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# Remote WiFi and solar panel adjustments
- URL: https://seabits.com/remote-wifi-and-solar-panel-adjustments/
- Published: 2015-10-02T21:07:27.000Z
- Updated: 2021-09-21T02:16:41.000Z
- Author: Steve Mitchell
- Tags: Projects, Electrical, Internet, Solar

I’ve been struggling with a remote solar panel at our Eastern Washington family cabin (see [Solar learning curve](https://seabits.com/solar-learning-curve/), and [Solar panel update](https://seabits.com/solar-panel-update/)) but have learned a lot. The panel and the MPPT controller seem to work very well, but the batteries are not as reliable as I’d like, and the DC loads vary so much I have been having problems depleting the available amp hours available to me. In October I visited the site again to make some adjustments…

Most of the time was spent moving the batteries to the garage and recharging them carefully with a proper charger. Some recabling was needed as well, as I was going to replace the WiFi APs everywhere with products I already had from Ubiquiti. Originally I had switched to Peplink AP’s both inside and out to match the routers I have at home, boat and at the cabin, but their performance was terrible compared to the Ubiquiti UniFi line, and in particular, the outdoor unit used a lot more power.

![Guts of WiFi systGuts of WiFi system](https://storage.ghost.io/c/12/1c/121c16c6-2b59-4694-bbe8-29a61a7c2683/content/images/2015/10/IMG_0752.jpg)

Guts of solar wifi system

In the picture above you can see the [TriStar MPPT 60 solar charge controller](http://www.morningstarcorp.com/products/tristar-mppt/?ref=seabits.com) (highly recommended) on the right, and the [Remote Monitoring Systems](http://www.remotemonitoringsystems.ca/?ref=seabits.com) linux box in the upper right. There are two 51ah GEL solar batteries, a PoE injector for the WiFi AP, a 12v to 5v converter for the Dropcam mounted on the pole, and various wiring.

Once this was all updated, adjusted, and cleaned, I added the [UniFi AP Outdoor](https://www.ubnt.com/unifi/unifi-ap-outdoor/?ref=seabits.com) that I had previously had installed here, along with a fantastic [airMAX Omni 2.4Ghz 10dBi Antenna](https://www.ubnt.com/airmax/airmax-omni-antenna/?ref=seabits.com).

![Antenna and AP](https://storage.ghost.io/c/12/1c/121c16c6-2b59-4694-bbe8-29a61a7c2683/content/images/2015/10/IMG_0758.jpg)

Antenna and AP

The Remote Monitoring system shuts down all loads (but itself) when solar voltage drops below a usable threshold, and starts everything back up when the voltage returns. It also shuts everything off if the battery voltage reaches a critically low level.

Hopefully these adjustments will keep things running longer, and allow the outdoor devices around the farm to connect reliably. Only time will tell.