Considering Putting Together Off-Grid Security Camera System

[KMac]

3. Build one solar power system. Cheaper than two. Wire is only that low voltage stuff, not that expensive probably.

4. Again, skip the dvr.

5. Where is router wattage accounted for?

[Greg Hamilton]

Wow, I read somewhere about using 10 AWG, must have looked at that wrong. I have not figured in the router yet, I looked several hours last night and could only find ones that use 5V. Yeah, I am taking back these two DVR systems to Fry's and probably ordering 4 of the Sharx wide angle 3904's online. Do you know if I would need to allocate8 any watts to the step down converter from 12V to 5V? I figured I would just cut the cord on the power adapter for the router and plug directly into the stepped down DC voltage, but if there is power I need to account for for the step down converter itself, then maybe I might as well use an inverter to go from DC to AC and just plug the adapter straight into that, or would that use even more power?

[SunEagle]

Any time you convert or step down electricity you end up losing something which would be considered additional wattage being used. Even using a small wire size or adding length to the wire run adds resistance which adds losses and watts used.

It is a pile that adds up and becomes a bigger drain on the battery system.

[KMac]

Average sun isolation is not the correct number to use. It is like a broken clock, it is only accurate twice a day. You need to figure things based on the worst isolation days, since that will happen every winter, and it will last awhile. If you figure the average, then what happens in December? You ruin your batteries!

[Greg Hamilton]

It's amazing how close to the vest someone is keeping that information. Finding that info is about as hard as finding a 5V router that is made today.
No one said very much about my calculations, they were a little convoluted and wordy I must admit, but if getting the solar factor perfect in the calculations is so important, then I am starting to think that where I tweaked the 2.0 factor down to 1.55 for what I called the fudge factor for not wanting to discharge my batteries below 50% is not a good thing. Taking that into account plus with the decrease in the solar radiation factor I would surely see if I could find it, I am starting to think I am probably looking at a 6 battery system rather than 4.

[KMac]

Here are my panels: https://www.solarblvd.com/product_in...oducts_id=3027, I really like them for my weekend cabin. The same place has used 208 watt panels for $65 each (shipping is $170 for 2)! Or look on Craigslist or other sites like that and just be sure what you are buying for specs - I wouldn't be afraid of quality used ones. In any event, I would not be a fan of 100w - 12v panels in a kit format. Too expensive and too small, and then you really are in a 12v box you can't expand from.

The charge controller is the heart of it. MPPT if you can afford it.

[Greg Hamilton]

Wow, those are a step up from what I was looking at, maybe two, not so much in cost, but size. Definitely looks like the way to go.

[KMac]

Everstart batteries? $100 each? No way. Don't do it.

Trojan 105's are $129 most places you Google. In Dallas I think you could find some without shipping. Get four and they go in series. 225 Ah. Not "marine" or 12v batteries. True deep cycle for this type of stuff. Read stickies on batteries. They are very, very good. No comparison.

Save on the panels, but don't skimp on batteries.

[Greg Hamilton]

Are you talking about 6V batteries and wiring them in series for 24 volts with 4 of them. Here is a link for some I found: http://www.thesolarbiz.com/Trojan-T-...8HAQ#gsc.tab=0

[SunEagle]

Greg

Sorry for not getting back to you on your calculations.

They look pretty good except for your 50% discharge factor. Depending on the battery manufacture most post the life expectancy based on the DOD%. Usually a FLA type has the longest life or highest number of cycles if you do not go more than 25%. Some say no more than 20% DOD. But most say that going more than 40% will shorten the number of cycles and life. 50% can cut the life in half in some cases.

[Greg Hamilton]

Ok, thanks, will look into that.

[KMac]

Converting from 24v DC to 120 AC via an inverter will taken some watts. That thing will run 24/7. Then you are thinking of stepping down from that 120v AC to 5v DC. That will take some more. Instead, compare just a step down from 24v DC to whatever the DC voltage you need for each component.

For wire size from your batteries to the cameras, use a voltage drop calculator to ensure minimal drop. How far does it run?

[bcroe]

What has worked here for decades (while many neighbors have had problems) starts with a lot of motion detector lights. Walking
completely around my house, I am never in the dark. The surprise factor is good, and convenient for me too. Deer set them off
too, no harm done. The duty cycle is so low, they are invisible on the electric bill. But you probably need a PoCo source.

Then there are cameras around, with signs calling attention to their presence. Finally a basic alarm that is loud enough that
your neighbors can hear it (mine is 300' away). Trouble with them is they like to false alarm, make it robust.

Identifying the thief is good, but scaring them away is better. Bruce Roe

[inetdog]

Average sun isolation is not the correct number to use. It is like a broken clock, it is only accurate twice a day. ....

By the way, I do not know if your problem was typo or an overzealous autocorrect, but the measure for the amount of sun hitting a panel or other surface is insolation, not isolation.

[Sunking]

Pay the POCO a much beter deal and a whole lot cheaper. Put up batteries and panels and I will send my friend to steal them. You can bet on it.

[SunEagle]

Pay the POCO a much beter deal and a whole lot cheaper. Put up batteries and panels and I will send my friend to steal them. You can bet on it.

Watch out for my punji sticks and solar Pete's clayemores?

[J.P.M.]

Watch out for my punji sticks and solar Pete's clayemores?

I'd use the camera output for snuff porn when the claymores go off on impaled trespassers.

[KMac]

By the way, I do not know if your problem was typo or an overzealous autocorrect, but the measure for the amount of sun hitting a panel or other surface is insolation, not isolation.

Ha! Yes, typo.

[Greg Hamilton]

Boy, lots of great ideas here. POCO's, claymores, death sticks, AR's, predator hunting. ......... I think I'm going to have to go with the POCO. Thanks for the help.

[foo1bar]

Boy, lots of great ideas here. POCO's, claymores, death sticks, AR's, predator hunting. ......... I think I'm going to have to go with the POCO. Thanks for the help.

predator style hunting?
Are you thinking with the shoulder cannon or use the killing frisbee/drone disc?

[Greg Hamilton]

Hunting coyotes with AR-15's. People are stupid to be messing around at people's houses or cabins in Texas with the castle law, especially a hunting cabin when half a dozen closely related folks will be showing up well armed at any time. Some people don't have any sense.

[Mike90250]

.....Are you thinking with the shoulder cannon or use the killing frisbee/drone disc?

Ohhhh killer frisbee

[Greg Hamilton]

I had to look up killer frisbee predator on google, it comes up with some pretty crazy pictures. I looked at your solar power system. That is pretty incredible! I am going to quit complaining about cost after seeing your setup. The thing I have to realize is that even after spending about $1000 on a very small system compared to yours, it is only going to drive 4 security cameras, we will still have to use the generator every time we go there for everything else. I think I am going to just have to figure out a way to take the plunge on the electric hookup, which should make life much easier, except for paying for it. It seems like it would be hard for a thief to steal electricity. If they do, I guess they would be stealing from the poco anyway.