Conservation Lower Zambezi is a wildlife protection organization located in southeastern Zambia, right on the edge of Lower Zambezi National Park. They run a variety of programs with the local wildlife...
We frequently get asked how to create an IV curve for a solar panel. We show you how to do it with a minimal amount of equipment. Why Generate an IV Curve for a Solar Panel We build out IV curves for our own...
Students at the University of Michigan are building a "high-altitude testing platform for atmospheric and space systems." After a lot of prototyping and test flights, they have arrived at their final...
Open Source Drifting Buoy As sensors and communications hardware drop in price, there are entire new worlds that are opening up for exploration and monitoring. One of those is the ocean. The Maker Buoy Shop...
USB-C Power Delivery: An Intro USB-PD, or USB-C Power Delivery, is a new protocol specification that allows for faster and more flexible charging. It was developed concurrently with USB Type-C (USB-C) which...
Lithium Battery Policy for Domestic and International Flights Can I bring my batteries on the plane? Lithium batteries are allowed on planes, but the rules vary by airline. We look at each major airline and...
To run an IoT device from solar you need to know how much power the device daily consumes (energy budget) and how much power you can produce from solar. Accurate data is extremely important. If your estimate...
The black-capped petrel lives high in the mountains of Hispaniola and makes its nest in a deep burrow, among dense ravines or dry rocky ridges. It is an endangered seabird known as Diablotin (“little...
How do Solar Chargers React to Heat? Just like your phone and other electronics, extreme temperatures can affect the performance of a solar charger. In this post we'll go over how extreme heat can affect both...
The SensorTeam in the Netherlands recently launched the IoT SoundSensor to accurately monitor sound levels in real time. The system is powered by a Voltaic 9 Watt, 18 Volt Solar panel. The noise pollution...
To run an IoT device year round from solar, you need to estimate how much power you will generate per day. This will vary based on geographic location, time of year and local weather conditions. Luckily, there...
In this post, we test how to run an Apogee full spectrum sensor from a small solar panel or simply a battery. The sensor measures PPFD which is the number of photons in the 400-700nm range of the visible...
We explain how to choose an MPP (maximum power point) voltage for solar charge controller chips that use a ‘constant voltage’ regulation method, such as TI’s bq24650 or Linear Technology’s LT3652. We...
Solar for Camping How to choose the best solar charger for your next camping trip. Whether you're an avid camper or just like to get out of town on summer weekends, having a reliable solar charger when off...
Wildlife Protection Solutions uses technology to save endangered species and ecosystems. They have combined their wildlife conservation and technology expertise to create a real-time solution to combat...
Solar Powered Remote Water Level Monitoring Pacific Watershed Associates, based in Northwestern California, is an environmental and engineering firm that specializes in complex watershed issues. One of their...
In this article we evaluate three popular lithium ion solar charge controllers, with and without MPPT, and compare their performance with a variety of different size panels in different lighting...
Deploying Low Cost Air Sensors As more and more low cost sensors appear, the reach and applications can be tantalizing. The question that crops up is whether the sensors are any good and can provide reliable...
