So I ran into a hiccup on the Pi.

Having updated the firmware and running Realtek 8192CU usb dongle for wifi, after I got Motion working, I would put the Pi outside, only to have the connection on it go to sleep, or something.

A day of googling potential power issues (a trend when dealing with the Pi it seems)…installing the LiPo rider board (which compensates for power disruptions from solar power fluctuations) …no dice.

I tested the power supplies and discovered even with appropriate voltage levels indoors the Pi was dropping packets over wifi like crazy. Boot file modifications didn’t help.

So this morning I reflashed the sdcard to a Raspian image from January, explicitly did NOT RPI-Update, and now the same wifi dongle works perfectly. Kernel conflict with the 8192 chipset? Not sure.

It’s stable now, and I’m running the Pi on the solar-fed battery overnight to test before I throw a load on it with motion detection. In the meantime, a few pictures…

Using an outdoor outlet cover and backing to protect the Pi from the elements. I tried some otterbox-style cases I had around, but found this location gets too warm for super-tight enclosures that I used in my Humidity-Pi project. Also the thing was like 7 bucks total including the backplate, and it works pretty well.

I have to position the Pi slighly diagonal, but it’s not awkward; I can open the lid with ease, and even with the frosted texture on the cover, I can make out the activity of the LED’s when I need to.

The motorcycle starter battery has been working pretty well as a solar battery.

I haven’t yet decided on a permanent housing for the battery and the Li-Po rider and wiring, I’m looking into something that ventilates a little better than what I started with, but something that won’t take in too much moisture as Florida moves into monsoon season…

Tomorrow I’ll re-install Motion and see if I can get motion detection going, and snap some hungry Blue Jays in action….