Solar Panel Project: Will it Work?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility of a solar-powered Raspberry Pi and camera system designed to capture images at a construction site over a period of approximately nine months. The focus includes hardware components, power management, and operational strategies.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant outlines a proposed hardware setup including a solar cell, Raspberry Pi, power bank, voltage regulator, Arduino, RTC module, and transistor, and seeks feedback on its viability.
  • Some participants suggest that the system should work if there is sufficient sunlight, expressing general agreement with the initial proposal.
  • Another participant proposes an alternative approach using a mobile phone with a solar charger, suggesting that it could provide adequate power without needing a SIM card, thus allowing for periodic photo saving.
  • Concerns are raised regarding the necessity of the Arduino for controlling the Raspberry Pi, with suggestions that the Raspberry Pi might have sleep modes and could utilize the RTC for interrupts instead.
  • A later reply questions how to implement the RTC as a direct switch for the Raspberry Pi without using an Arduino, indicating a need for further clarification on this point.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that the proposed solar-powered system could work under the right conditions, but there are differing opinions on the necessity and role of the Arduino and RTC in the setup. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best approach to control the Raspberry Pi.

Contextual Notes

There are assumptions regarding the availability of sunlight and the power requirements of the components that have not been fully explored. The discussion also highlights potential limitations in the proposed use of the Arduino and RTC without a clear solution presented.

francistm
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Hey!
So I'm building raspberry pi & camera powered buy a solar panel system to make a automatic timeline of a constructing site (It needs to work for about ~9months).
The rasp only needs to be on a few minutes a day to take a picture or really small video (max 1min). So this is my plan:

Hardware:
1x Solar Cell 6V 330mA
1x RaspBerry Pi Zero W (latest edition) + Camera
1x Normal SmartPhone Power Bank (Input: 5V 1000mA && Output: 5V 1000mA && 2600mAh)
1x Pololu 5V Step-Up/Step-Down Voltage Regulator S7V7F5
1x Arduino Nano
1x RTC Module
1x Transistor

My main goal is to maintain the Arduino with the RTC Module turned ON all the time and every day at, for example, 4PM it turns on the rasp and after 10minute it cuts off the rasp's power again via the transistor (the rasp will auto shutdown itself after the picture/video is taken). PS: All of this is powered by the power bank
The solar cell will always be connected to the voltage regulator and in turn, the voltage regulator will always be connected to the power bank.

Will this work? What would you improve?

Thanks in advance!
 
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Providing that the available sunlight is sufficient to keep this setup functional I guess it should work.
Can't see anything wrong with the idea.
 
rootone said:
Providing that the available sunlight is sufficient to keep this setup functional I guess it should work.
Can't see anything wrong with the idea.
Thanks for your feedback!
 
I too think that it can work.

However, I would use a mobile phone with a solar charger/power bank, without a SIM//on plane mode.
There are apps for periodic photo save, and without any wireless connection the solar charger would be able to provide enough power, with decent margin for rainy days.
 
The arduino does not have a real time clock, if all you are using it for is to turn the Pi on and off, there is probably a better way, I assume the PI has some type of sleep mode and use the RTC to drive an interrupt.
 
Windadct said:
The arduino does not have a real time clock, if all you are using it for is to turn the Pi on and off, there is probably a better way, I assume the PI has some type of sleep mode and use the RTC to drive an interrupt.
Yes! That'd be perfect! to use the rtc as an direct on and off "switch" for rasp! But the thing is, how can I do it? Without an ardudino?
 

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