The use of solar power as an alternate power source is getting a lot of attention these days, and rightfully so. Its ability to provide electricity in remote locations where running cable would be overly expensive makes solar power a feasible alternate power source – especially for CCTV and other surveillance applications.
I spend a lot of time educating our customers on the details of solar. Let’s discuss some of the key points to remember when considering a solar system.
First, let’s cover some basic math to use as a guideline and familiarize you with how current draw works.
(Current draw x 24 hours) / Peak hours of sunlight = Amperage required
Current draw – The amount of electricity required to provide power to an object. Current draw is measured in milliamps (mA) or amps (A).
In solar powered systems, every milliamp of current conserved saves money. It is important to think about the total current draw of an application and minimize draw where possible – especially with CCTV applications. For example, consider using a super low light camera instead of an IR bullet camera or consider using a fixed camera instead of a PTZ camera.
Peak hours of sunlight –People are often mistaken about the actual amount of sunlight they have during the day. Depending on the location in the hemisphere and the time of year, most people only receive between 3 and 5 hours of direct sunlight per day. This is why solar power is so popular in Arizona, Texas, Florida and other southern states.