Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Welcome to the starter project for the Midlands Mountain Mesh! This video outlines how to build a simple, cost-effective solar repeater node for our Meshtastic EU 868 LongFast network operating in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Hardware Used:
Seeed Studio XIAO nRF52840 & Wio-SX1262 Kit
seeedstudio.com/XIAO-nRF52840-Wio-SX1262-Kit-for-Meshtastic-p-6400.html
.
Eurolux H221CDW Solar Garden Spotlight
.
How to Build Your Solar Node: This conversion is incredibly straightforward and requires minimal DIY skills
:
Unscrew the cover from the top of the Eurolux solar light and clip off the existing LED lights
.
Solder wires to the positive and negative ends of the included battery
.
Crucial Wiring Step: Connect these wires to the Voltage In (VIN) and Ground pins on the XIAO board
. Do not connect to the 3.3V pin, as the light's solar charger can push the voltage up to 4.2V for charging, which could damage the board
. The VIN pin features a regulator that safely handles up to 7 Volts
.
Drill a hole in the casing for the LoRa antenna, route it through, and use hot glue or tape to secure the leads and tidy up the internals
. (Pro-tip: Drill the hole near the top, as the battery sits right in the center underneath the casing line)
.
Reassemble the unit, ensuring the waterproof seal is intact
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Welcome to the starter project for the Midlands Mountain Mesh! This video outlines how to build a simple, cost-effective solar repeater node for our Meshtastic EU 868 LongFast network operating in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Hardware Used:
Seeed Studio XIAO nRF52840 & Wio-SX1262 Kit
seeedstudio.com/XIAO-nRF52840-Wio-SX1262-Kit-for-Meshtastic-p-6400.html
.
Eurolux H221CDW Solar Garden Spotlight
.
How to Build Your Solar Node: This conversion is incredibly straightforward and requires minimal DIY skills
:
Unscrew the cover from the top of the Eurolux solar light and clip off the existing LED lights
.
Solder wires to the positive and negative ends of the included battery
.
Crucial Wiring Step: Connect these wires to the Voltage In (VIN) and Ground pins on the XIAO board
. Do not connect to the 3.3V pin, as the light's solar charger can push the voltage up to 4.2V for charging, which could damage the board
. The VIN pin features a regulator that safely handles up to 7 Volts
.
Drill a hole in the casing for the LoRa antenna, route it through, and use hot glue or tape to secure the leads and tidy up the internals
. (Pro-tip: Drill the hole near the top, as the battery sits right in the center underneath the casing line)
.
Reassemble the unit, ensuring the waterproof seal is intact
Stay informed on the Business of Drones
Don't miss out on any of our latest videos, subscribe to our channel goo.gl/PMFYQb
Other places you can find us:
instagram.com/droneandsundry
suasnews.com
facebook.com/suasnews
twitter.com/suasnews
