Parts used:
1. Bird Net-Pi: A Raspberry Pi 4 setup with BirdNet-Pi, typical draw is roughly 15 watts.
2. Solar Panels: Four 25-watt solar panels.
3. Batteries: Two 12V, 35Ah deep cycle batteries.
4. Inverter: A DC to AC inverter to power the Raspberry Pi.
5. Solar Panel Controller: A charge controller to efficiently manage the solar panel charging process.
6. Cellular Hotspot: A reliable cellular hotspot for remote internet connectivity.
Wiring the Solar Panels:
Connect the positive terminal of each solar panel to the positive terminal of the next one, and the negative terminal of each solar panel to the negative terminal of the next one, forming a series-parallel combination.
Ensure that the combined output voltage of the solar panels is suitable for charging your batteries (usually 12V for a 12V battery bank).
Wiring the Batteries:
Connect the positive terminals of the two 12V 35Ah batteries together.
Connect the negative terminals of the batteries together, forming a parallel combination
Connect the positive and negative terminals of the battery bank to the input terminals of the Solar Controller
Note: Parallel wiring connects the positive terminal of one battery to the positive terminal of another battery and the negative terminal of one battery to the negative terminal of another battery. It essentially combines the capacities of the batteries while keeping the voltage the same.
This is useful when you want to increase the total capacity (Ah) of your battery bank while keeping the voltage the same.
To connect batteries in parallel, use heavy-gauge wire and ensure all positive terminals are connected together and all negative terminals are connected together.
Adding the Solar/Charge Controller:
Connect the solar panel array to the input terminals of the charge controller.
Connect the battery bank to the output terminals of the charge controller.
Connect the inverter to the input terminals of the charge controller
Adding the Inverter:
Connect the positive and negative terminals of the inverter to the input terminals of the solar controller
Connect your Raspberry Pi and other devices to the AC output of the inverter.
Note: 120 Watt Continuous/240 Watt Peak Modified Sine Wave Power Inverter was used in this example
Deploying the Cellular Hotspot:
Place the cellular hotspot in a location with a strong cellular signal.
Configure the hotspot to connect to the cellular network.
Connect your Raspberry Pi to the hotspot for internet connectivity.
The Enclosure:
Everything is enclosed in this waterproof case to keep it safe from the elements
Conclusion:
By setting up a solar-powered BirdNet-Pi you can enjoy uninterrupted remote operation. This setup provides both power and internet connectivity, making it perfect for outdoor applications, birdwatching, surveillance, or any project where power and connectivity are a challenge.
Happy bird watching!
You can find out more about this project at the Middle Susquehanna River Keeper website: http://www.middlesusquehannariverkeeper.org/birdnet.html