Solar Powered Camera

[jbchannell]

I am interested in knowing if anyone can help me design a solar powered stand- alone camera. The camera sits in a location where there is no electral power. The camera draws 7 watts and has a 5vdc input voltage. camera will be in use 24/7 365. I live in an area that averages 200 days of sun per year.
Any input would be helpful.

[Sunking]

We need to know a few more things to help you out. It is doable and even feasible if conditions are right.

What is the location? Will the camera have full view of the horizon East, South, and West?

A device consuming 7 watts 24/7 uses 7 watts x 24 hours = 168 watt hours per day. So the solar panel needs to generate 300+ watt hours per day. Depending on location and view of the horizon will require a solar panel of 75 to 500 watts. It depends on how you answer the questions.

Battery for critical application where no one is around is real easy at 5 to 10 day reserve capacity which would be a sealed AGM type 12 volt 60 to 120 Amp Hours.

Until we have details on location and sun exposure no one can answer with any accuracy.

[afaagagghhat]

solar camera will be interesting

solar camera will be interesting, I am looking forward to have one!

[jbchannell]

Location of Camera

We need to know a few more things to help you out. It is doable and even feasible if conditions are right.

What is the location? Will the camera have full view of the horizon East, South, and West?

A device consuming 7 watts 24/7 uses 7 watts x 24 hours = 168 watt hours per day. So the solar panel needs to generate 300+ watt hours per day. Depending on location and view of the horizon will require a solar panel of 75 to 500 watts. It depends on how you answer the questions.

Battery for critical application where no one is around is real easy at 5 to 10 day reserve capacity which would be a sealed AGM type 12 volt 60 to 120 Amp Hours.

Until we have details on location and sun exposure no one can answer with any accuracy.

The camera is located in the south.

[Sunking]

The camera is located in the south.

That is not close enough.

[Naptown]

The camera is located in the south.

That is not close enough.

How about Lat/Lon leave the last 2 digits off or a zip code if in US

[russ]

The camera is located in the south.

South Antarctica

[Mike90250]

South Antarctica

That's a long night in the winter

[jbchannell]

Camera

That is not close enough.

Approximate location- LAT: 35.63, LON :88.82

[Brian Broddock]

I am interested in knowing if anyone can help me design a solar powered stand- alone camera. The camera sits in a location where there is no electral power. The camera draws 7 watts and has a 5vdc input voltage. camera will be in use 24/7 365. I live in an area that averages 200 days of sun per year.
Any input would be helpful.

If you are successful with this then this would be a nice technological break through because instead of batteries powering the camera its solar power doing it instead...

[russ]

Does your site have direct sun with no shade during all daylight hours?

Are you subject to morning fog or other micro climatic conditions?

Elevation?

From PV Watts for Nashville

"Station Identification"
"City:","Nashville"
"State:","Tennessee"
"Lat (deg N):", 36.12
"Long (deg W):", 86.68
"Elev (m): ", 180
"PV System Specifications"
"DC Rating:"," 1.0 kW"
"DC to AC Derate Factor:"," 0.770"
"AC Rating:"," 0.8 kW"
"Array Type: Fixed Tilt"
"Array Tilt:"," 36.1"
"Array Azimuth:","180.0"

"Energy Specifications"
"Cost of Electricity:"," 6.9 cents/kWh"

"Results"
"Month", "Solar Radiation (kWh/m^2/day)", "AC Energy (kWh)", "Energy Value ($)"
1, 3.62, 87, 6.00
2, 4.32, 93, 6.42
3, 5.25, 121, 8.35
4, 5.53, 117, 8.07
5, 5.63, 121, 8.35
6, 5.95, 121, 8.35
7, 5.99, 124, 8.56
8, 5.68, 119, 8.21
9, 5.27, 108, 7.45
10, 5.07, 111, 7.66
11, 3.63, 80, 5.52
12, 3.22, 74, 5.11
"Year", 4.93, 1278, 88.18

[Naptown]

assuming no shade and clear east to west vision of panel
you will need the 60AH battery, 105W 36 cell solar panel, 10A PWM charge controller and something to convert the 12V to the 5V input of the camera.

[Wy_White_Wolf]

If you are successful with this then this would be a nice technological break through because instead of batteries powering the camera its solar power doing it instead...

Not really.

The camera is still powered by the battery. Solar just charges the battery. nothing new or break through about it.

WWW