External power for my Go-Live

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James Stroffoleno
Good morning, so I'm planning to build an external power source for my camera. I have available to use a solar panel I'm no longer using. It's specs are as follows, it's a 12v 6 watt Amorphous panel. 12in × 12in. Maximum power is 6w, open circuit voltage is 23v, Maximum power point voltage 15v, short circuit current is 400mA. That will charge a LPFMAX 12v 12Ah lifePO4 deep cycle iron phosphate Lithium battery with built in BMS protection. That in tern will fuel the camera. My question is, does this package I'm putting together, sound like it will be atticuite to keep everything happy. Thanks Jim. S.
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  • James Stroffoleno

    It's a Go-Live camera

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  • John Lockburner

    6 watt is a little low for the panel but with the battery you should be ok. Just make sure that you get your polarities to the plug correct, backwards will fry the camera and because it's not a Spartan solar set up will void the warranty.

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  • James Stroffoleno

    From what I've been researching, I thought the 6w panel was perhaps alittle on the small side. I ordered the go live wiring harness for the camera from your site. My intention was to put on the correct terminals for battery connection, red to + black to - then to camera. The panel had alligator clips which will get cut off and replaced with spade clip with the piggyback spade blade built on for the power to camera to ug onto. Red to red black to black, should all be good.

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  • Elizabeth Swoope

    I’m not an electrical person, but I know that there needs to be a controller between the solar panel and the battery. You don’t want the panel connected to the battery without one. Maybe your setup plans include one and I didn’t catch it.

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  • James Stroffoleno

    Would this be because of the panels ability to produce a maximum voltage higher the the 12v of the battery? That said do you have a recommendation?

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  • Elizabeth Swoope

    I don't know why a controller is needed, I just know that it is needed. I don't have any recommendations.

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  • John Lockburner

    The GoLive you can actually connect the solar panel directly to the camera without the battery so that's not an issue (Over voltage would be a problem with the GoCams and with those cameras you do need the external battery along with the panel). In this case the controller would protect your battery from over charging or discharging too low, the built in BMS I would assume takes care of that issue. The only thing that would really concern me is if the panel or battery doesn't have a protective diode in it somewhere when it gets dark at night the panel could possible discharge your battery.

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  • James Stroffoleno

    Thanks John. The panel does have the protective diode built into it. Sounds like this setup will be fine. I'm using the external battery because the setup will be in under the canopy of the woods . I'm hoping the solar panel will keep up with charging the battery. Thanks

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  • John Lockburner

    How many pictures do you get a day?

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  • James Stroffoleno

    So going by what my other cameras did from September through December, if I was to average them out , 150pics a month, 5 pictures a day. Someday of course nothing , some day 25-30.

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  • John Lockburner

    I think your setup will work just fine for that.

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