New member - installing solar security system

[Tony Wright]

Hi everyone, let me introduce myself and explain why I am considering a solar project.

I live in Waterloo Ontario and we have a summer trailer on the Grand River that has no power during the winter. The trailer park is deserted during the winter and there have been a couple of break-ins recently. I am going to install a security camera system that will be solar powered during the winter and will keep running on AC during the summer. To be honest it's a bit of an excuse to justify a DIY hobby project but don't tell my wife!

Here is my thinking to-date.

The trailer has unobstructed aspect to the south.
I need a system that doesn't require frequent visits and I want to include remote monitoring and control of both the cameras and solar system via my smart phone.
There is good cell phone coverage but the system will need power to a router and modem and I don't want to incur huge data charges.
When I did load calculations I was surprised how big the system looked until I realized that even though a camera typically uses less than 5W it starts to add up if you assume 24hr operation. Four cameras requires 480WH plus related equipment and this is for a winter system with reduced winter PV output and snow etc.
I then realized that we don't need all cameras to operate all the time. There are only one or two that are critical. The rest are nice to have so we can check the river for flooding (and dream of summer)

I am now considering using 5v powered IP cameras with built-in SD card storage which can be accessed remotely and then I don't require a video recorder on site. This means I should be able to install a complete DC solar system without needing an inverter. Also I think I can use remote battery monitoring DC switches to shut down any of the cameras. This should allow me to design the solar system more conservatively. The security cameras will still run during the summer but I will use an AC battery charger and remove the PV panels - they will be mounted on our deck for easy winter access.

That's about as far as my thinking has got and I would welcome comments from anyone who has used their solar system for anything similar.

Regards
Tony

[Rob Beckers]

Tony, welcome!

I wonder if it's possible to whip up something simple that only switches on the cameras when motion is detected. Indoors that would be easy, but outdoors the challenge would be to deal with all the wind movement, shade/sun/clouds etc. Maybe an IR sensor could still work outdoors as well?

Doing so would cut energy use to a fraction of what it is if cameras run 24/7. As you found out it's surprising how much energy and solar it takes to power even small loads continuously.

-RoB-

[Brian McGowan]

We use these here at work. I am trying to get the specs. Many times you can set the percent of image change before it starts recording to compensate for things like wind movement and pets.
Amcrest Pro HD 1080P Pan/Tilt WI-FI camera

[Dayton Johnson]

Why not use a trail camera? Only activates when there is motion. Indicates day and time of action. Records still shots only I guess but pics are clear. Battery powered, well hidden/camo-d in a tree and possibly powered with a small panel would be ideal. Unaffected by cold temps or snow.The card can be checked monthly?? and reloaded. Reasonably priced at any sportsman store. I sure wouldn't suggest leaving my panels on my deck!!

[Tony Wright]

Tony, welcome!

I wonder if it's possible to whip up something simple that only switches on the cameras when motion is detected. Indoors that would be easy, but outdoors the challenge would be to deal with all the wind movement, shade/sun/clouds etc. Maybe an IR sensor could still work outdoors as well?

Doing so would cut energy use to a fraction of what it is if cameras run 24/7. As you found out it's surprising how much energy and solar it takes to power even small loads continuously.

-RoB-

Hi Rob

That's an interesting idea however the camera itself will not pick up motion unless it is switched on so you would need some kind of separate motion detector which in theory could be set up to power the camera. Unfortunately this motion device would also consume power so you may back where you started and there would probably be delays in the process. However it would be an interesting project.

Tony

[Tony Wright]

Why not use a trail camera? Only activates when there is motion. Indicates day and time of action. Records still shots only I guess but pics are clear. Battery powered, well hidden/camo-d in a tree and possibly powered with a small panel would be ideal. Unaffected by cold temps or snow.The card can be checked monthly?? and reloaded. Reasonably priced at any sportsman store. I sure wouldn't suggest leaving my panels on my deck!!


I considered trail cameras but I am looking for something a bit more sophisticated. The cameras I have in mind are controlled from a smartphone. They react to motion by triggering a bright light, they have two way audio to confront intruders and you can even sound a siren remotely. They have night vision and you can also select specific areas of the image for each camera to be sensitive to motion and therefore reduce unnecessary alerts.

I'm not sure yet where to position the panels. The roof is obviously the most secure but I am uncertain about snow build up and difficult access for cleaning during the winter. We have had a heavy snowfall so I am going up to our trailer this weekend look at what might work.

Thanks
Tony