GoView Surveillance - Blog #Grid PowerGoView Surveillance - Blog #Grid Powerhttps://www.mygoview.com/blogs/tag/grid-powerThu, 30 Apr 2026 08:27:05 -0700http://zoho.com/sites/<![CDATA[MOBILE SURVEILLANCE POWER OPTIONS: DO I NEED A FUEL CELL GENERATOR?]]>https://www.mygoview.com/blogs/post/DO-I-NEED-A-FUEL-CELL-GENERATOR-POWER-OPTIONSWhen it comes to mobile surveillance there are several options to power your system.  In this post we will review the most commonly used options ]]>


When it comes to mobile surveillance there are several options to power your system.  In this post we will review the most commonly used options for primary and backup power.


1. Grid Power or sometimes referred to as "shore" power can be used when available.  Most construction sites eventually have power lines installed and contractors can run extension cords from the power demarcation.  One advantage is that grid power is the lowest cost method to power a mobile surveillance system.  The disadvantage is that it could easily become disconnected or may not be reliable so as with all power sources having a backup battery bank or secondary power source is vital

2. Solar power is very reliable as long as the system is properly engineered and a 25-30% buffer. Monocrystalline solar panels are the preferred type of panel for mobile security and surveillance systems. Solar panels only produce power when there is adequate sunlight and as the intensity of the sun can vary throughout the day, the voltage feeding the system will also vary widely.  All systems should have an MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) solar charge controller.  The MPPT controller regulates the system voltage.  It protects the battery and other components from damage.  It also increases the efficiency of the charging circuit and extends the life of batteries on the system. 

3. Fossil Fuel Generators (gas and diesel) can provide backup power if primary power fails.  They could also be used as a primary power source.  A consideration with a traditional generator is noise.  Diesel and gas generators do not have the same muffling capability of a car engine and can produce noise levels exceeding 100 decibels for sustained periods of time. They can be messy, produce exhaust, and also require flammable fuel to run. When used as a backup, a generator can be programmed with an input switch to turn on automatically when battery voltage drops below a set point and then shut off automatically.  These generators have the advantage of being low cost. 

4. Fuel Cell Generators are a relatively new development and run on hydrogen fuel cells.  They are extremely efficient, make almost no noise and are perfect in almost every way...Except cost.  A small unit that serves as a backup will cost about $10,000

5. While less common, there are also mini wind turbines that are designed for mobile trailers and can provide and additional power boost using a renewable energy source.  For a system that just needs a small amount of additional power in addition to the primary source, this might be a viable option. 

   

]]>Thu, 12 Oct 2023 13:22:03 -0600<![CDATA[WHAT IS THE APPROPRIATE SOLAR WATTAGE FOR A MOBILE SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM?]]>https://www.mygoview.com/blogs/post/what-is-the-appropriate-solar-wattage-for-a-surveillance-trailerGoView trailers have on average 40% more solar generating capacity than most of our competitors. Some might ask, "Is that really necessary?"]]>

GoView trailers have on average 40% more solar generating capacity than most of our competitors.  Some might ask, "Is that really necessary?" 


Areas north of the sunbelt get significantly less sun during the winter months.  When you couple this decreased sunlight with storms or overcast days, you can quickly run power deficits which can become unsustainable.  Providers have long realized this problem and have come  up with many solutions such as powering down key components during daytime hours, using diesel generators, and more recently using costly fuel cell generators.  


In many cases these problems could be solved more cost effectively by increasing battery amp hour capacity and solar array wattage.  

Here are the factors that must be used in calculating the solar charging system:

1. Load or current draw in watts:  Add up the wattage of all the devices that will be drawing power from the system.  This is the single most important number in your system design. This can be found in the specification sheet for all devices.  

2. Solar Zone: Different parts of the country receive more sun than others.  If you live in Seattle you understand this concept.  Refer to the chart on the left to determine your solar zone.  

3. Solar generation: Solar panels are not 100% efficient. As an example, if you have a 100 Watt panel, we estimate you should be able to support 12.5  Watts of continuous power generation in zone 2.  This 100 Watt panel might produce anywhere from 200 Watts to 700 watts in a 24 hour period which is a big range.  The excess power is stored in the battery for a literal "rainy day".  

4. Deployable area and cost are 2 other factors in sizing your solar array.  More panels take up more space and on many sites there is a limited area for deployment. Adding additional wattage can also increase the cost and if the system is not designed properly may not produce any additional benefit.  

Summary: Solar system designers must use all of the above information to determine the proper size of solar array and battery storage bank.  Most of our systems need to sustain between 90 and 140 watts of continuous loads.  In southern states we can do this with 700 watts of solar and 800 AH of backup battery.  In northern states we use systems with more than 1300 watts of solar and 1600 AH of backup battery.  

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