Best Practices for Charging Your DirtMate

Your DirtMate’s battery is one of its most important components. To ensure that your unit is in its best condition, follow these recommended practices for charging your DirtMate.

How do I charge my DirtMate?

Using solar power

1. Make sure that the DirtMate solar panels are clean and the lights are clearly visible. 
2. Ensure that the charging port (for auxiliary power) is secured with the black rubber cap.
3. Place your DirtMate outside in the sun and let it charge. Make sure there is enough bright sunlight and no obstructions.
4. The top (power) light should start flashing or blinking quickly. This indicates that the unit is charging. Use your hand to create a shadow over the solar panels to test. The top light will stop flashing and become a solid light when the solar panels are shaded.
5. The top light will stop flashing or blinking once charging is complete.

Using external power

1. Ensure that the DirtMate indicator panel and charging port are clean and the lights are visible.

2. Expose the charging port by removing the black rubber cap. Make sure it is clean and free of dirt.

3. Plug in the provided charging cable and connect to the power source (use the automobile auxiliary power charger if charging through the machine or the AC wall charger if charging through an electric wall outlet).

4. The top light (power) should start flashing or blinking quickly. This indicates that the unit is charging. If not, inspect the power supply for damage and check that the cabling is in good condition and secure.

5. The top light will stop flashing or blinking once charging is complete.

You can also use the DirtMate app to check the charging status for both charging methods above. 

Keep it clean and in good condition

While the solar panels on your DirtMate are designed to be extremely durable, keeping them and the charging port clean is important so that your DirtMate’s charging capabilities will not be dramatically reduced and remain in good condition. It is recommended to regularly:

• Remove dirt and debris from the DirtMate and solar panels by wiping it with a rag. If the DirtMate is in a hard-to-reach position, use a brush and bucket of water.

• Ensure the DirtMate is dry before any dust from the job site settles on the unit and sets in place with the water.

• Secure the charging port whenever it is not in use.

• Always use external fixed power for the base DirtMate if operating in areas with low sunlight. Where there is no option for fixed power, we recommend drawing power from the Network Gateway remote power supply using the supplied charging cable.

• Inspect the power supply for damage and check that cabling is in good condition and secure.

I still can't do it!

We wrote these articles to equip you with everything you need to get the job done on your own, but we understand that sometimes this isn't sufficient.

If you're stuck, the Propeller support team may be able to help. You can contact our support team by emailing sitesupport@propelleraero.com.au or by clicking the support tab on the top-right corner of the portal.