Meshcore / Meshtastic Solar Rock Node Enclosure

🗻 Solar “Rock” MeshCore Node — Stealthy, Off-Grid, Always-On

Looking to expand your local mesh without attracting attention?
My MeshCore solar rock node is designed specifically to blend into the landscape (as well as you can with a 5w solar panel on the front) while quietly keeping the network alive.

These nodes are about as discreet as you can be when you still need to mount a 5 W solar panel on the top! I print the shell in black PETG, then finish it with:

• grey primer
• light touches of green and sand tones
• subtle white speckling

This breaks up the outline beautifully outdoors, making it look more like a natural stone than a plastic enclosure, this is completely optional, and printed in grey PETG would probably be fine.

⚙️ Core Features

• 🌞 Solar powered — totally off-grid
• 🪨 Rock-style enclosure that visually blends into natural environments
• 🔋 4× 18650 battery pack for long runtime
• 📡 Powered by Meshcore/Meshtastic-compatible hardware
• 🛡️ Weather resistant design (with silicone sealing)
• 🌀 Dedicated vent plug mount to manage pressure/humidity
• 🔧 Fully 3D-printable enclosure

Perfect for:

• hilltops and fells
• woodland trails
• rural monitoring projects
• discreet repeaters for mesh expansion

🧩 Components used (add your links here)

• Solar Panel (5 W recommended): 👉 link here
• 4 × 18650 batteries: 👉 link here
• Seeed Studio XIAO nRF52840: 👉 link here
• Wio SX1262 LoRa board: 👉 link here
• 3 dBi antenna: 👉 link here
• Battery protect module: 👉 link here
• MPPT solar charge module: 👉 link here
• Vent plug for electrical enclosures: 👉 link here

There is also a dedicated screw hole in the design to suit the vent plug directly.

🛠️ Assembly & Sealing

I affix the solar panel using clear silicone sealant, then also seal the base with clear silicone after installation to keep moisture out. This has worked very well for outdoor deployments.

The goal is something you can place, forget, and let the mesh take care of itself.

🔍 Extra info, photos & write-up

I’ve added more build notes and deployment stories on my website:

👉 MeshCoreCumbria: link here

If you build one, let me know where it ends up — it’s always amazing seeing the mesh map slowly light up. Happy building, happy meshing, and long live off-grid comms!

 

Please  note this models can be printed and sold/distributed freely.

 

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