Case Study: Off-Grid Solar PoE CCTV System for Remote Surveillance Deployment

1. Project Background

In remote and infrastructure-limited environments, deploying reliable surveillance systems presents a dual challenge: ensuring stable network connectivity and providing continuous power supply.

Traditional grid-based solutions are often not feasible due to high installation costs or geographical constraints.

In this project, the client required a fully off-grid CCTV system capable of powering six IP cameras, each consuming approximately 25W, with no reliance on external electrical infrastructure.

The expectation was clear: a complete, pre-engineered, plug-and-play solution covering power generation, storage, and data transmission.

2. System Requirements

• Number of cameras: 6 units
• Power per camera: 25W
• Total camera load: 150W
• Continuous operation: 24/7
• Environment: Outdoor, remote location
• Power source: Solar (off-grid)
• Network: PoE-based IP surveillance

3. Solution Overview

To meet the client’s requirements, we designed an integrated solar-powered PoE surveillance system, combining energy generation, storage, and network distribution within a single outdoor cabinet.

The system includes:

• Olycom Industrial PoE switch IM-FBP288GE (Edge networking device)
• Solar panel array (power generation)
• MPPT solar charge controller (energy regulation)
• LiFePO4 battery system (energy storage)
• Outdoor IP65 cabinet (system enclosure and protection)

4. System Design and Configuration

4.1 Power Consumption Analysis

The total system load was calculated as follows:

Cameras: 6 × 25W = 150W

PoE switch overhead: ~15W

Total system load: ~165W

This continuous load forms the basis for both battery sizing and solar panel design.

4.2 Energy Storage (Battery System)

To ensure uninterrupted operation during nighttime and low sunlight conditions, the system was designed with 1-day autonomy.

Daily energy consumption: 165W × 24h ≈ 3960Wh

Battery configuration: 48V 100Ah LiFePO4 battery (~4.8kWh usable capacity)

This configuration accounts for depth-of-discharge limits and ensures long battery lifespan (typically >4000 cycles).

4.3 Solar Power Generation

To sustain daily energy consumption, the solar array was sized based on average peak sunlight hours.

Required energy: ~4kWh/day

Peak sun hours: ~5 hours/day

Calculated solar capacity: ≈ 800W

Final design (with safety margin): 1kW solar panel system (e.g., 2 × 550W panels)

This ensures stable operation even under suboptimal weather conditions.

4.4 Power Management

A 48V / 40A MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) solar charge controller was selected to:

• Maximize solar energy conversion efficiency
• Regulate battery charging
• Protect against overcharge and voltage fluctuations

4.5 Network Core: Power Booster PoE Switch

The system uses the IM-FP288BGE industrial PoE switch as the central networking and power distribution unit.

Key features:

• 8 PoE ports (supporting up to 6 cameras + expansion)
• 2 SFP uplink ports for fiber connectivity
• 48V boost PoE output
• Total PoE power budget: 240W
• Industrial-grade DIN design for outdoor cabinet deployment

This Ethernet switch enables both data transmission and power delivery through a single Ethernet cable, simplifying installation and reducing wiring complexity.

4.6 Cabinet Integration

All components are integrated into an outdoor IP65-rated cabinet, designed for durability and ease of deployment.

Internal layout:

Top section: MPPT controller and DC protection (breakers, surge protection)

Middle section: 8 Port PoE switch (IM-FP288BGE)

Bottom section: LiFePO4 battery

External interfaces:

Solar input

Camera/PoE outputs

Fiber uplink

Additional features:

Anti-corrosion steel enclosure

Ventilation or fan cooling system

Waterproof cable glands

Lockable door for security

5. System Architecture

The system operates as a closed-loop energy and data network:

Solar panels generate DC power

MPPT controller regulates and charges the battery

Battery supplies stable 48V DC power

PoE switch distributes power and data to cameras

Video data is transmitted via fiber uplink

This architecture ensures continuous operation, high efficiency, and minimal maintenance requirements.

6. Key Advantages

6.1: Fully Off-Grid Operation

No dependency on utility power, ideal for remote or temporary deployments.

6.2: Integrated Design

All components are pre-installed and optimized within a single cabinet.

6.3: High Reliability

Industrial-grade hardware ensures stable performance in harsh environments.

6.4: Scalability

Additional cameras or higher autonomy can be supported with modular upgrades.

6.5: Simplified Deployment

Plug-and-play system minimizes on-site engineering and installation time.

7. Conclusion

This project demonstrates how a well-designed solar-powered PoE surveillance system can effectively solve the challenges of remote monitoring.

By combining energy generation, storage, and network infrastructure into a unified solution, the system delivers:

• Reliable 24/7 surveillance
• Reduced installation complexity
• Long-term operational efficiency

Such solutions are increasingly valuable in applications such as:

• Remote security monitoring
• Construction sites
• Oil & gas fields
• Rural infrastructure projects

This case highlights the transition from standalone hardware supply to complete system integration, enabling higher value delivery and stronger customer engagement.

If required, the system can be further customized to support extended autonomy, higher camera counts, or hybrid power inputs, depending on project-specific needs.

Please contact us for more information.