In NYC, I've been getting tickets from the city because someone kept dumping trash on my sidewalk. So I researched and set up a remote camera.
My current setup:
2x 100w renegy 12v panels wired in series (about 30' from controller)
smartsolar 75/15 controller
1 home-depot flooded 12v 110ah battery. got a second just now, yet to hookup.
load is just 1 IP camera and 1 cellular modem. Running 24hr/day. consumption 120w total daily.
controller/modem housed in a 4' plastic container with lit that someone dumped on my sidewalk ( thank you).
As I was monitoring the performance of the setup, I notice I am not getting enough power to replenish the 120w daily consumption.
I tried moving the panels, but there is just too many apartment building around, and with winter sun at max 25 degree, I am not just getting that much.
I think probably only about half hour of direct sun. Rest of the time the panels are just collecting in the shades of buildings around me (10w).
For now I reduced it to run 4 hours a day ( via vitron's streetlight, turn-on-after-dusk ). It's really crippled and I want to add a second camera so I can see both directions of the sidewalk.
So I am thinking I need to size up the system for the winter case.
I was thinking of setting up another string of panel/controller with one or two used 20v panels (for cost, and recycle), but having a hard time finding someone willing to sell just a couple. Minimal is 10 panels.
Alternatively, I can buy another 2 renegy panels, convert to 24v battery, and use the vitron 75/15 for 2s2p.
What would you recommend?
Thanks for any suggestions!
My current setup:
2x 100w renegy 12v panels wired in series (about 30' from controller)
smartsolar 75/15 controller
1 home-depot flooded 12v 110ah battery. got a second just now, yet to hookup.
load is just 1 IP camera and 1 cellular modem. Running 24hr/day. consumption 120w total daily.
controller/modem housed in a 4' plastic container with lit that someone dumped on my sidewalk ( thank you).
As I was monitoring the performance of the setup, I notice I am not getting enough power to replenish the 120w daily consumption.
I tried moving the panels, but there is just too many apartment building around, and with winter sun at max 25 degree, I am not just getting that much.
I think probably only about half hour of direct sun. Rest of the time the panels are just collecting in the shades of buildings around me (10w).
For now I reduced it to run 4 hours a day ( via vitron's streetlight, turn-on-after-dusk ). It's really crippled and I want to add a second camera so I can see both directions of the sidewalk.
So I am thinking I need to size up the system for the winter case.
I was thinking of setting up another string of panel/controller with one or two used 20v panels (for cost, and recycle), but having a hard time finding someone willing to sell just a couple. Minimal is 10 panels.
Alternatively, I can buy another 2 renegy panels, convert to 24v battery, and use the vitron 75/15 for 2s2p.
What would you recommend?
Thanks for any suggestions!