diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/main.cpp b/examples/companion_radio/main.cpp
index ef9b6bfca4..76d05b8505 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/main.cpp
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/main.cpp
@@ -116,6 +116,10 @@ void setup() {
 
   board.begin();
 
+#ifdef HAS_EXTERNAL_WATCHDOG
+  external_watchdog.begin();
+#endif
+
 #ifdef DISPLAY_CLASS
   DisplayDriver* disp = NULL;
   if (display.begin()) {
@@ -249,7 +253,10 @@ void loop() {
   ui_task.loop();
 #endif
   rtc_clock.tick();
-
+#ifdef HAS_EXTERNAL_WATCHDOG
+  external_watchdog.loop();
+#endif
+  
   if (!the_mesh.hasPendingWork()) {
 #if defined(NRF52_PLATFORM)
     board.sleep(0); // nrf ignores seconds param, sleeps whenever possible
diff --git a/examples/simple_repeater/main.cpp b/examples/simple_repeater/main.cpp
index 2ce056f521..7532eb47e8 100644
--- a/examples/simple_repeater/main.cpp
+++ b/examples/simple_repeater/main.cpp
@@ -33,6 +33,10 @@ void setup() {
 
   board.begin();
 
+#ifdef HAS_EXTERNAL_WATCHDOG
+  external_watchdog.begin();
+#endif
+
 #if defined(MESH_DEBUG) && defined(NRF52_PLATFORM)
   // give some extra time for serial to settle so
   // boot debug messages can be seen on terminal
@@ -152,7 +156,13 @@ void loop() {
 #endif
   rtc_clock.tick();
 
+#ifdef HAS_EXTERNAL_WATCHDOG
+  external_watchdog.loop();
+#endif
   if (the_mesh.getNodePrefs()->powersaving_enabled && !the_mesh.hasPendingWork()) {
+#ifdef HAS_EXTERNAL_WATCHDOG
+    external_watchdog.feed();
+#endif
 #if defined(NRF52_PLATFORM)
     board.sleep(0); // nrf ignores seconds param, sleeps whenever possible
 #else
diff --git a/examples/simple_room_server/main.cpp b/examples/simple_room_server/main.cpp
index a3798b2175..579eb63f94 100644
--- a/examples/simple_room_server/main.cpp
+++ b/examples/simple_room_server/main.cpp
@@ -24,6 +24,10 @@ void setup() {
 
   board.begin();
 
+#ifdef HAS_EXTERNAL_WATCHDOG
+  external_watchdog.begin();
+#endif
+
 #ifdef DISPLAY_CLASS
   if (display.begin()) {
     display.startFrame();
@@ -115,4 +119,7 @@ void loop() {
   ui_task.loop();
 #endif
   rtc_clock.tick();
+#ifdef HAS_EXTERNAL_WATCHDOG
+  external_watchdog.loop();
+#endif
 }
diff --git a/examples/simple_secure_chat/main.cpp b/examples/simple_secure_chat/main.cpp
index d93810ed94..da42ddcbbd 100644
--- a/examples/simple_secure_chat/main.cpp
+++ b/examples/simple_secure_chat/main.cpp
@@ -560,6 +560,10 @@ void setup() {
 
   board.begin();
 
+#ifdef HAS_EXTERNAL_WATCHDOG
+  external_watchdog.begin();
+#endif
+
   if (!radio_init()) { halt(); }
 
   fast_rng.begin(radio_driver.getRngSeed());
@@ -591,4 +595,7 @@ void setup() {
 void loop() {
   the_mesh.loop();
   rtc_clock.tick();
+#ifdef HAS_EXTERNAL_WATCHDOG
+  external_watchdog.loop();
+#endif
 }
diff --git a/examples/simple_sensor/main.cpp b/examples/simple_sensor/main.cpp
index cace67a08c..69182f3a7a 100644
--- a/examples/simple_sensor/main.cpp
+++ b/examples/simple_sensor/main.cpp
@@ -58,6 +58,10 @@ void setup() {
 
   board.begin();
 
