Solar panel pole mount & electronics enclosure

Pole mount & electronics enclosure for a 150mm x 130mm solar panel. This accommodates a common 1 inch (1.2" (30mm) O.D. measured) EMT electrical conduit pipe.  Zip tie accommodations are provided around the pole mount in case the fit is loose on the pole or if you need to modify it for a different sized pole.

Print instructions

Why I Built It
I have an outdoor weather station that has batteries inside the instrument array. Changing the two lithium AA batteries once per year involves getting on the roof which is a PIA, so the idea was to eliminate the need to get on the roof and change batteries. This project uses a small solar panel to charge a 18650 lithium battery. The solar panel itself is mounted on the weather station pole at a lower height to eliminate getting on the roof. It takes less than an hour of full sun to charge the 18650 fully from empty. The panel is fixed at 30 degrees from horizontal. I included an optional small battery capacity display in the design just for grins. There are two version of the bottom panel for your convenience - one with the display, and one without. The inside of the back panel includes zip tie anchor points for wire management. 

Electronics used

Sources of electronics
5v Solar Panel: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2-5W-5V-Solar-Cell-Polycrystalline-Solar-Panel-Crocodile-Clip-For-Charging-3-7V-Battery-Solar/32806512471.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.16.1e185237urKlCr&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_3_10065_10130_10068_10547_319_10546_317_10548_10545_10696_10084_453_454_10083_10618_10307_537_536_10059_10884_10887_321_322_10103,searchweb201603_52,ppcSwitch_0&algo_expid=0816fe61-c9ea-4a22-a728-1e8dd835e79c-2&algo_pvid=0816fe61-c9ea-4a22-a728-1e8dd835e79c&transAbTest=ae803_4 or https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CBT8A14/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

4.2v Battery Display: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1S-2S-3S-4S-Single-3-7V-Lithium-Battery-Capacity-Indicator-Module-4-2V-Blue-Display/32849433401.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.27424c4dJRE9fS

Battery charger - The one I used is no longer available, but something like this should work fine: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/5V-18650-Lithium-Battery-Charger-Protection-Board-Boost-Step-Up-Module-Charge-Discharge-the-Same-Time/33015013144.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.63.b7461da2sD59tn&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_3_10065_10130_10068_10547_319_10546_317_10548_10545_10696_10084_453_454_10083_10618_10307_537_536_10059_10884_10887_321_322_10103,searchweb201603_52,ppcSwitch_0&algo_expid=ead3c2f0-ed8e-4bdc-9638-ee8ab54a037e-9&algo_pvid=ead3c2f0-ed8e-4bdc-9638-ee8ab54a037e&transAbTest=ae803_4

Alternatively to above, you can use a 4056 module and a 18650 battery holder: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/5-pcs-Micro-USB-5V-1A-18650-TP4056-Lithium-Battery-Charger-Module-Charging-Board-With-Protection/32895526166.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.31.6ca0309dPzVit6&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_3_10065_10130_10068_10547_319_10546_317_10548_10545_10696_10084_453_454_10083_10618_10307_537_536_10059_10884_10887_321_322_10103,searchweb201603_52,ppcSwitch_0&algo_expid=92312eb7-da36-4b23-ba68-e1c9c45b49f2-4&algo_pvid=92312eb7-da36-4b23-ba68-e1c9c45b49f2&transAbTest=ae803_4

I used 14 gauge landscape lighting wire for the feed running out of the solar assembly as it was the cheapest UV resistant wire commonly available from the hardware store.