OzBargain a Solution for Me - Solar Gate Security Camera Solution

Here is the Scenario - Manual Gate about 600m away from the house. The gate is surrounded by trees and not clearly visible from the house, but there is the option for a WiFi Link as there is a bit of line of sight from the house. No power available at said gate.

Thinking of a solution is linking into a Reolink Camera Network. More cameras around the house. So trying to keep clear of Solar WiFi Camera Solutions from Ring etc. PtP Link from House to Pole at Gate into a POE Switch with a Reolink PTZ Camera on it. That is relatively straightforward. The issue is power. PTZ Camera to allow flexibility of movement rather than a fixed camera.

I was thinking of a custom-made solution involving a 100Ah Lithium LiFePo4 Battery with a smaller inverter (maybe 1000W max?) that is charged via a Solar Panel (with required MMPT). Again, this only needs to run a PtP Link and a POE PTZ Camera (both could work off individual injectors rather than a POE switch).

An alternative solution is to find a power box like this for example(itechworld.com.au) that can run and also have a solar panel charge.

Also, for those who are good at maths and electrical calculations, my understanding is that for every 100Ah your battery system is, you need double that in Solar Power for Charging. So 100Ah = 200w Solar Panel, 200Ah = 400w Solar, etc.

Are there any other ideas/solutions or out-of-the-box solutions?

All of course into a security/lockable cabinet fixed to the ground or something to avoid tampering.

Please Note - 4G/5G Solutions are not an option due to little/no/poor phone coverage

Comments

  • You are massively over specifying the power draw. These types of cameras use in the order of 1 or 2 amp/hour a day.

    • +1

      A quick google suggests the Reolink Altas PT Ultra, for example, has a 20,000 mAh battery that can power it for 8 days. So a 100ah battery would last 40 days!

      As for solar sizing, your panel will average 4x it's watts in production over the year, so to charge a 1200w/h battery (that is the watts of 100ah) you would need approx 300w to charge it in one day. Add a bit for conversion losses and winter days.
      But a more likely setup would be a 24ah battery and a 50w panel, as you will never be running the battery down much.

      • I was looking at the https://reolink.com/product/rlc-823a/ camera for constant recording back to the NVR. Wanting to try and avoid Solar Cameras all together.

        PtP Link (TP Link) + Camera. A bit of ChatGPT(chatgpt.com) suggests 63Ah battery with 200W of Solar. So I am thinking 100Ah battery (probably an eBay special) and then a 200W Panel like a Kings One(4wdsupacentre.com.au). Add maybe a 500W(4wdsupacentre.com.au) inverter or even smaller at 300W(jaycar.com.au)

  • +4

    Just get a Maremma(dogbreedinfo.com). They'll let you know as soon as anyone enters your property. Unfortunately they will also let you know when a leaf falls off a tree.

    Source: own a beautiful Maremma bitch.

    • +1

      I'm rural and my neighbour has 2 Maremmas and I can atest to this. They also bark significantly more when they aren't home, so it's like a reverse alarm system - haha! Beautiful dogs though.

    • Should've mentioned, no/poor Phone Coverage.

      • -2

        Perhaps accounts for your power requirements, then add your long-range wifi solution.

        • That’s the whole point of what I’m doing???

          • @geekcohen: All good, I clearly don't understand your brief. Regret I commented. Maybe get a dog

  • +1

    I wish I had this problem.

  • Build a new house closer to the gate

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