We are going to be taking a road trip in our RV and will be doing a lot of boondocking. I would like to set up a camera somewhere hidden on the roof pointing down so when we are out and about we can keep an eye on the trailer.
We have several extra plug-in cameras ranging from V1 to V3. I’m wondering if anyone knows of or has set it up so you can connect it to a solar panel to power it so you don’t have a cord running where someone could just unplug it. We have satellite so we’ll be able to monitor when we’re out but just need solar to power the camera without running a cord.
Since you have v1 and v3 cameras, how about mounting them inside if there is power inside your RV. I like my cameras visible from the outside of my house so people know I have monitoring.
That’s mainly because you can’t rely on the solar to constantly put out enough power, you need a reserve or buffer in between.
You just need to make sure you select a battery bank that supports “pass through” which basically means it can charge and output at the same time. Ideally you also want to find one that doesn’t bounce the output when it loses the input so your cams won’t reboot when the sun goes behind a cloud, etc. If you plan to mount it on the roof then putting it in a weathertight container is necessary too. I’d potentially be a bit concerned with the temperature from the sun up there though, maybe you can find somewhere to shade it or mount it inside and run the cords through a vent or some other access hole to the interior? I guess in that case you wouldn’t need the battery bank or solar panel at all, just use your AC power.
There are discussions around that type of battery bank in this other thread, apparently a fairly unknown Talentcell brand has proven reliable for this type of thing
Yeah I plan on doing that but I need it pointed to the front of the trailer where there are no windows so I won’t be able to see if someone is at our propane and batteries
You are starting to get into system integration and definitely DIY.
temp extremes and tolerances of the system (camera, battery bank, solar panel).
weather rating of same.
how long will it run stable without sunlight.
how long for the power bank to recharge.
and many more.
It can be done. I’ve done it, but it is not trivial and can bite you when you least expect it.
If it is important enough then consider a camera designed just for this. The Wyze Battery Cam Pro is an excellent candidate. It is small, portable (can be easily hidden), is temp and weather rated, and can run on a single charge for weeks - months.
I have 3 of them monitoring the perimeters of our property. They’ve been running non stop for a few months to a year and a half. They are pricey but if your lucky you can catch them on sale (I got my last 2 for half price).
But if your determined to use your existing cams then go for it (I started my quest using existing cams but eventually went with the Battery Cam Pro) .