El Niño could bring wetter conditions to California this winter. For solar-powered HotSpot systems, more clouds, fog, and storms can also mean less available sunlight and fewer opportunities to recharge batteries. HotSpot AG’s Hibernation Mode helps solar-powered systems conserve battery power during this period while maintaining essential operations.

How Hibernation Mode Conserves Power

Hibernation Mode can reduce power consumption by up to 90% by placing the cellular modem into a low-power state for 1.5 hours while waking for several seconds to log data at 10-minute intervals. This helps extend battery life and can significantly reduce spring maintenance, including battery replacements. When real-time control or monitoring is needed, hibernation can be paused so the controller remains fully responsive for applications such as rainfall measurement, flow monitoring, and valve control.

The goal is simple: conserve power when solar energy is limited and use it when it matters most.

Hibernation Works Around Your Operation

Hibernation doesn’t need to interfere with critical field operations. HotSpot’s software and alarms are configured to conditions that keep a controller awake when necessary.

For example, the system can inhibit hibernation when:

• A flowmeter is reporting flow.
• Rain is forecasted and rainfall monitoring is needed.
• Valves support frost protection or flood relief.
• Other critical monitoring or control functions require communication.

The Inhibit Hibernation function takes priority over normal hibernation triggers, allowing operational needs to come first. Your essential irrigation and monitoring capabilities will go on running exactly as set up, giving you peace of mind that your equipment is performing seamlessly.

HotSpot’s Customer Success Managers will work with users to configure hibernation differently for soil moisture stations, weather stations, flowmeters, valve stations, reservoir monitoring, and tank-level systems.

Need Winter Control? Opt Out

Some growers still need regular irrigation control during winter. Growers who need that access can opt out of Hibernation Mode.

HotSpot Customer Success Managers can work with each customer before winter to determine which solar-powered systems should hibernate and which should remain available based on their operation.

Field data and applicable existing schedules can continue during hibernation, with data backed up to the cloud. Certain applications require additional configuration. For example, tank autofill systems may need scheduled wake periods because pumps cannot activate without constant communication while the controller is hibernating.

Equipment Maintenance Recommendations

A few maintenance steps can support battery performance and help ensure reliable operation throughout the winter.

Clean solar panels before winter to maximize available sunlight, and check them periodically for dust, leaves, bird droppings, or other debris that could reduce charging efficiency. Inspect and clean rain buckets so leaves, dirt, and debris don’t interfere with rainfall measurements. Also check that mounting hardware, cables, and connections are secure and free from visible damage.

Need your rain bucket cleaned?

See the video guide on the right to see how to clean your rain bucket or contact your Customer Success Manager if you’d like a HotSpot team member to clean.

These small steps become more important when several cloudy days limit solar charging. Keeping panels and sensors clean and equipment in good condition helps the system make the most of every available hour of sunlight.

Prepare Now for Winter

We can’t control how El Niño will affect California this winter, but we can prepare for the conditions it may bring. Automatic Hibernation Mode helps conserve battery power without taking a one-size-fits-all approach. HotSpot can account for irrigation, weather monitoring, frost protection, flow, and other operational needs while helping solar-powered systems manage limited winter sunlight.

Conserve power when possible. Stay operational when it matters.

Reach out to info@hotspotag.com or contact your dedicated Customer Success Manager prior to winter to share any custom irrigation and monitoring preferences or to opt out.