Very easy encased tracker build

[kilroy]

i combined
https://de.aliexpress.com/item/1005006064447116.html
and
https://de.aliexpress.com/item/1005005681504175.html
usual setup is with 4 18650 batterys, i cut out the sockets for 2 x 18650 and replaced with tracker.
a little soldering, and the powerbank is now equipped with tracker node.
used a 868 internal antenna that came with a RAK4631…

pictures below

role:tracker power saving on, and this model uses almost 0 energy (around 1µA) when sleeping between gps fixes.

even the full powerbank functionality is still there,
so its also very easy for fast recharge of battery with 1,4 Amp !
runtime as tracker an be some weeks or some months !
it might kill the unprotected 1850 batterys, so better get protected batterys for this !
runtime as mobile node might be just 10-20 hours… since it is an esp32. and takes some 100mA when running…

[kilroy]

[kilroy]

when sleeping,
this esp32 tracker seems to have much lower power draw ( i read about 1µa, did not test it myself,)
than a sleeping nrf52 (1mA),
so in combination with 2x18650 4000 or even 6000 mAh combined
i expect very long runtime in tracker mode…
too long to even have the patience for running a full test…

calculation:
for this esp32 4000mAh/1µA would be far more than 100 years sleeping time !
there should be around 3000-5000 fixes ( comsumes around 1mAh each) possible from the batterys. 4000 fixes would result in 6 months runtime with 1 position fix/hour.

for nrf52 it would be only around 150 days sleep time , so this box would be better for an active (not a sleeping tracker) nrf52 mobile node with around 700h=30 days runtime ! and very fast recharge by USB C !