Running DVR Surveillance System on Solar

[brad freeman]

Hello Experts,
I am trying to run a surveillance system strictly on solar power. I have a 4 Channel DVR with a input of .7amps, a monitor with input of 1.5 amps (which wouldn't be on very often), and 4 (12volt) camera's at 200 ma. I would like to have DVR running 24/7. Each camera would be set on motion detect only. I believe I have 5-6 hours a day of good sunlight. How many batteries & solar panels would I need and is it feasable???
Thanks for your help in advance,
Brad

[Mike90250]

Hello Experts,
I am trying to run a surveillance system strictly on solar power. I have a 4 Channel DVR with a input of .7amps, a monitor with input of 1.5 amps (which wouldn't be on very often), and 4 (12volt) camera's at 200 ma. I would like to have DVR running 24/7. Each camera would be set on motion detect only. I believe I have 5-6 hours a day of good sunlight. How many batteries & solar panels would I need and is it feasable???
Thanks for your help in advance,
Brad

> 4 Channel DVR with a input of .7amps ** 120VAC or 12V DC ??

> monitor with input of 1.5 amps ** 120VAC or 12V DC ?

How many days of cloudy weather do you want to run through ?

This will likely cost a lot, an extension cord will be less.

[brad freeman]

Surveillance question

Hello Mike,

Thanks for responding.
The DVR and Monitor are 120 volt systems.
I guess it could be cloudy for days on end?????

I even thought of trying to put DVR on a timer so it would only be on in the core hours of the day. We have been vandalized each year at the beginning of hunting season for the past couple years. I beleive it is kids trespassing. If I could put DVR on timer running from daylight until maybe 7 or 8 at night and then time it to go off. Not sure if DVR is capable of doing this?

Hunting camp is approx. half mile from road. Would have to us 6 or 8 gauge wire to run from meter if meter is at road. Would cost $2000-$3000 just for wire. I'm am going to call power company back today and see what it would cost to get them to bring power to me with poles. I guess they don't have to know that I am planning on using the minimum power for surveillance system.

Thanks
Brad

[Mike90250]

> 4 Channel DVR with a input of .7amps @ 120VAC

That's 84 Watts, x 8 hours = 672 watt/hours,
4cam x .2A = .8A = 9.6W x8h = 76.8 W/h

total ~ 750Wh, harvest in 4 hours of good sunlight = about 188.2W harvest
That would be a 200W panel, and if you lost any of the 4 hours of good winter sun, you will have a low battery shutdown.

I'd guess at needing at least 3 panels to get charged in good sun.

A single 90AH deep cycle battery holds about 540 useable watt hours (50% discharge)
You would need at least 2 batteries in parallel, and a "SureSine" inverter to give you good power for the recorder.

This would hold you 1 for daylight 8 hour day.

[ed2kayak]

Why not a surveillance camera like this. Just hide it & suppress the flash, would only be useful in daylight. You only need 1 halfway decent pic.

http://www.bestarcheryhuntingequipment.com/nighthawk-35mm-game-surveillance-camera-p-3450.html?language=1

Ed

[hay4man]

Or maybe something like this?

http://www.surferbaby.com/DSN/wwwsurferbabycom/Commerce/ProductImages/lg000861.jpg