How to size solar power for a remote CCTV camera
A practical load and autonomy checklist for a solar-powered camera.
Start with watt-hours
Measure each load at the supply point. Daily energy is the sum of watts multiplied by hours of operation. For example, a continuous 10W load uses 240Wh per day before conversion and storage losses. Add the modem, IR LEDs, heaters and any intermittent load.
Estimate panel energy
A preliminary panel estimate is daily watt-hours divided by local worst-season peak sun hours and an overall derating factor. Using illustrative assumptions of 4 peak sun hours and 0.75 derating, a 240Wh/day load suggests 80W before additional resilience. These are example assumptions, not a recommendation for a particular site.
Battery autonomy
Size the usable battery energy for the desired days without adequate sun, then account for allowable discharge, temperature and battery aging. Ah alone is insufficient: compare nominal voltage × Ah to obtain nominal Wh. Confirm battery chemistry and usable capacity from the current datasheet.
Validate before ordering
Send the load profile, coordinates, seasonal shading, required backup days and communication equipment with your enquiry. Ask for a controller and regulated output that match the actual device. A panel nameplate is not a runtime guarantee.
