Did the cost of solar panels go up?

TractorGuy · Nov 29, 2017

Shopping for a 50-100 watt monocrystalline solar panel to keep my IP security cameras battery charged. I hooked them up to a 275 CCA battery and a 10W panel that isn't cutting it. I am getting two days and 1 night before voltage gets too low to run them. Measured draw is 900 ma at night and 400 ma during the day. I already had the 10W panel so I just hooked it up to see how things went. 10W works great as a maintainer for something that isn't consuming power but not so much for these things. Looks like I'm looking at $80-$140 for the size/type panel I want.

4570Man · Nov 30, 2017

No option of using a trickle charger or something? I doubt the electric cost would ever equal the cost of the panel.

TractorGuy · Nov 30, 2017

No I want to move these around on my property. Here is how I have them set up.

4570Man · Nov 30, 2017

Would a bigger battery work? Isn't the rated output of the current solar panel a lot more than the draw?

Redneck in training · Nov 30, 2017

You need deep cycle battery. I would go for 50 Ah and 50W or larger charger. The solar panel should be about 30 deg angle for N. FL. Vertical position produces less than half of rated power.

marchanna · Nov 30, 2017

On the smaller panels you get less for your money. Take a look at 250w panels. As mentioned about, you need a deep cycle battery, because running a standard one up and down like that will ruin it. The deep cycle battery should be sized so that you don稚 draw down more the 30% remaining.

TractorGuy · Nov 30, 2017

I did take this small panel off and lean it against the frame. I didn't expect it to keep up with the constant draw. It used to be on my single gate opener on the same size battery. I would have to pull that battery and charge it 4 or 5 times per year. When I went to double gates and openers I bought a 30w panel and reused the lawn tractor battery. Haven't had to charge the battery since and it's been on that panel over a year. I realize the intermittent consumption of gate openers is a completely different animal.

I'm thinking as long as my panel can charge at twice the rate of my highest consumption I will be okay. I'm not worried about the small battery. I am going to order a 50w panel today.

RobA · Nov 30, 2017

I don't want to hijack this but would you mind telling us about your IP camera setup? What distances are you dealing with?

Dadnatron · Nov 30, 2017

What type (brand) of cameras are those and how are they hooked up to your system? Wireless/bluetooth?

How far away can you get consistent connection?

I've been putting off getting any remote cameras because I haven't found anything which works very well. If you are moving these around... I'd like to understand a bit more about your setup and how far away from your router or whatever antenna you are using.