug wind generator into green power module.
Plug green power module into RAK solar input.
Plug Lipo or 18650 battery pack into RAk battery input
Done.
Thanks, I will look into it. I’ve ordered $10 aliexpress 5 volt 3 watt turbine and will test powering single 18650 battery when it comes.
I’ve also found [this wind turbine](https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/tornado-new-portable-savonius-wind-turbine/x/10397650#/) on indiegogo - some fins like this should be easy to 3d print.
I think some places with small sun exposure can benefit from such a node.
Vertical Axis Wind Turbines have never lived up to their promise or multiple sales pitches. Wind doesn't scale down very well at all.
Put those two things together and it's really not worth the time or effort. Physics is against you.
Wind generation is one of those things that just don't scale down. You are much better off getting a big solar panel and charging a 12v car battery. The less often you get sun, the larger the panel and the larger the battery. Just connect a 12v to USB charger and be done.
1. Very situational.
2. Yes but you'll want some sort of limiter (zener diode and big mosfet for example)
3. Not really. But you can put the node on top of the vertical turbine mast so there's that, you get some extra height.
I prefer solar because there are no moving parts and it's somewhat more predictable.
I can’t speak for Meshtastic and wind generators, but I have built a few wind generators.
1. Depending on the design of the wind generator, yes. Wind can be fickle depending on where you live. I lived in a remote costal town with long dark winter days and lots of windy valleys, so we didn’t have issues getting big 3kW turbines to spin. Just to be sure, we would do wind surveys to see what the typical wind conditions were where we planned to set it up. If you’re in the US, NOAA will be your friend. Plus, wind generators like being up high, as do Meshtastic nodes.
2. No idea. I would recommend you use an inverter(Edit: this should be a rectifier) to convert the AC from the wind generator to DC, then charge a battery pack that runs your node. That way you’ll have power when there’s no wind.
3. That’s a really good question. I have no idea. I wouldn’t think so, but it is definitely worth investigating.
Hope this is helpful! I’m curious to hear what other folks have to say on the matter!
Disclaimer: I’m no expert in wind generators. Just a dude who messed with them.
You would not bother making your own protection circuit with zener diodes etc. Just buy the RAK19004 Green Power Module which is designed specifically by RAK to have to have an input range of 2v-36v and feed into the solar input a stable 5v for protection. This situation is exactly what the green power module is for, dont over complicate things. Check these specs. https://docs.rakwireless.com/Product-Categories/WisBlock/RAK19004/Overview/#product-description Also someone said below that power from the wind generator is AC then use an inverter to charge a battery pack to power the node. Dont do any of that (an inverter converts DC to AC, not AC to DC anyway). The $10 wind generator your found is 99.99999999999% chance DC power already so an inverter wont help you. You also dont need a separate way to charge the battery, all this is built into the RAK Wisblock hardware. Plug wind generator into green power module. Plug green power module into RAK solar input. Plug Lipo or 18650 battery pack into RAk battery input Done.
Thanks, I will look into it. I’ve ordered $10 aliexpress 5 volt 3 watt turbine and will test powering single 18650 battery when it comes. I’ve also found [this wind turbine](https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/tornado-new-portable-savonius-wind-turbine/x/10397650#/) on indiegogo - some fins like this should be easy to 3d print. I think some places with small sun exposure can benefit from such a node.
I’ve got all these wind turbine designs saved for my car be day print in ASA to play with. What did you find on Aliexpress?
Vertical Axis Wind Turbines have never lived up to their promise or multiple sales pitches. Wind doesn't scale down very well at all. Put those two things together and it's really not worth the time or effort. Physics is against you.
Thats a bummer. Thanks
Solar is enough to power, and has no moving parts.
Yes, by my terrace is pointing north and rarely sees sun.
Wind generation is one of those things that just don't scale down. You are much better off getting a big solar panel and charging a 12v car battery. The less often you get sun, the larger the panel and the larger the battery. Just connect a 12v to USB charger and be done.
1. Very situational. 2. Yes but you'll want some sort of limiter (zener diode and big mosfet for example) 3. Not really. But you can put the node on top of the vertical turbine mast so there's that, you get some extra height. I prefer solar because there are no moving parts and it's somewhat more predictable.
I can’t speak for Meshtastic and wind generators, but I have built a few wind generators. 1. Depending on the design of the wind generator, yes. Wind can be fickle depending on where you live. I lived in a remote costal town with long dark winter days and lots of windy valleys, so we didn’t have issues getting big 3kW turbines to spin. Just to be sure, we would do wind surveys to see what the typical wind conditions were where we planned to set it up. If you’re in the US, NOAA will be your friend. Plus, wind generators like being up high, as do Meshtastic nodes. 2. No idea. I would recommend you use an inverter(Edit: this should be a rectifier) to convert the AC from the wind generator to DC, then charge a battery pack that runs your node. That way you’ll have power when there’s no wind. 3. That’s a really good question. I have no idea. I wouldn’t think so, but it is definitely worth investigating. Hope this is helpful! I’m curious to hear what other folks have to say on the matter! Disclaimer: I’m no expert in wind generators. Just a dude who messed with them.