2026 Harbor Breeze (Shorter Model) Meshtastic Node

It seems like there's a newer (or different?) model of the classic $10 Harbor Breeze solar light at your local big box store, now with a smaller solar panel. I wanted to add another battery in parallel as one just isn't enough during the PNW winter. All the models I could find were for a different-sized unit, so it was time to make my own!

This adds space for two 18650 batteries, and the holders are extra long to accommodate protected cells. There's a little ridge next to the batteries where you can clip in a solar charging board, and a spot for a Seeed XIAO nRF52840 or ESP32S3 + SX1262 combo to be held in place with a (long) zip tie or two. Since these devices don't have over-discharge protection onboard, I use protected cells. The spring contacts should be long enough to hold unprotected cells in place if those also work for you. There's a hole to pass the LoRa antenna cable through the mounting hinge (see linked model below for the mount), as well as a spot on the side for a 2.4GHz antenna. Re-uses the solar panel, gasket, nut, and knob/screw.

Best printed in PETG or ASA since this is something that will be outdoors and in the sun!

What Else You Need

18650 Contacts

The slots are 1mm thick and sized for 16mm x 16.5mm contacts. 

I used these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HRTMY5T

2.4GHz Antenna

For Bluetooth/WiFi communication. Any panel-mountable one with an SMA connector will do.

I used this one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D1Z3W7T

915MHz/LoRa Antenna

Frequency is region-specific. In the US it's 915MHz. 

I used these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D47HVCK7

Solar Charging Board

Omit if you're going to use this with a RAK board that already has this capability.

I used these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F8Q5SB3F

XIAO nRF52840 & Wio-SX1262 Kit for Meshtastic & LoRa

Or Meshtastic device of your choice. Add a negative cube in Bambu Studio to remove the holder.
You can also use the ESP32S3 version, which fits into the slots for the header pins, but this draws more current than the panel can readily supply and my batteries never recharged.

https://www.seeedstudio.com/XIAO-nRF52840-Wio-SX1262-Kit-for-Meshtastic-p-6400.html

2026 Harbor Breeze mount

If you want to use the same model I did to mount the node:

https://3dgo.app/models/makerworld/2308565