Working on building a solar runway lighting system for my private strip but the hard part has been turning it on and off.

Could be as simple as a 12V Lead battery, solar charge controller, Panel, Green Lights at Threshold (on Fence), bright spot lights pointed at Touchdown zone. Duplicate the system for the runway end with just Red lights. Little solar lights for mid field 700ft.

Ive began working with Meshtastic Lora devices and have found the airborne range is really good with simple Transmitters sitting on the glare shield.

I may be able to build the Lora switch for $150? Requires its own solar, enclosure, battery, receiver, etc.

Anyone else doing something like this?

The system could be semi portable. Quickly deployable. Having the long range on/off capability would allow for a High discharge / Bright lighting system.

One time someone gave me a runway lighting kit that used D cell batteries. All the batteries had corroded in the cases, plastic sun damaged, Ended up in the dumpster.

Our family farm strip uses solar powered lights available at several hardware stores. Unless you plan to fly after midnight or very early morning they are great. They automatically turn on when dark and the charge lasts well past our typical nighttime flying hours.

I was waiting for someone to mention the mesh on this site again

Seems like a good application

If you’re in the sticks enough could also maybe setup a raspberry pi to listen for some clicks on 123.45 or something

I have tried them, Didnt seem bright enough for me or I didnt use the right ones, etc. The wife would have to pull them up for mowing, which didnt always seem to happen, then the Deer would stomp them into the ground.. Still picking up plastic and batteries when I walk the perimeter. This system could be allot brighter.

Operating this way is SOP for us, day in day out. And while there are a ton of ways to skin this cat we opted for the solar path light way as well. Which ones you use matter.
We cut 3' pieces of white 2" square PVC downspout into 36" lengths. Bury them 18" into the ground and put a PVC cap on each one. Drill a hole in the top snug enough to capture the light 'post' and slide the light right on in. Then stick road sign quality 2" X 12" white reflector tape on the front and aft facing side, you can use red on the last two or three. The lights can be picked up from a few miles out, but if you have any reasonable landing / taxi lights, the reflector tape will boom out and blow the lights out of the water. Get at least 20 lumen lights, verify that the batteries are not made of unobtaniumn, and be certain to get ones with glass domes, preferably a decent reflector, and no gingerbread or lattice work.

Take care, Rob

I use these, and they go till morning for a year, till midnight for another, and need new batteries any longer than that;



https://www.walmart.com/ip/BETTER-HOMES-GARDENS-20L-PATH-LIGHT/3145317763?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&wl13=1474&adid=222222222773145317763_160805772391_20959796377&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=501107745824&wl4=pla-306310554666&wl5=9030142&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=local&wl12=3145317763&wl13=1474&veh=sem_LIA&gclsrc=aw.ds&&adid=222222222373145317763_160805772391_20959796377&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=501107745824&wl4=pla-306310554666&wl5=9030142&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=local&wl12=3145317763&veh=sem&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIro6Vn6vRhAMV2zbUAR16ZgOrEAQYBiABEgJlrPD_BwE


https://www.doitbest.com/product/126627/amerimax-2-in-square-x-10-ft-white-vinyl-downspout-126627/?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhZqk5qvRhAMVlC-tBh0hDgIEEAQYAiABEgKFVvD_BwE




https://amzn.to/3TDkr8a

Strip I learned how to fly at just had 4x75w bulbs, two at each end, and they didn't even line up. All y'all getting super fancy!