Our own hardware
ModBee: industrial controllers designed and built by us
ModBee is our own range of industrial IoT hardware: a DIN-rail controller with stackable boards for cellular, LoRa mesh radio and mains power, and a solar charger and battery for sites with no power. It runs the pump controllers and telemetry we install, and it is sold to other builders through modbee.org.
Why we build on it
When a job needs remote monitoring or control, we build it on ModBee. We designed the hardware and wrote the software, so support comes from the people who made it.
- Programmed in OpenPLC (ladder, function block or structured text) or Arduino
- Standard Modbus, MQTT and Sparkplug B, so it works with existing PLCs, drives, meters and SCADA
- Cellular (LTE-M, NB-IoT or LTE Cat-1) and LoRa mesh radio for spread-out sites
- Published schematics and open libraries, so there is no lock-in
- Designed, built and supported in New Zealand
The range
Every product is available now, with a published schematic. Specifications and documentation are on modbee.org.
Node UIO
ESP32-S3 controller: 8 digital in, 8 digital out, 4 analog in, 2 analog out, 2 x RS485.
On modbee.org
HAT CAT SIM7070G
Low-power cellular: LTE-M and NB-IoT, with GNSS.
On modbee.org
HAT LTE A7670G
LTE Cat-1 cellular, up to 10 Mbps down.
On modbee.org
HAT LoRa Mesh
915-928 MHz LoRa mesh radio between controllers across a site.
On modbee.org
HAT PS AC/DC
Runs the controller from 85-500 VAC, with 24 V for field devices.
On modbee.org
MPPT Charger
Solar charger for 2S-4S lithium batteries, set up from a browser.
On modbee.org
Battery Pack 18650
Protected 3S lithium pack for solar and backup power.
On modbee.orgModBee on our jobs
Pump controllers we have built and installed: a touchscreen, motor starters and a cellular link in one weatherproof enclosure.
ModBee pump controller installed on a post beside farm pipework
ModBee pump controller open on site, touchscreen and motor starters
ModBee controller enclosure with touchscreen, modem and motor starters
ModBee touchscreen pump controller in an enclosure with contactors
ModBee touchscreen and cellular modem mounted on an enclosure door
Building your own?
Integrators, electricians and engineers can buy ModBee hardware and use the libraries in their own projects. Specifications, schematics, the OpenPLC and Arduino libraries and enquiries are all on modbee.org.