Introduction
As climate change becomes increasingly severe, people’s attention to weather conditions is also growing. Therefore, more and more people are trying to install weather displays at home to stay informed about local meteorological information. This solar-powered electronic paper weather display just meets this demand, with its ultra-small size perfectly fitting into window frames, extremely low power consumption, and integrated solar charging function, allowing it to run for long periods without a stable power supply, making it a potential bestseller.
Features and Characteristics
The concept of this weather station is to use solar cells to power the energy collection module. When the solar cells generate electricity, the energy collection module will charge. This energy collection method can work even under very low solar input conditions, making it very suitable for indoor energy collection. Additionally, to reduce power consumption, the display can be turned off after updating, ensuring the battery can be used for a long time.
This weather station uses the ESP32 S3 Mini as the control core, paired with the Tri-Color ePaper 2.13 (SSD1680) shield display, providing clear display effects and extremely low power consumption. Its three monocrystalline silicon solar cells provide reliable charging capability, combined with the SPV1050 micro solar power management system, allowing for ample energy supply. Using the TPS73733DCQR low dropout regulator, 1000uF 10V electrolytic capacitor, and SPV1050 micro solar power management system, efficient battery charging and energy management can be achieved.
Bill of Materials
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• Hardware Components:
| Hardware Component | Quantity |
| ESP32 S3 Mini | 1 |
| Tri-Color ePaper 2.13 (SSD1680) Shield | 1 |
| MONOCRYST SOLAR CELL 147MW 4.15V – SM111K06L | 3 |
| SPV1050 Micro Solar Power Management | 1 |
| TPS73733DCQR Low Dropout Regulator | 1 |
| 1000uF 10V Electrolytic Capacitor | 1 |
| 3D Printed Case | 1 |
| M2*4 Flat Head Self-Tapping Screw | 2 |
| M2*20 Flat Head Self-Tapping Screw | 4 |
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• Software Applications and Online Services:
Arduino IDE
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• Hand Tools and Processing Machinery:
3D Printer
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• Production Process
First, some modifications need to be made to the ESP 32 S3 Mini module, including removing the integrated RGB LED and replacing the voltage regulator.
Next, install the solar cells, micro solar power management, and other components, and connect them according to the schematic diagram.
During installation, consider the length of the cables to ensure that all components can connect accurately.
Advantages
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• Solar-powered, energy-saving and environmentally friendly
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• Small size, can be embedded in window frames
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• Clear display effects, extremely low power consumption, can work under very low solar input conditions, can run for long periods.
Conclusion
The solar electronic paper weather display has advantages such as compact size, energy-saving, environmental friendliness, and ease of installation. By utilizing solar charging and low power consumption design, this weather station is not only suitable for home use but also very suitable for commercial, educational, and other places. Although this is a rapid design prototype, it can be further optimized for power consumption and functionality in the future to meet the needs of different users.
Project Address: https://github.com/rsappia/Solar_E-Ink_Weather_Station