Tuesday, February 17, 2026
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Running Man Security Review

RMET Solar Node Lite: A Purpose-Built 12V Solar Power Node for Real-World Use

Most portable solar power products are built as closed systems. When the battery fails or a component breaks, the entire unit becomes disposable.

RMET Solar Node Lite was built as an open system, designed to work under constraints, without assumptions, and to be repairable in the field using common, off-the-shelf parts.

This is not a “solar generator.”
It’s a disciplined 12V power node designed for short-term outages, off-grid operation, emergency communications, and hands-on learning, where simplicity and predictability matter more than features.

Just power, managed intentionally.

What Solar Node Lite Is

Solar Node Lite is a self-contained 12V DC solar power system designed around realistic limits and transparent design choices.

System specifications:

  • System voltage: 12V DC
  • Solar input: 25-watt panel
  • Solar charge controller: 10-amp PWM (multi-battery type compatibility)
  • Maximum current: 10 amps
  • Blade fuse box: 6 slots (3 in use, 3 available for expansion)
  • Outputs:
    • 2 × 5V USB ports
    • 1 × 12V DC socket
    • 2 × 12V banana jack output pairs
  • Integrated LED lighting

Why the Limits Are Intentional

A 25-watt panel and a 10-amp ceiling aren’t weaknesses, they enforce discipline.

Solar Node Lite forces you to:

  • Think in real electrical loads
  • Understand duty cycles
  • Prioritize essential devices
  • Match power consumption to power generation

In emergencies, power is limited. Systems that pretend otherwise fail fast and unpredictably.
Solar Node Lite behaves the same way every time.

Built-In LED Lighting: Small Feature, Big Value

The integrated LED lighting solves one of the most overlooked problems during outages:

You can’t work if you can’t see.

The LEDs provide:

  • Immediate area lighting during power loss
  • Low-draw illumination that preserves battery life
  • Hands-free visibility while working on radios, wiring, or equipment
  • Light without sacrificing USB or 12V output capacity

This isn’t cosmetic, it’s operational. I use it constantly as a flashlight while camping, working outside at night, during outdoor projects, and in power outages.

Real-World Use Cases

1. Short-Term Power Outages

Solar Node Lite is designed for outages measured in hours or days, not weeks.

It can reliably support:

  • Phone and tablet charging
  • LED lighting
  • Small electronic devices

This is about continuity, not comfort.

2. Emergency Communications

The system is intentionally sized for communications gear:

  • Charging handheld radios
  • Powering mobile radios
  • Running travel routers (5V)

The two pairs of banana jacks allow easy parallel battery connections and modular expansion without tearing the system apart.

3. Offline Computing & Data Access

Paired with a laptop, phone, and travel router, Solar Node Lite can power a small local, offline network:

Solar Node Lite Powering Starlink Mini
  • Power a travel router to create a local network
  • Use a laptop and external drive as a local server
  • Share offline files such as maps, emergency plans, and reference material
  • Access offline tools, including offline AI assistants

Information doesn’t help if the device holding it is dead.

Note: Solar Node Lite is a DC-first system, and that’s intentional. A small inverter (100 watts or less) can be used to charge AC-only devices like laptops, but battery runtime is significantly reduced.

Solar Node Lite with built in a 24v Poe switch used to power Ubiquiti M5 Rocket for AREDN Mesh. Made 10 mile connection to AREDN backbone.

4. Learning and Field Testing

Because Solar Node Lite is an open system built with off-the-shelf components, it also functions as a training platform.

It allows you to:

  • Learn DC power fundamentals
  • Observe real solar input versus expectations
  • Understand voltage drop and load behavior
  • Practice off-grid workflows before they matter

Preparedness isn’t owning gear. It’s knowing how that gear behaves and how to troubleshoot it.

Final Thoughts

RMET Solar Node Lite was built around one core principle:

“If it breaks, you should be able to understand it, and fix it.”

Solar Node Lite with built in a 24v Poe switch used to power AREDN Mesh setup and POE Phone.

That philosophy drives every design decision.

This system avoids proprietary connectors, sealed boxes, and locked components on purpose. It uses standard voltages, standard connectors, and clearly defined limits so its behavior is predictable under stress. It can run on virtually any 12-volt battery and can be serviced with minimal tools.

Solar Node Lite doesn’t try to do everything. It does a few things reliably:

  • Provides disciplined 12V power
  • Operates within known constraints
  • Works in imperfect outdoor conditions
  • Favors DC efficiency over convenience
  • Remains usable when the grid and internet are gone

This project isn’t about novelty or aesthetics. It’s about building systems that continue functioning when convenience disappears.

I’ve used variations of this design for over a decade because it works. Solar Node Lite exists to remove single points of failure not to impress anyone…

It just works!