Output Power: 300 Watts
Input Voltage: 115/230V; 50/60 Hertz
Batteries: 12 | Volt
Solar Chargers for Security Cameras & Surveillance
Why Morningstar?
Security and Surveillance is now one of the leading applications for solar electricity. With security stations typically at the edge of perimeters and far from any source of grid electricity—and often in very high locations where changing batteries frequently isn’t practical—solar PV systems are often both first and only choice in security deployments incorporating video, sensors, infra-red imaging and more.
Morningstar charging technology is eminently suitable and flexible for Power over Ethernet (PoE,) internet protocol (IP) video, internet-of-things (IoT) devices, pan/tilt/zoom (PTZ) cameras, and all the other tools comprising the portfolios of today’s security professionals. Morningstar components incorporate all required certifications, provide layers of on-board protection for sensitive electronic components, and are engineered for extremely long life and trouble-free operation in remote, inaccessible locations and enclosures—the ideal powering safety net for the most sensitive and critical security systems conceivable today and ready for the future.
Morningstar’s proprietary TrakStar solar harvesting technology and fanless design make for inherently more efficient systems. And with over four million Morningstars installed in the field since 1993, there’s no brand in the solar industry that’s more proven or accepted in terms of reliability.
Need Help with
Solar at your Security and Surveillance Site?
If you aren’t sure which option is right for you, use our contact form to request a consultation with one of our staff to recommend the appropriate products for your application. Use our How To Buy form to request specific products from our inventory.
Typical Security and Surveillance solar electricity applications
- Powering cameras of all types—P/T/Z, IP enabled, PoE
- Powering network video recorders and DVRs, network switches
- Powering PoE injectors and extenders
- Powering WiFi access points and bridges
- Back-up systems
- Two-way radio communications
Features & Benefits
- Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) technology to extract every bit of electricity possible from the solar source, by converting extra voltage into useful amperage. Morningstar MPPT controllers have industry-leading TrackStar technology on board for that purpose
- Industry-leading technical support from a US-based company
- Easy system integration with generator control
- Standard serial and optional Ethernet capabilities provide data integration into existing IP based security networks for remote monitoring and control
- Remote access and control
- Selected models support industrial-standard networking, monitoring, and communications protocols including MODBUS, MQTT and SNMP when used with Morningstar’s Ethernet MeterBus Converter (EMC) accessory
- Data logging to record charging/load Amp-hours and alarm/fault notifications
- Full programming to enable a high level of system customization
- Built-in communications and diagnostics capabilities
- Temperature charging protection and advanced charging algorithms to protect expensive storage batteries, both lead-acid and advanced types including lithium. Dead battery recovery feature helps reduce system downtime
- Designed for trouble-free operation in extreme temperature and weather conditions. Epoxy-encapsulated circuit boards and 60C ambient temperature ratings to handle harsh environments including tropical, coastal, and arid regions. Weatherized construction; no cooling fans to fail
- Simple, out-of-the-box operation and easy installation
- UL and IEC listing on most models; FCC Class B certification
- Low noise operation
- Safety features built-in, including alarm/fault notifications, miswiring protection, lightning protection
- 24V and 48V (Positive Ground) system capability
Security and surveillance applications increasingly depend on equipment that is also found in other IT environments, making SNMP a desirable means to retrieve data from the many IP-enabled devices involved in monitoring site activity and threat detection. Surveillance and monitoring systems with PTZ (pan/tilt/zoom) cameras, motion and IR sensors, and IR cameras are typically mounted on top of tall structures or poles away from electrical power, and solar electricity is increasingly used to power them (often with PoE) along with wireless/mesh network infrastructure, lighting, and other IoT-enabled sensors or devices. Monitoring these devices through private Local Area Networks (LAN) with SNMP, users can combine network and power system management to ensure their security assets remain operational and connected for uninterrupted site visibility.
This is why Morningstar has integrated Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) into its products. An open standard IP-based protocol, SNMP works with selected Morningstar products in conjunction with Morningstar’s Ethernet MeterBus Converter (EMC-1) communication gateway. As security professionals increasingly turn to solar electricity for powering various systems, Morningstar solar components are better equipped to meet their needs. Click here to learn more about SNMP and Morningstar Products.
Recent Security and Surveillance Projects
How It Works
During the Day:
A
Sunlight is converted into DC electricity in the solar modules or panels.
B
The DC electricity from the panels flows into a charge controller, which both provides perfect battery charging and powers DC-operated loads.
C
Smaller systems and systems with consistent sunlight (little shading or seasonal variation) usually feature PWM (pulse-width modulation) charge controllers, which are simple and reliable. Larger systems and systems where there is variation in sunlight due to seasonal changes or shading often use MPPT (maximum power point tracking) charge controllers, which are more complex but also are more effective at harvesting solar electricity.
During the Night:
The solar charge controller keeps working—by preventing any “reverse current” flowing from the batteries to the PV modules, and (if equipped with load control) disconnect power to the loads if the battery voltage dips too far, which can quickly kill batteries.
Related Products
Additional Resources for Security and Surveillance Solar
Watch the recorded webinar to see how Morningstar solar charge controllers are used to charge batteries and help provide power at remote security/surveillance sites. Security/surveillance systems are on track for record growth and this is a ground-floor opportunity for solar installers today.
Morningstar components and solar are the perfect match for maximum dependability under challenging conditions. This guide covers a decade of Morningstar installations proving that point. With over four million products installed in the field since 1993, Morningstar is the first choice for leading solar contractors in mission-critical installations around the globe.
© Morningstar Corporation