[RE-wrenches] Security cameras for off grid home: Who has a low wattage solution?

Mick Abraham mick at abrahamsolar.com
Tue Aug 6 16:41:21 PDT 2013


Hello, all~

My client likes to watch what's going on at his remote cabin while he's
away. The problem is the energy impact on his battery system resulting from
the presently deployed system.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

They're running a Windows XP desktop computer, circa 2010. That has
software loaded which collects the video from about five cameras then the
computer sequences that data out beyond the firewall, through the satellite
modem, uplinked to Hughesnet then eventually can be viewed by my client far
away.

It's amazing this can work at all but just the computer box is ~100 watts
running, 24/7. The cameras are relatively low in their wattage demand, and
of course there's the satellite modem plus a router for the LAN "local area
network" which are also relatively low wattage.

If we were attempting "energy triage", the satellite modem and LAN wifi
router are most justifiable in terms of their energy impact relative to the
benefit my client receives while at the cabin. The cameras are next most
justifiable but of course those are useless without some way to serve the
data, but the power demand for that computer is making me cranky...and we
don't want cranky.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

I think beginning with the Windoze operating system is one of the errors
here but of course the video software is built for that OS. Surely someone
sells a video streamer that's built from the ground up for this purpose and
maybe running Java or some other code that's more appropriate to this
solitary task. ...and surely that only needs a small percentage of the
power demanded by a full blown Windows box.

OK, I've done my part in describing the challenge. Now it's up to the crew
to name that product! Just kidding; I will do some more legwork but it's
often the case that the Wrenchies have already invented the wheel.

The Wrench List is the Bomb! Thanks & Jolliness,

Mick Abraham, Proprietor
www.abrahamsolar.com

Voice: 970-731-4675
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