Agrivoltaic
Custom Solar Panels for Off-Grid Smart Agriculture — From Vineyards to Precision Irrigation
Powering Wireless Irrigation Controllers in the Field
Smart agriculture increasingly depends on autonomous field nodes — wireless valve controllers, soil moisture sensors, and microclimate stations — that must operate reliably in remote vineyards, orchards, and crop fields, often far from any power grid. When a company developing a LoRa-based wireless irrigation valve controller needed a solar panel that could fit their device bracket and sustain an internal lithium battery through all seasons, they turned to MR WATT.
The challenge was precise: the panel had to produce exactly 6V to safely charge the lithium cell, fit a compact 165×135mm footprint to match the device mounting bracket, and resist harsh outdoor conditions — hail, frost, summer UV, and condensation — for years of maintenance-free field service.
MR WATT designed a 165×135mm module with monocrystalline custom-cut cells mounted under 4mm tempered glass, framed in a lightweight aluminum profile, with an integrated IP67 junction box and pre-wired cable for direct board connection. The result is a panel that keeps the irrigation controller running indefinitely without any intervention — no battery replacements, no cable runs, no grid dependency.
Compact, Rugged, Precisely Specified
At 165×135mm and only 4W, this panel was designed from scratch to match specific electrical requirements: 6V output to safely charge a single-cell lithium battery via an MPPT charge controller, with enough current under partial cloud cover to maintain charge balance through consecutive overcast days.
The 4mm tempered glass front provides hail resistance far beyond standard EVA-laminated panels, while the aluminum frame ensures mechanical rigidity on a pole-mounted bracket subject to wind vibration. The integrated IP67 junction box with a pre-wired pigtail cable makes installation plug-and-play for field technicians.
Where Our Agrivoltaic Panels Work
- Wireless Irrigation Controllers — Power autonomous valve controllers over LoRa or 868 MHz radio networks. Manage drip irrigation, solenoid valves, and fertigation systems across entire vineyards or orchards without a single cable run.
- Soil & Microclimate Sensors — Keep soil moisture probes, temperature loggers, and microclimate weather stations continuously powered in remote crop fields. Long-range wireless telemetry with no maintenance visits.
- Smart Fencing & Livestock Monitoring — Power GPS trackers, electric fence controllers, and livestock monitoring nodes in mountain pastures and extensive farming operations beyond the reach of the grid.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can you produce panels in other voltages for agricultural devices?
- Yes. MR WATT produces solar panels to any voltage specification. The 6V/4W format was developed for a specific lithium battery charging application, but we regularly produce panels at 3.7V, 5V, 9V, 12V, and custom voltages for different device architectures.
- Is 4W enough to keep a wireless field node running continuously?
- Yes — for low-power radio field nodes (LoRa, Zigbee, 433/868 MHz), 4W is more than sufficient. These devices typically consume 1–5mA in sleep mode with brief bursts for transmission. A 4W panel charges a lithium battery faster than the device depletes it, even in autumn and winter.
- Can the panel withstand hail and frost?
- Yes. The 4mm tempered glass front provides hail resistance equivalent to IEC 61215 impact test standards. The aluminum frame and IP67 junction box are rated for continuous outdoor exposure, including frost cycles, condensation, and UV radiation.
- What is the minimum order for custom agrivoltaic panels?
- We work from small development batches upwards. Contact us to discuss your project volume and timeline.
- Can you supply panels pre-wired with specific connector types?
- Yes. We can pre-wire junction boxes with JST, Molex, MC4, bare-end pigtail, or any connector type your device requires. Cable length and gauge can also be specified to order.