2026-02-04, 10:57 AM
According to my basic calculations, average power of 2mW using 100mW solar panel should work all the time in most locations most of the time.
I intend to reduce the output rate of 10hz to 5, 2 then 1hz when power is limited which gets the draw < 1mW, but even still there are locations in higher latitudes and/or winter with enough overcast it will not work. It becomes impossible in polar regions in the winter. I am using LTO cells which can handle extreme temperatures and also very long life.
Because sailing in these places in the winter is likely limited, I did not worry about it too much, but I have a powered version of the wind sensor as well.
I intend to reduce the output rate of 10hz to 5, 2 then 1hz when power is limited which gets the draw < 1mW, but even still there are locations in higher latitudes and/or winter with enough overcast it will not work. It becomes impossible in polar regions in the winter. I am using LTO cells which can handle extreme temperatures and also very long life.
Because sailing in these places in the winter is likely limited, I did not worry about it too much, but I have a powered version of the wind sensor as well.