Power tiny things that matter. LinkSolar delivers compact, durable solar for IoT sensors, gateways, weather nodes, asset trackers, and telemetry.
The goal isn’t “big watts”—it’s reliable daily harvest in dawn/dusk and overcast, plus batteries sized for your duty cycle.
Who This Page Is For
- Remote sensors that must run unattended for months (environmental, water level, trail, perimeter).
- Gateways/repeaters that wake to burst data then sleep.
- Cameras and routers that need predictable uptime in winter or under light canopy.
- Projects that benefit from pole or wall mounting to reach sun outside shade.
Key outcomes: stable daily energy budget, high winter uptime, fewer truck-rolls, and easy maintenance.
Quick Sizing That Actually Works In The Field
- Budget energy, not power. Sum device watts × hours = Wh/day. Include standby current—sleep adds up.
- Design for the worst month. Divide Wh/day by winter peak-sun-hours to find panel watts.
- Add system losses (20–30%). Controllers, wiring, and cold temps all take a bite.
- Choose autonomy. 1–3 days for moderate climates; 3–5+ days for snow/overcast or service-critical nodes.
- Duty-cycle aggressively. Reduce transmit frequency, shorten on-windows, and cache data for bigger bursts.
Worked example (gateway):
Gateway 1.2 W average × 24 h = 28.8 Wh/day.
Losses 25% → ~36 Wh/day. Worst month 3.5 sun-hours → ~10–12 W panel.
With 3 days autonomy → ~108 Wh battery (≈ 9 Ah @ 12 V), adjusted for usable DoD.
IoT & Smart Sensors — Work We’ve Delivered
| Customer / Use Case | Solution (key components) | Panel & Construction | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
Weather Node in Canopy Gap | 2.3 W mini panel on wall/pole 5–10 W bracket; 2–3 days autonomy. Bracket | Glass mini panel; adjustable tilt | 15-min sampling + LoRa uplink; strong winter uptime |
Remote Trail Counter | 10 W on universal pole; inline fuse near battery; duty-cycled LTE bursts. Pole kit | Framed 10 W; stainless clamps | Reliable counts; fewer truck-rolls after moving panel out of shade |
Gate Controller + Sensor | Compact array; DC direct feed (avoid PoE overhead); labeled enclosure; Mini panels for prototypes | Small framed array; sealed box | Stable actuation + telemetry; serviceable wiring and spares |
River Level Node | Conformal wiring; breathable vent; low-voltage disconnect | Mini panel + LiFePO₄ | Prevents brownouts, avoids SD corruption; safe recovery after storms |
Asset Yard Repeater | 20–30 W panel; strain-relieved gland; UV-stable ties | Framed panel; 30–45° tilt | Year-round coverage; minimal maintenance |
Wildlife Cam Ridge | 5–10 W panel; short AWG run; weatherproof inline fuse | Framed 10 W; compact mount | Camera uptime improved; simpler field service |
* Harvest varies with season, shading, temperature, and duty cycle. For exact sizing, send device datasheets and duty profile.
Placement & Mounting Best Practices
- Panel placement beats panel size. Move the module out of shade; aim for unobstructed midday sun.
- Tilt matters in winter. A steeper angle improves winter harvest and sheds snow.
- Cable discipline. Keep DC runs short; upsize AWG for distance; avoid cable loops that catch wind.
- Maintenance by design. Mount where you can wipe dust/snow without ladders or thickets.
Power Architecture
Panel → Controller → Battery → Load. For sub-10 W nodes, PWM is fine when panel Vmp ≈ battery. Mixed voltages, cold weather, or longer strings benefit from MPPT.
Battery chemistry: LiFePO₄ is stable and cycle-friendly; Li-ion is lighter but needs tighter protection. Lead-acid works for cheap, warm sites; expect shorter life.
Weather sealing: IP-rated enclosures, breathable vents (to avoid condensation), UV-stable grommets, and strain relief.
Brownout protection: Add low-voltage disconnect or firmware-level graceful shutdown to avoid SD-card or file-system corruption on gateways.
Build Your IoT Solar Kit
-
![113×113 mm glass mini solar panel shown at an angle with rounded corners and 3×3 cell layout.]()
Mini Solar Panels (0.11–2.3 W)
— ideal for ultra-low loads and tight spaces -
![Full 125 mm SunPower cell showing blue front and silver back contact.]()
Solar Cells (grade-A, OEM custom cuts)
— for custom footprints and integrated designs -
![Close-up of tilt slot and fasteners on the pole mount bracket.]()
Universal Solar Panel Pole Mount Kit
— quick to install, aims above shrub/rail shade -
![Four-pole DC circuit breaker with four levers and terminal knockouts, front angle view.]()
DC Circuit Breaker (250–1000 V)
— compact over-current protection at the battery enclosure -
![Crimping tool with MC4 male/female connector pairs and two plastic spanner keys.]()
MC4 Crimping Tool
— reliable field terminations and repairs
Frequently Asked Questions
How big should my panel be for an IoT node?
How big should my panel be for an IoT node?
Budget daily Wh (include sleep current), add 20–30% losses, divide by worst-month sun hours. For ≤10 Wh/day nodes, 2–5 W is common; gateways may need 10–20 W.
PWM or MPPT for small systems?
PWM or MPPT for small systems?
For low-power nodes where panel Vmp ≈ battery voltage, PWM is simpler and efficient enough. Use MPPT for cold climates, longer wiring, or mismatched voltages.
What’s the quickest way to improve winter uptime?
What’s the quickest way to improve winter uptime?
Increase tilt, relocate the panel out of shade, and add a day of autonomy. Verify results with a weekly voltage/harvest log.
Do I need MC4 and breakers at these tiny powers?
Do I need MC4 and breakers at these tiny powers?
For micro-systems, solder pads or small connectors can be fine; for larger 5–40W arrays, MC4 and a DC breaker/fuse improve safety and serviceability.
What if the site is shady most of the day?
What if the site is shady most of the day?
Move the panel: pole or wall mounts put it into direct sun; shorten DC runs to reduce voltage drop.
Do I need PoE?
Do I need PoE?
If possible, power devices directly from DC and keep PoE off except during bursts—PoE injectors/switches add overhead.