Solar powering nodemcu

[raptor]

Hey guys
I'm newbie in electronics, but for one of my projects for remote monitoring I need to supply my nodemcu with solar power.
I want to use single cell LIFEPO4 battery like this http://www.a123systems.com/Collateral/D ... 0_2016.pdf
What charge/discharge controller I will need for that single cell battery?
What panel I will need?

Thanks in advance

[toffel969]

I don't want to discourage you in using esp easy, but nodemcu on battery/solar power will not make you very happy.
Esp 8266 is just a power-hungry chip.
Rather check mysensors for that application. There are custom builts that run for months on 2aaa batteries

[toffel969]

https://www.mysensors.org/build/battery

[raptor]

Thank you for your help. I will check the solution from the link.
If anyone else have experience powering esp12E with solar power, please try answer to my questions.

[Drum]

I have a little experience using both ESP8266 and 8285 on solar power. As long you are able to use deep sleep it can work fine. I have an outdoor Temp/Humidity/pressure monitor which wakes up every 10 minutes, connects and sends data via mqtt to a Raspberry Pi.
ESP12E works fine, NodeMCU not so much, the AMS1117 voltage regulator is okay for running off 5V USB, but not for 3.7V 18650 battery. Look at the 12F, it is supposed to have a better antenna and costs about the same from China.

I use the following
ESP8266 or ESP8285 (PSF85 from Itead with external antenna connector)
MCP1825 (500ma) or MCP1826 (1A) voltage regulator with enable pin
KA75330 Voltage Detector (shuts off the MCP1825/6 when the battery drops below 3.3V (or on soil moisture sensors which need stable voltage shuts off when regulator output drops below 3.3v)
TP4056 module to charge a 18650 battery ( although eventually I want to use a circuit like the adafruit Solar LiPoly Charger v2)
Small 6V Solar cell (TP4056 uses 5V in)

I have had these running for several months with no problems, voltage stays over 4. It is possible you might be able to use a shorter sleep, but 1 minute is too short it lasts less than a week.
I had a problem with a BME280 module and corrosion caused by condensation so I need to find something better there or some way to keep condensation from forming on the board.

[raptor]

Thank you for your help Drum. I will be able to use deep sleep. The idea is to wake esp every hour, send data and then sleep again. Do you have any experience with LIFEPO4 batteries?
I can't find charge/discharge module like TP4056 for single cell LIFEPO4 battery.

[Drum]

No, just Lipo and Nimh. If it is sleeping for an hour, Solar is no problem.

Try TP5000 never used it, but see here: https://www.electronicspoint.com/thread ... ries.28563

[raptor]

Thank you very much for your help Drum! I will check this module.

[waspie]

I use an esp-12 and a single 18650 to do temperature measurements throughout my house.
It wakes from deep sleep every 3 minutes to send data and back to sleep. It lasts about 3-4 weeks a charge.

I just ordered some cheap solar cells from aliexpress hoping to not have to charge them manually any more.

I use these: https://www.ebay.com/itm/1pcs-Lithium-B ... SwtJZXUJEC
they charge and cut off the battery once voltage gets too low

I use an esp-12 on a breakout board that i can't find a link for right now. its *only* the esp on a breakout, nothing else that can sap power.
i run the full battery voltage to the esp with no regulator. it hasn't been a problem in the 8 or so months since i started doing this.

hope this helps

[raptor]

Thank you for sharing your experience waspie. It is really useful.