Security Camera

[Choot Em]

Hi, Im new here and obviously need help. I have a security camera at my gate and the only way to power it is by using a battery and a solar panel. I bought a solar panel from tractor supply that is probably 12x12"? It will not keep the big truck battery powered enough for the camera to constantly pull off of it. Any ideas as far as what size panel I need to keep my battery charged enough for the camera to pull off of?

[russ]

Hi and welcome to Solar Panel Talk!

You need to look at the camera spec and see what the power requirement is first off.

Russ

[Choot Em]

I'm not real sure where to find that, but the product manual for my camera is online. I have the link below if you might help me out. Once you pull up site, you will see product manual. Click on it and maybe you can find it? If not, where else might I find out?

http://www.harborfreight.com/4-channel-surveillance-dvr-with-4-cameras-and-mobile-monitoring-capabilities-68332.html

I did find this on the product manual:
Input: 120 V ~ / 60 Hz
Output: 12 VDC, 5A

It was on a chart and was referring to an Adapter?



Thank you for your help!

[Sunking]

I did find this on the product manual:
Input: 120 V ~ / 60 Hz
Output: 12 VDC, 5A

You are not going to like me, but you are in for a real shock. You camera uses 12 volts x 5 amps x 24 hours = 1440 watt hours per day.

Assuming you have a minimum sun hours in your area of 4 hours you need:

600 watt solar panel.
400 pound battery 12 volts @ 600 Amp Hours
60 Amp Charge Controller

Cost = $3500 plus materials.

Have a Nice Day

[Choot Em]

Thank you sunking. All I needed to know.

[Mike90250]

for a camera, 5A is HUGE ! I think there must be a mistake somewhere.
OK, the entire system needs 5A of power. I think just one camera (do you need one camera to run off battery, or the whole system?) will draw a lot less, and you may be able to see the power requirement listed on the camera. 12V 300mA ?? or something like that.

[russ]

Specs for a DVCCMNV817 - Bullet Camera with 30 IR Leds

Supply Voltage DC 12V
Power Consumption Min Req: 500mA/ Recommended: 1A

The amps are high due to the IR Leds

[russ]

The spec only provides the adapter output - says nothing about system power consumption.

The limited 90 day warranty is a real turnoff in itself.

[kdbarthedoor]

Sorry to bump

Sorry to bump this but this is the closest post relating to my topic and this forum wouldn't let me create a new post.

I've searched the 'net over and can't figure this out on my own, so here I am LOL

What I want to do is get this system: LW2932 (by Lorex). It is a set of two wireless security cameras and a monitor. These are tiny cameras that take very very little to power them. I called and asked (can't find where I wrote it down) and it way far less than 1amp per camera They're tiny. I want to use a solar power thingy to power the cameras so that I can put them anyplace I want, free of electrical cords. I was thinking of getting this: "Poweradd Apollo 7200mAh Solar Panel Portable Charger". I believe this charger would be gobs and plenty to power one of these tiny cameras. I found all of this stuff on amazon.

The problem? The cameras are electric and have a plug, like for a wall socket. The panel has only usb holes. I searched for an adapter but couldn't find what I was looking for. My goal was to put the camera inside a garden ornament, with an opening for the lense, with the solar charger on the outside (back) of the ornament where the sun would hit it. The cord/adapter could go through a hole in the back of the ornament.

Am I on the right track here, with the adapter thing or am I way off base? If I'm ok, then where can I find an adapter that goes from usb to plugin (has to be an "inny" not an "outy")?

PS: I need this camera because I want to find out who is letting their dogs poop in our yard and then swiping the sign I put out there about it.

Thanks!

[Sunking]

The problem? The cameras are electric and have a plug, like for a wall socket.

Then you are SOL as the cameras are made to use 120 VAC. You can still do it with solar using an inverter to supply 120 VAC but I think you will be in for sticker shock when you price out what it will really take. First thing you need to do is determine how much power the camera uses in wattage. Then determine how many hours per day you want to run the camera.

So if the camera uses 50 watts and you want to run them 24 hours a day they consomme 50 watts x 24 hours = 1200 watt hours. With this example it would take roughly a 400 to 800 watt solar panel, Very expensive charge controller, 200 pound battery, with a $50 inverter.

It all depends on how much power, how long you want to run it, and where you are located. Without that info no one can help you.

[kdbarthedoor]

Please don't think I'm trying to argue with you here, I'm trying to understand.

I see all these solar chargers online for charging phones, laptops, you-name-it, and those things have plug ins that go into wall sockets. If those things can use those portable chargers, why can't the security camera?

I just found on radio shack's site how to make this happen but haven't checked it out all the way yet.

Thanks for your reply

[Mike90250]

spend $500 for a solar system, or $200 for a motion activated "Game camera", and hope they don't swipe that.
Or $40 for a motion activated "water sprinkler scarecrow" that senses motion, and turns the water on

[kdbarthedoor]

spend $500 for a solar system, or $200 for a motion activated "Game camera", and hope they don't swipe that.
Or $40 for a motion activated "water sprinkler scarecrow" that senses motion, and turns the water on

Never thought about the game camera. Anyhow, I'm interested to learn about why the charger won't work with the camera.

If I did get the camera & monitor system I described previously, it would be far better for me if they DID swipe it because all of the action would be recorded on a memory stick that would be inside my home. Not only would they get ticketed for letting their dog poop and not cleaning it up, but they would be arrested for theft.

I have several locations on my property that I could position the two cameras and still have them plugged into a regular outlet. There are just other, better, positions I could put them if I could figure out how to use the little chargers with them.

Can anybody help?

[AZHIGH]

Consider POE, power over ethernet. You will have to run a thin wire to the camera, better pic, no worries on wireless range and it provides power. Wire can be buried.

Call the Cam manufacturer and find out power consumption if you want to go solar.

[Naptown]

does it plug in via an adaptor like a phone charging wart that then plugs into the camera? or is the plug hard wired to the camera with no way to disconnect