+#ifdef HAS_EXTERNAL_WATCHDOG
+  external_watchdog.begin();
+#endif
+
 #ifdef DISPLAY_CLASS
   if (display.begin()) {
     display.startFrame();
@@ -147,4 +151,7 @@ void loop() {
   ui_task.loop();
 #endif
   rtc_clock.tick();
+#ifdef HAS_EXTERNAL_WATCHDOG
+  external_watchdog.loop();
+#endif
 }
diff --git a/src/helpers/ExternalWatchdogManager.h b/src/helpers/ExternalWatchdogManager.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..cb4f492360
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/helpers/ExternalWatchdogManager.h
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+#pragma once
+
+class ExternalWatchdogManager {
+protected:
+  unsigned long last_feed_watchdog;
+public:
+  ExternalWatchdogManager() { last_feed_watchdog = 0; }
+  virtual bool begin() { return false; }
+  virtual void loop() { }
+  virtual unsigned long getIntervalMs() const { return 0; }
+  virtual void feed() { }
+};
diff --git a/variants/heltec_mesh_solar/platformio.ini b/variants/heltec_mesh_solar/platformio.ini
index bd0423228e..fb5cd5152f 100644
--- a/variants/heltec_mesh_solar/platformio.ini
+++ b/variants/heltec_mesh_solar/platformio.ini
@@ -13,6 +13,11 @@ build_flags =  ${nrf52_base.build_flags}
   -D LORA_TX_POWER=22
   -D SX126X_CURRENT_LIMIT=140
   -D SX126X_RX_BOOSTED_GAIN=1
+  -D HAS_EXTERNAL_WATCHDOG
+  -D EXTERNAL_WATCHDOG_DONE_PIN=9
+  -D EXTERNAL_WATCHDOG_WAKE_PIN=10
+  -D EXTERNAL_WATCHDOG_FEED_INTERVAL_MS=480000 ; 8 minute feed interval, safely inside the hardware watchdog timeout
+
 build_src_filter = ${nrf52_base.build_src_filter}
   +<helpers/*.cpp>
   +<../variants/heltec_mesh_solar>
diff --git a/variants/heltec_mesh_solar/target.cpp b/variants/heltec_mesh_solar/target.cpp
index d140864cd1..94e2684c12 100644
--- a/variants/heltec_mesh_solar/target.cpp
+++ b/variants/heltec_mesh_solar/target.cpp
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ VolatileRTCClock fallback_clock;
 AutoDiscoverRTCClock rtc_clock(fallback_clock);
 MicroNMEALocationProvider nmea = MicroNMEALocationProvider(Serial1, &rtc_clock);
 SolarSensorManager sensors = SolarSensorManager(nmea);
+SolarExternalWatchdog external_watchdog;
 
 #ifdef DISPLAY_CLASS
   DISPLAY_CLASS display;
@@ -106,3 +107,34 @@ bool SolarSensorManager::setSettingValue(const char* name, const char* value) {
   }
   return false;  // not supported
 }
+
+bool SolarExternalWatchdog::begin() {
+  last_feed_watchdog = 0;
+  pinMode(EXTERNAL_WATCHDOG_WAKE_PIN, INPUT);
+  pinMode(EXTERNAL_WATCHDOG_DONE_PIN, OUTPUT);
+  delay(1);
+  digitalWrite(EXTERNAL_WATCHDOG_DONE_PIN, LOW);
+  delay(1);
+  feed();
+  return true;
+}
+void SolarExternalWatchdog::loop() {
+  if (millis() - last_feed_watchdog >= EXTERNAL_WATCHDOG_FEED_INTERVAL_MS) {
+    feed();
+  }
+}
+
+unsigned long SolarExternalWatchdog::getIntervalMs() const {
+    unsigned long elapsed_ms = millis() - last_feed_watchdog;
+    if (elapsed_ms >= EXTERNAL_WATCHDOG_FEED_INTERVAL_MS) {
+      return 0;
+    }
+    return EXTERNAL_WATCHDOG_FEED_INTERVAL_MS - elapsed_ms;
+}
+
+void SolarExternalWatchdog::feed() {
+    digitalWrite(EXTERNAL_WATCHDOG_DONE_PIN, HIGH);
+    delay(1);
+    digitalWrite(EXTERNAL_WATCHDOG_DONE_PIN, LOW);
+    last_feed_watchdog = millis();
+}
diff --git a/variants/heltec_mesh_solar/target.h b/variants/heltec_mesh_solar/target.h
index 1956f50ebd..8e13a9601c 100644
--- a/variants/heltec_mesh_solar/target.h
+++ b/variants/heltec_mesh_solar/target.h
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #include <helpers/AutoDiscoverRTCClock.h>
 #include <helpers/SensorManager.h>
 #include <helpers/sensors/LocationProvider.h>
+#include <helpers/ExternalWatchdogManager.h>
 #ifdef DISPLAY_CLASS
   #include <helpers/ui/ST7789Display.h>
 #endif
@@ -30,10 +31,20 @@ class SolarSensorManager : public SensorManager {
   bool setSettingValue(const char* name, const char* value) override;
 };
 
+class SolarExternalWatchdog : public ExternalWatchdogManager {
+public:
+    SolarExternalWatchdog() {}
+    bool begin() override;
+    void loop() override;
+    unsigned long getIntervalMs() const override;
+    void feed() override;
+};
+
 extern MeshSolarBoard board;
 extern WRAPPER_CLASS radio_driver;
 extern AutoDiscoverRTCClock rtc_clock;
 extern SolarSensorManager sensors;
+extern SolarExternalWatchdog external_watchdog;
 
 #ifdef DISPLAY_CLASS
   extern DISPLAY_CLASS display;
diff --git a/variants/heltec_mesh_solar/variant.h b/variants/heltec_mesh_solar/variant.h
index 14956619f0..3c1b378dfa 100644
--- a/variants/heltec_mesh_solar/variant.h
+++ b/variants/heltec_mesh_solar/variant.h
@@ -34,8 +34,8 @@
 #define PIN_SERIAL1_RX          (37)
 #define PIN_SERIAL1_TX          (39)
 
-#define PIN_SERIAL2_RX          (9)
-#define PIN_SERIAL2_TX          (10)
+#define PIN_SERIAL2_RX          (-1)
+#define PIN_SERIAL2_TX          (-1)
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 // I2C pin definition