Solar install ideas

[cwachs]

I am getting out of my area of expertise but I'm sure many of you have done what I need to do...

I am looking to build a small "mini-pop" on top of a mountain to be a relay site for for a co-op WISP. What I have no idea on is the requirements for the solar and DC system. I know there are lots of variables.

- We are outside of Denver, CO. Lots of sunshine, snow melts pretty quick on solar panels.
- I need to power a Mimosa B5 (inbound connection), a WS-12-250-DC, 2 Ubiquiti Rocket 5AC APs as well as a NanoBeam 5AC (25 watts total?)
- Need probably 2 or 3 days of battery backup in case the panel is covered in snow

I'm not sure where to begin on this or what the budget might be. This is serving a neighborhood that can't get any Internet other than HughesNet. The homeowners are willing to buy/build this solar site and connect to our tower 5 miles away with the Mimosa B5. I'm trying to get them accurate costs to build this. I'd love any advice...

[yoder]

I live in a place where it's sunny almost all the time (Brazil) so your situation might be a bit different. But here is what I would do:

Use 4 PV modules in series to charge 4 batteries in series. This will get you 48V to power the switch. You could use 250W panels and 150 Ah batteries and that would be plenty.

[cwachs]

Can I assume if I power the WISP switch with 24V, I can't get 48V of power out to power the Mimosa radio that needs 48V POE??

[sirhc]

Can I assume if I power the WISP switch with 24V, I can't get 48V of power out to power the Mimosa radio that needs 48V POE??

If we are talking about our SMART DC Switches the WS-8-250-DC or WS-12-250-DC you can feed them 9-60V DC and still power 24V and 48V devices.

The WS-12-DC expects 48V DC input, it will work with as low as 37V DC but any input below 43V and it will not allow you to power 48V devices just 24V.

The WS-6-MINI requires 48V input.

[cwachs]

Perfect. I am looking at the WS-8-250-DC as the option. It will power 1 48V radio and 3 24V radios.

If I feed that with a 24V DC input voltage and it needs to output 48V DC, does that change the wattage usage of the switch? Meaning, will it use "more" power from the batteries?

[sirhc]

Perfect. I am looking at the WS-8-250-DC as the option. It will power 1 48V radio and 3 24V radios.

If I feed that with a 24V DC input voltage and it needs to output 48V DC, does that change the wattage usage of the switch? Meaning, will it use "more" power from the batteries?

The WS-8-250-DC is EOL and no longer in production, there are a FEW of them available via Distributors and re-sellers outside the USA but they are all sold out in the USA. There was nothing wrong with the WS-8-250-DC we just decided to concentrate on one SMART DC model.

The WS-12-250-DC is expected to be available soon as there are thousands just finishing up in production.