Topic: Extra solar panel for my WH41 (PM 2.5 sensor)

[RusHii]

Hi everyone,

I would like to share my built for my PM2.5 sensor. Since one year I need to charge the battery every month it's annoying so I created my own solar panels extension.

I bought everything on Amazon for ~40€
A solar panel 2W 6V 330mA 136mm x 110mm
Cable (2 pins connectors)
A pole mount

I welded my cable (male) to the existing solar panel in the sensor

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I used an existing alimentation cable and weld it to a second 2 pin connectors (female)

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I put my solar panel between 2 plexiglass panels (with many screw) and mount it on a pole

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I installed this today

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RusHii

Based on topic
https://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=44513.0
https://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=42823.msg436995#msg436995

[Rover1822]

Very nice. I had contemplated that as opposed to using the USB charging input attached to solar which I ended up doing.

Either will work

I am glad to see you added a connector so you can unplug for when you will clean the unit.

[GeeEmm]

Very nice. I had contemplated that as opposed to using the USB charging input attached to solar which I ended up doing.

Either will work

I am glad to see you added a connector so you can unplug for when you will clean the unit.

A neat solution! Likewise, I used a store credit to buy a usb phone charger solar panel for my indoor unit.  My outdoor unit is under glass and as it is summer here I doubt that battery life will be an issue for now, perhaps forever..

However RusHii I have thought about doing a similar usb setup on the outside unit if my optimism proves unfounded, and I am curious about whether you sealed the gap between the two plexiglass panels, I was envisioning using self-adhesive rubber strips at least on three sides (open on the bottom perhaps)?  OTOH this might be overthinking it if the panel is weatherproof, and all that is required is a mount.

[RusHii]

A neat solution! Likewise, I used a store credit to buy a usb phone charger solar panel for my indoor unit.  My outdoor unit is under glass and as it is summer here I doubt that battery life will be an issue for now, perhaps forever..

However RusHii I have thought about doing a similar usb setup on the outside unit if my optimism proves unfounded, and I am curious about whether you sealed the gap between the two plexiglass panels, I was envisioning using self-adhesive rubber strips at least on three sides (open on the bottom perhaps)?  OTOH this might be overthinking it if the panel is weatherproof, and all that is required is a mount.

only the top of the plexiglass is sealed with a flexible plastic tube to prevent water from leaking. The other 3 sides remain open. The plexiglass protects the panel from hail (as a precaution)