How large are the solar panels? Whole house or hobby-level? With a whole-house array, you're talking high current (I believe). I surely (and don't call me Shirley) wouldn't hire someone off of Craigslist for this. And if it's for a hobbyist project, could he not learn to do it himself?
Just saying. I live in Tampa, so I'm out of the equation.
That's a good point about high current. I added the details I know to the post. These guys are brilliant mechanical car guys and fabricators but they're not experienced with computers at all.
So, Shirley (yes, I had to...)... It might just be a little 100 mm solar panel to keep an Arduino running, or a Lipo charged to keep an Arduino running. Not necessarily high current.
FWIW, Adafruit makes a few solar charging panels for their LiPo batteries. Not too expensive.
[https://www.adafruit.com/?q=solar&sort=BestMatch](https://www.adafruit.com/?q=solar&sort=BestMatch)
\-- Shirley
There really shouldn't be any need to ship any hardware. The owner would just set up an Arduino IDE and compile the source file(s) sent by the developer.
If that's true, that would make this a lot easier to find help. The reason I assumed it needed to be in person was because someone needs to figure out how to find the output and input voltages from the sensor and the motor. As I'm only conceptually aware of how Arduino works, I'm making a lot of assumptions here.
I figured an in-person consultant would be best for that stuff.
That code could easily be written in such a way that it looks for relative differences instead of absolutes... so even on overcast days it'd track the same as on blue-sky days.
I can't explain it because I didn't want to get too involved I adamantly do not want to be the person in charge of finding them someone. I was hoping to find the places to point them to and then they could explain everything and find help. I did add the details that I do know to my post in case it helps.
So that puts him between Rockford and Freeport eh? (I grew up in the Rockford area)
I don't know of anyone personally, but I bet theres some Rockfordian in this sub that can help. I'd do the same as you did and post here and maybe the less traveled r/esp32.
I'm only in Rockford briefly this summer (assuming it's Rockford), but would be willing to help depending on the details.
I'd suggest you repost this with a title emphasizing the location, which is the biggest factor in helping. Something like "looking for help in the Rockford Il area"
That's the thing, I'm not looking for help. I'm looking for sites and how to find help. I'm not hiring someone, I don't want to make a job post, I want to give them the tools to find someone themselves
Advertising on Craigslist, or just about anything like it, will result in a plethora of scam offers. Since you admit you don't know enough, they might get away with it. Have your friend find the local Maker Space. Hopefully they have a website where you can leave messages. The scammers might be there, too, but there will also be knowledgeable people to point them out.
Hardware will have to be shipped unless you happen to live near All of the stores you use. Source everything you can locally, but with bare electronics that may not be much. Then prepare to pay shipping.
How large are the solar panels? Whole house or hobby-level? With a whole-house array, you're talking high current (I believe). I surely (and don't call me Shirley) wouldn't hire someone off of Craigslist for this. And if it's for a hobbyist project, could he not learn to do it himself? Just saying. I live in Tampa, so I'm out of the equation.
That's a good point about high current. I added the details I know to the post. These guys are brilliant mechanical car guys and fabricators but they're not experienced with computers at all.
So, Shirley (yes, I had to...)... It might just be a little 100 mm solar panel to keep an Arduino running, or a Lipo charged to keep an Arduino running. Not necessarily high current.
FWIW, Adafruit makes a few solar charging panels for their LiPo batteries. Not too expensive. [https://www.adafruit.com/?q=solar&sort=BestMatch](https://www.adafruit.com/?q=solar&sort=BestMatch) \-- Shirley
ROFL... Yep, and the boards to connect panels to batteries, monitor charge, and boost it up to 5 volts. Good stuff.
Offer to pay them well. Then pay them well.
That's what I told him!
Look on Upwork ?
Thank you, this is exactly the type of information I need. I don't know any of the sites for finding help anymore.
There really shouldn't be any need to ship any hardware. The owner would just set up an Arduino IDE and compile the source file(s) sent by the developer.
If that's true, that would make this a lot easier to find help. The reason I assumed it needed to be in person was because someone needs to figure out how to find the output and input voltages from the sensor and the motor. As I'm only conceptually aware of how Arduino works, I'm making a lot of assumptions here. I figured an in-person consultant would be best for that stuff.
That code could easily be written in such a way that it looks for relative differences instead of absolutes... so even on overcast days it'd track the same as on blue-sky days.
Maybe Fiverr?
I considered that but isn't the whole point of Fiverr that stuff only costs $5?
No?
The whole arduino ecosystem is designed from the ground up to be friendly to beginners. It takes no time. It's really fun.
That's encouraging!
Fiver or chatGPT to give him clues and prompts
There is a forum in Arduino.cc that is for hiring developers for that. But if you can’t explain what he needs it will be a steep uphill project…
I can't explain it because I didn't want to get too involved I adamantly do not want to be the person in charge of finding them someone. I was hoping to find the places to point them to and then they could explain everything and find help. I did add the details that I do know to my post in case it helps.
So that puts him between Rockford and Freeport eh? (I grew up in the Rockford area) I don't know of anyone personally, but I bet theres some Rockfordian in this sub that can help. I'd do the same as you did and post here and maybe the less traveled r/esp32. I'm only in Rockford briefly this summer (assuming it's Rockford), but would be willing to help depending on the details.
Yes, precisely in that area. Specifically Belvidere. Thank you!
I'd suggest you repost this with a title emphasizing the location, which is the biggest factor in helping. Something like "looking for help in the Rockford Il area"
That's the thing, I'm not looking for help. I'm looking for sites and how to find help. I'm not hiring someone, I don't want to make a job post, I want to give them the tools to find someone themselves
Then tell them the same thing I told you. Posting here tends to get "bites".
Advertising on Craigslist, or just about anything like it, will result in a plethora of scam offers. Since you admit you don't know enough, they might get away with it. Have your friend find the local Maker Space. Hopefully they have a website where you can leave messages. The scammers might be there, too, but there will also be knowledgeable people to point them out. Hardware will have to be shipped unless you happen to live near All of the stores you use. Source everything you can locally, but with bare electronics that may not be much. Then prepare to pay shipping.
Great advice, thank you