Sorry but currently not available for product revision. Soon new version of new combination by same price will be re-started.

What is it?

Solar energy self-powered RTL8710 (ARM Cortex-M3 WiFi module) based prototyping board. The base board contains LiPo charging circuit and OLED panel. Optionally you can select BME280-onboard type but we can easily add any functions through I2C bus of RTL8710. Programming through Arduino IDE is possible!

Why did you make it?

For IoT development, we already have advanced BLE system which is superior to WiFi based board from view point of power consumption, which directly leads to longer battery lifetime. BUT if the battery is re-charged by sunshine, we don't need to care about battery replacement anymore. In addition, WiFi based system (other words, simple TCP/IP system) is much easier to implement compared to BLE, which requires additional application development. (WiFi minimally needs browser.)

What makes it special?

With relatively high-power (max 6V/333mA=2W) solar panel with 3.7V/300mAh LiPo battery, RTL8710 can operate continuously for 19 hours even in completely dark state. During daytime, Lipo is automatically re-charged. The board has a charging and over-discharge and over-charge protection function. Solar panel has a good output power and it can work even inside room at window side, not limited to outside operation.

What is included in this kit? (See the picture above..)

• Main board, contains RTL8710 WiFi module, OLED panel (64x32 pixel), LiPo charing circuit.

• Solar panel with maximum output power of 2 W (6.0V/333mA)

• LiPo battery, 3.7V/300mAh

• CMSIS-DAP programmer for RTL8710 ("Ameba Writer")

• Pin to Socket cable for CMSIS-DAP and main board connection.

Optionally you can select..

• On board BME280 temperature/pressure/humidity sensor

Some notes:

• The board of this kit is "bare-board" and we have to care about "water-proof" for outside use.

• The board may have some additional circuit to the one in the picture. The additional circuit contains voltage regulator at the output of LiPo for more stable RTL8710 operation.

• Idoling current of this board (RTL8710 with LiPo control circuit) is 16mA. When OLED is displaying, the current rise up to 32mA. Spike-like current (very short time) during WiFi access is around 60mA (with OLED, 76mA). Please consider these current and battery capacity (300mAh) for your system implementation.

• Please see my relevant hackaday project for how to set up Arduino developing environment

• LiPo international shipment is possible, except for Italy, Oman, Qatar, German, Vatican, France, Marta, Mongolia. These country does not accept Lipo containing parcel. The country of each order will be checked "prohibited country list" and if your country is listed, unfortunately I will refund (cancel) the order.