- Craig Nicholls
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A request we often get here at FOSCAM from farmers or small holding owners is for a solar powered free-standing camera that can take a sim card. Over the years we have tried various products, but we always found them very limited and often unreliable.
Some of the issues that the public often don’t understand is that the all in one type product often has many limitations. Such as that they are often only motion triggered, i.e. they are not recording 24/7 to save battery life due to the small solar panel and battery size. Another issue is replacement parts like the battery or panel, you can’t get them so have to replace the whole camera system.
Another common issue is that the sim card software is often not compatible with local service providers. Or even worse that there is no GSM coverage at the location.
We here at FOSCAM SA have teamed up with a solar specialist that designed a complete DIY kit that is compatible with any of our outdoor cameras. Even more we provide a basic router with a network point as well as a USB port for a GSM sim card dongle, so you choose which service provider gives you the best coverage in the area.
This kit will work with any of the FOSCAM outdoor range of cameras, but I would recommend using one of our PTZ range. The Foscam SD2X with 18 x optical zoom is a very popular choice, else the D4Z 2k dome or the SD2 work great. If you want a bullet then I would recommend the FOSCAM G4P, a great little 2K bullet.
We have also put together a kit complete with our top of the rang PTZ, just plant your pole and plug in your sim card and your all set. You can find it HERE
The SD2X is very popular with lodges and game farms where they place a camera at the waterhole, having that exceptional zoom as well as built-in audio makes for great footage.
Zoomed in...........
Another common mistake we run across with DIY Solar setups is that often that the clients don’t appreciate that you can still blow your 12V camera using a 12V battery and charger/controller. The controller often puts out more than 12V when recharging your battery, it can go as high as 14.5 to 15 Volts. While you may get away with it for a long time at some point this will blow the cameras onboard power circuit. That’s why we have developed a integrated a 2A Camera Voltage Protector, that grantees 12Volts and only 12Volts gets passed to the camera, this is over and above your solar charge controller which most people think does protect them from over voltage.
SPECIFICATIONS – Solar Mount
Pole mount housing
The entire system is housed in an industrial grade IP66 rated enclosure supported by a rugged pole mount frame. The standard enclosure is designed to connect to an external device (such as an IP camera).
Pole mount for solar panel: Aluminium alloy brackets with stainless steel hardware
Setting angle: 45° for capturing the correct angle for the sun
Mounting pole (to be supplied by installer/customer for combination of solar panels and battery/control box): recommended minimum - 75mm x 3mm steel for 3metre above ground
NOTE: POLE is NOT INCLUDED in the kit and dimension are only a guideline. It is the responsibility of the client to ensure that correct erection procedure for the pole is followed.
Wind load: 80Kkm/Hr
Hail loading: 1.1Kn/m ²
Assembled weight (includes 1 x 30W or 50W panel): 5kg
Attention: Edges may be sharp
Solar panel mount set comes with: 1 upper bracket, 1 lower bracket, 2 x U-bolts (straps), 2 x M6 hex-head bolts, 4 x washers, 2 x M6 nyloc nuts, 2 x M6 hex-head bolts for solar panel, 4 x flat washers for solar panel, 2 x nyloc nuts for solar panel.
Installation: To the greatest extent possible, the installation site should allow unshaded exposure to the sun throughout daylight hours.
SPECIFICATIONS – Control and Battery Cabinet
Depending upon the customer requirement, two battery pack options are available in the enclosure being 6Ah or 12Ah(shown).
Solar charging is by means of a Monocrystalline Solar panel
The solid state controller integrates all aspects required for optimal operation of the unit with:
- Solar charge controller specifically for LiFepo4 cells with BMS on 12Ah unit
- Regulated outputs for two cameras and a USB communication device
- Raw output for a 12V - CPE link
Cabinet: Polyester / Polycarb 300 x 250 x 130mm
Pole mount bracket: U-clamp / strap top and bottom
Batteries: 1 x 12V 6Ah LiFeP04 batt pack
Solar Charge Controller: 10A
Camera Voltage Protector: 2A
Connectivity
An 4G GSM modem runs on any mobile network allowing you to connect to the system from virtually anywhere – as long as the system is in an area with good network coverage. Speeds of are location dependent.
(Sim Card– supplied by customer depending on your service provider)
Kit comes fitted with a Mikrotik LtAP Mini LTE Router.
Contains:
Power Connectors for: Camera; Router; Solar panels
Total Weight of control and battery cabinet: 8kg
Cabinet mounting set comes with:
1 upper bracket, 1 lower bracket, 2 x U-bolts (straps),
4 x M6 hex-head bolts, 8 x washers, 4 x M6 nyloc nuts
We custom build to suit your project or device, let us know what you are looking for by email or call us on +27 11 465 9173 and we’ll provide you with a quote.
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