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Power Raspberry PI using Solar Panel

feiticeir0

Hi all.

Following a project - AllSky - taking photos all night at the sky - I want to place the PI - Raspberry PI 4 B+ 4GB memory using a SSD NVMe 512GB  - where I don't have a power outlet.

I've the following setup:

- Solar Panel -

  • max power: 20W
  • Vmpp: 18.2V
  • Voc: 22.6V
  • Impp: 1.12A
  • short-circuit: 1.18A

image

That connects to a Waveshare Solar Power Manager (C), that is powered by 3x 18650 batteries - each battery has 3350mAh - NCR18650B.

imageimage

I've set the setup voltage switch for 12V - the same as the solar panel.

image

I don't have a problem with the charging. It charges very well, to full charge.

My problem is, it just wont last all night.

Starting to take pictures at 21:30 (9pm), it only lasts to (the last picture taken) 3:44 (3:44am) . Just over 6h.. This can't be right.

My question is - what can I do to make it last longer. Should I buy more powerful batteries - like 5000mAh or more ? Chose other solar charger ?

I have the Raspberry PI Lite version - and I've disabled some unwanted services like - bluetooth, avahi-daemon, triggerhappy, etc.. I even disabled the status LEDS... Slight smile

Any idea would be great.

Thank you

Parents

  • So, here's where I'm at so far.

    Even changing to a RPi B+ and using an SDCard, it kept only lasting about 6h.

    Last night, I made a change.

    I know for a fact that, that a 10.000 mAh power bank lasts all night and still has power left - Using a RPI 4 and an SSD .

    But this would imply that I had to disconnect it to recharge. So, I've connected the solar charger to the power bank (to charge it) and the power bank connects to the RPi, like in the picture:

    image

    As of this morning, it was still connected.I just tried to open the webpage of the AllSky software and it was loading and I could see the time lapse from last night. I haven't check the charge of the power bank - but I will assume that the solar charger was depleted - last night, around 11pm I went to check and the last led (it has 4 to indicate the charge) was blinking.. I would assume it was odd, but I know that the power bank wasn't fully charge, so it could have been to charge the power bank to the max.

    I haven't been home since this morning, but the solar panel should be charging the solar charger and thus charging the power bank and RPi should still be on - When I arrive home will see if this is the case.

    I've already ordered some 12.000mAh 18650 batteries to use in the solar charger so I can ditch the power bank (I'm hoping) .

    Best regards

  • in reply to feiticeir0
    feiticeir0 said:
    I've already ordered some 12.000mAh 18650 batteries to use in the solar charger

    Is that an external battery pack that you plan to plug into the solar charger instead of its internal 3-cell holder ?

  • in reply to beacon_dave

    No. This is to replace the 18650 batteries inside the Waveshare Solar Power Manager . The ones inside are 3350mAh each.

  • in reply to feiticeir0

    Yeh, I have one of these solar power managers here, but 3,500mAh is around the maximum capacity for each cell. The 12,000mAh are usually a pack of 4x 18650 shrink-wrapped together so wouldn't fit inside the 3-cell Waveshare battery compartment.

  • in reply to beacon_dave

    It's not a battery pack . Individual 18650 batteries.

    They also sell a 10.000mAh solar power manager. It's similar, but you don't have to provide the batteries. - what's inside ?

    I bought this one because it was the only one available .

  • in reply to feiticeir0

    Think you need to explain with annotated photos or diagram (or a web link). It's unclear what you mean regarding individual 18650 cells with 12,000 mAH capability, This doesn't exist.

  • in reply to feiticeir0

    Shrink-wrapped pack I think without the battery holder

    image

    Possibly something like this which is 3x 3500mAh shrink-wrapped

    image

    Buy Now

    I don't have that one either, just the single cell 14500 (but use an external battery pouch with it) one and the three-cell 18650 one you have.

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