The 200 watt panels & 110/120ah battery offer around 4 days of autonomy and 2 to 3 is generally accepted as the industry standard. You can add more days of autonomy (how long the battery runs without charge) if you configure the blue charge controller. Also using a 12V timer switch will almost double run time. There is a Bluetooth app for the controller, this is useful to use.
FIRST – TRY A MAINS TEST & ALSO CHARGE THE 12V BATTERY
TIPS: For a home or office test we include a standard mains powered POE injector. We also include 2x power leads for the 4G router ( 1 mains, 1 DC input ). – 1. Plug the POE injector & 4G Router into the mains – 2. Plug the small black patch lead into the LAN port on the router & the “IN” on the POE injector – 3. Plug the long black ( 20mtr ) outdoor cable into the “OUT on the POE and the other end into the Camera – 4. Connect to the routers wi fi & click the Local Image Grab URL and check the image, test complete. We include a FREE battery charger for you, even new batterys need a full charge.
SOLAR WIRE & NO TIMER – (#1)
This is a popular set up, there is more to this method than others, but its not adding any devices like inverters which will add to 12V power consumption.
TIPS: If the solar cable that comes direct from your solar supplier is not small enough for wiring our hardware above, we send a small 3 mtr length of 2 Core red and black (Round Twin) – 2 x 25A (2.0mm²) cable.
SOLAR WIRE & USE A 12V TIMER – (#2)
Time-lapse cameras are not usually used during the night and weekends or at least sundays. The system will always draw power but with the 12V timer you can shut it down.
Alternative Method
TIPS: What you put into your solar set up, you will get back in the way of it being more efficient. For example, the solar charger controller will still work without programming. However, you can spend some time to set it, similar to like you can set your central heating on a controller. Please look into the controller, for any settings that conserve output during the night, when a time-lapse camera is not in use.
USING A 12V INVERTER – (#3)
This is by far the easiest set up, a 12V inverter gives you standard UK plug sockets, simply plug our hardware in, no cable wiring is required.
An inverter connects to the 12V battery and gives you a UK plug socket. You can then simply plug our hardware into the main’s socket, you will need a 2 way extension lead. An inverter is a secondary option because it’s not as true and adds to the power draw. You can pick up an Inverter for around £30.
Your blue solar charge controller still plays a part. Wire your solar panels into the solar charge controller and wire the battery into the solar charge controller. Wire the Inverter direct to the battery. The load output on the controller is not used ( unless for small power draw products like light bulbs ).
This on-line store sells inverters here
USING A 12V INVERTER & A TIMER – (#3)
A further option could be to use a plug socket timer.
NEW for 2019
The one slight issue with the 200 watt single solar panel system was mounting the panel to a pole. Its very large but also the pole mount itself needed to be assembled. We have found a new solar supplier who can supply rapid install Pole Mount Brackets, this newer deployment is based upon using 2 x 120 watt slimline panels.
With this kit, the maximum distance the solar panels can be from the solar hardware is 9 Mtrs. Included is 1 x Male and 1 x Female MC4 connector cables ready to plug into the above pictured MC4 connector tails. The connectors are terminated onto a 5mtr length of 4mm single core solar cable. The none terminated bare cable end is ready to connect into the “PV” input on the blue solar charge controller.
If you want your solar panels to be a little higher up the pole, the kit also includes 4mtr MC4 extension cables. There is also 5mtrs of 2.5mm twin core solar cable, this can be used for wiring up the battery and battery connect.
Please note: Burgess Technologies does not employ registered electricians or install solar. The above are hints and tips we have picked up from partners installing our system with solar. We have had solar projects running for over 3 years now with great success.
