Notes
Build notes
Reference notes on solar and battery design, ESP32, MicroPython, LoRa, MeshCore, CAD and 3D printing. They're kept up to date rather than written once and left.
LoRa in South Australia: a maker's guide
LoRa, LoRaWAN, Meshtastic and MeshCore explained, the AU rules, Adelaide groups, what to buy, and a two-board MicroPython project.
Solar LoRa sensors that smell bushfires
How Dryad's Silvanet sniffs out smouldering fires with a BME688, a tiny solar cell and LoRaWAN.
Why SA's solar farms are going LoRa
Trackers, inverters and robots over LoRa, plus a Pico and INA219 backyard solar monitor with full code.
Build vs buy: a solar Meshtastic repeater for the Adelaide Hills
SenseCAP Solar Node or a DIY RAK WisBlock build: costs, an eight-step build log and siting tips.
MicroPython 1.29 on the ESP32-C5: dual-band Wi-Fi with Thonny
Flash it at 0x2000, connect Thonny, and scan for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks.
Designing 3D printed holes for 1/4" hex bits
Which radius your CAD tool wants, how much clearance to add, and a free test block.
Let the magic smoke out
Everyone starts basic, and failing is how you learn. Five titans who failed first.
Deep sleep and battery monitoring on the ESP32
Reading battery voltage and sleeping properly between readings.