Raspberry Pi powered by solar module
- Thread starter peterw
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peterw
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Raspberry PI FAQ:
Typically, the model B uses between 700-1000mA depending on what peripherals are connected.
The maximum power the Raspberry Pi can use is 1 Amp.
If you need to connect a USB device that will take the power requirements of the Raspberry Pi
above 1 Amp then you must connect it to an externally powered USB hub.
The power requirements of the Raspberry Pi increase as you make use of the various interfaces
on the Raspberry Pi. The GPIO pins can draw 50mA safely (that is 50mA distributed across all the pins!
An individual GPIO pin can only safely draw 16mA),
the HDMI port uses 50mA,
the camera module requires 250mA, and k
eyboards and mice can take as little as 100mA or over 1000mA!
Check the power rating of the devices you plan to connect to the pi and purchase a power supply accordingly.
1A * 5V = 5W needed.
Even more for the 12V to 5V step down and to charge the battery for night.
Solar panels work with 12V so I need 12V batteries and a charging regulator.
Typically, the model B uses between 700-1000mA depending on what peripherals are connected.
The maximum power the Raspberry Pi can use is 1 Amp.
If you need to connect a USB device that will take the power requirements of the Raspberry Pi
above 1 Amp then you must connect it to an externally powered USB hub.
The power requirements of the Raspberry Pi increase as you make use of the various interfaces
on the Raspberry Pi. The GPIO pins can draw 50mA safely (that is 50mA distributed across all the pins!
An individual GPIO pin can only safely draw 16mA),
the HDMI port uses 50mA,
the camera module requires 250mA, and k
eyboards and mice can take as little as 100mA or over 1000mA!
Check the power rating of the devices you plan to connect to the pi and purchase a power supply accordingly.
1A * 5V = 5W needed.
Even more for the 12V to 5V step down and to charge the battery for night.
Solar panels work with 12V so I need 12V batteries and a charging regulator.
drmike
100% Tier-1 Gogent
This is a guy who did the same project. B model Pi. 45 Harbor Freight solar kit (Chinese tool importer in the US).
45 watt 3 panel kit, commando style mounted and shaded in bad way with already sub par panels....
80AH 12V battery, assumed to be a retail deep cycle model used in boats, RVs and other pleasure crafts.
Doesn't seem clear how he down stepped the 12V power, but, HF kits do have USB power output for one of the ports on the power controller with the kits (controllers are pretty poor quality).
Site appears to be served from the solar Pi which is ultra cool
http://pi.qcontinuum.com/project.html
45 watt 3 panel kit, commando style mounted and shaded in bad way with already sub par panels....
80AH 12V battery, assumed to be a retail deep cycle model used in boats, RVs and other pleasure crafts.
Doesn't seem clear how he down stepped the 12V power, but, HF kits do have USB power output for one of the ports on the power controller with the kits (controllers are pretty poor quality).
Site appears to be served from the solar Pi which is ultra cool
http://pi.qcontinuum.com/project.html
drmike
100% Tier-1 Gogent
There are ample 12V to 5V converters out there, including bundling the USB. Ebay has a few different Chinese made models. Loss is negligible and rather simple task (every lighter plug outputting USB does the same and those can be found for little cost).
5W is if you aren't powering your dongle otherwise.....
5 x 24 = 120W = 10A @ 12V call it oh 12A....
Most places are capable of getting 4 hours of sun on panel face if mounted "optimally". So you need 4 hours @ 3A... just to cover the 24 hour period. 3A = 36 watts of 12V panels... But there are losses all over... so you need a bit more... In fact you also need to bank power for cloud days to coast and later get that battery charged....
So if I needed 36 watts, I'd get a 60 watt panel.
That's still not tons of head room if you are in a chronically cloudy, dark local.
5W is if you aren't powering your dongle otherwise.....
5 x 24 = 120W = 10A @ 12V call it oh 12A....
Most places are capable of getting 4 hours of sun on panel face if mounted "optimally". So you need 4 hours @ 3A... just to cover the 24 hour period. 3A = 36 watts of 12V panels... But there are losses all over... so you need a bit more... In fact you also need to bank power for cloud days to coast and later get that battery charged....
So if I needed 36 watts, I'd get a 60 watt panel.
That's still not tons of head room if you are in a chronically cloudy, dark local.
We had run Pi on solar power, with storage batteries of course, along with a DC powered LED monitor, USB HDD and USB CD drive. It was a port of the Freedom Toaster, to raspberry Pi to burn CD/DVD's for an event.
I was more involved in porting the code, but could hook you up with the guy who did the solar module part. There were minor issues of over heating of the solar charger, but I believe it has been fixed by now.
I was more involved in porting the code, but could hook you up with the guy who did the solar module part. There were minor issues of over heating of the solar charger, but I believe it has been fixed by now.
drmike
100% Tier-1 Gogent
I have a few solar panels, windmills and other guilt purchases Al Gore conned me into in the past decade.
