Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » [GMCnet] Way off GMC topic.. but need expertise
| [GMCnet] Way off GMC topic.. but need expertise [message #95540] |
Thu, 12 August 2010 12:50  |
Kim David McNeill Sim
Messages: 26
Registered: May 2008
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Junior Member |
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A friend of mine has a long term photo project that is to document a demolition which is to take two years. Since we are both members of the same photography organization he asked for my advise ( I am one of the older guys of our chapter). Once he started talking I thought of all the experts on this list, so I am hoping the moderator allows this to get thru.
This is the scenario. The set up will be in a remote location somewhere in Tennessee, but he will have access to a generator. He will need power for the camera, a laptop computer, satellite transmission equipment ( what ever would be needed for that) likely a router of some kind and he would like this all under some kind of surge protection. He said he will be able to house everything inside a small cabin of sorts to keep everything out of the weather. He has priced out a surveillance style camera that can withstand the weather. He will be operating the camera and downloading to a laptop and then remotely to his studio in Kentucky.
Now the question, what would be the most fool proof way to make sure that no matter what he would have power 24/7 even when they turned off the generator for the night? Which is likely when he would remotely upload his images to his studio in Ky.
Please tell me where I am wrong or if I am thinking way over kill on this.
I am thinking using 2 -6 volt deep cell batteries, like we use in the GMC
then add the charger / converter, like we use in the GMC
Add an APC power unit for surge protection because the generator is not something many photographers would plug any of our equipment into.
(I am sure there is one unit that likely would take care of the surge and charger and converter)
AM I wrong, please advise or please lead me down another path.
As photographers we do tend to over build and over protect especially since something like this is a one time gig, once something is demolished, it's gone. Cost is an object but low balling generally only causes problems that would be averted by doing it right the first time.
SO I am appealing to all the electrical experts on this list to help me help my fellow photographer.
please feel free to name brands and be very specific
Please reply off list to
kdms@me.com
Thank you all for being patient
Kim
Kim and Pat Simmons
'76 Eleganza II
New Richmond, Ohio
TZE166V101526
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| Re: [GMCnet] Way off GMC topic.. but need expertise [message #95548 is a reply to message #95540] |
Thu, 12 August 2010 13:31  |
Larry C
Messages: 1168
Registered: July 2004
Location: NE Illinois by the Illino...
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Senior Member |
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A friend of mine has a long term photo project that is to document a demolition which is to take two years. ___< SNIP >___
This is the scenario. The set up will be in a remote location ___< SNIP >___
have access to a generator. He will need power for the camera, a laptop computer, satellite transmission equipment ( what ever would be needed for that) likely a router of some kind and he would like this all under some kind of surge protection. ___< SNIP >___
He will be operating the camera and downloading to a laptop and then remotely to his studio in Kentucky.
Now the question, what would be the most fool proof way to make sure that no matter what he would have power 24/7 even when they turned off the generator for the night? Which is likely when he would remotely upload his images to his studio in Ky.
Please tell me where I am wrong or if I am thinking way over kill on this.
So that we are on the same page, your friend wants to operate a camera, computer etc, power system in the middle of no where, and use a shack ( GMC MOTORHOME ON TOPIC ) to house all this. He wants to keep it alive 24/7 even if the generator is cut off.
24/7 power would be solar panels, battery bank, inverter, apc
The inverter, if so equiped might be able to charge the battery when the gen set is on, but if he has an adequate solar panel system, he wont need the genset.
NOTE: it has been my experience that an APC at best will maintain power for about 15 to 30minutes. They are intended to give you time to shut down the computer before the battery drains.
I am thinking using 2 -6 volt deep cell batteries, like we use in the GMC
then add the charger / converter, like we use in the GMC
Add an APC power unit for surge protection because the generator is not something many photographers would plug any of our equipment into.
(I am sure there is one unit that likely would take care of the surge and charger and converter)
AM I wrong, please advise or please lead me down another path.
I have toyed with the idea of taking the tiny 12vdc APC battery out and connecting to a battery bank. The battery bank should handle that load for a time, the question would be will the APC hold up to 6 to 10 hours of continuous output?? You would need to experiment with that.
The other concern would be will the built in battery charger be big enough to charge a larger battery bank?
You could hook up an additional Solar panel and or a charger for if or when the genset is turned on. Since your friend is going to operate this from a remote location, there is NO GUARANTEE that the genset will be started in the morning.....
I would tend to try to come up with something that can sustain itself without outside power if possible or at least be able to support the equipment in power for at least 24 hours, more is better.......
There are lots of GMC for sale that would make a good shed for the equipment and be able to go to other locations for photo shoots as well.... 
Good luck
LarC ( interested in the project )
Gatsbys' CRUISER  08-18-04
74 GLACIER X, 260/455-APC-4 Bagg'r
Remflex Manifold gaskets
CampGrounds needed, Add yours to "PLACES" />
http://www.gmceast.com/travel
_
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| Re: [GMCnet] Way off GMC topic.. but need expertise [message #95559 is a reply to message #95548] |
Thu, 12 August 2010 15:10 |
Kim David McNeill Sim
Messages: 26
Registered: May 2008
Karma: 0
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Junior Member |
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LarC
While I agree and really like the idea that the GMC would be perfect for my friend, I'm pretty sure a GMC is not in his budget. (But I am going to suggest the GMC to him just because it already houses everything he would need but the solar panels.)
He actually does have the access to a cabin or shack to house everything and he he will be able to connect to the generator that will be running during the day light hours. The reason I was thinking the battery side of the GMC was because it is my understanding that would basically be dry camping and the 2 -6 volts would last even thru a weekend with the kind of load -very minimal. The generator would then recharge everything each day and especially on Monday.
Yes I could easily see solar panels attached for those holidays that go a week like between Christmas and New Years when at least our work (photography)grinds to a halt. But as a serious back up to the generator I like it. But how would it all connect up, I am a little hazy on that?
BUt staying in his world for a few minutes and away from our beloved GMC's, would what I am thinking of work? Anyone else out there in the electrical world care to help think this through?
On Aug 12, 2010, at 2:31 PM, Larry wrote:
>
>
> A friend of mine has a long term photo project that is to document a demolition which is to take two years. ___< SNIP >___
>
> This is the scenario. The set up will be in a remote location ___< SNIP >___
> have access to a generator. He will need power for the camera, a laptop computer, satellite transmission equipment ( what ever would be needed for that) likely a router of some kind and he would like this all under some kind of surge protection. ___< SNIP >___
> He will be operating the camera and downloading to a laptop and then remotely to his studio in Kentucky.
>
> Now the question, what would be the most fool proof way to make sure that no matter what he would have power 24/7 even when they turned off the generator for the night? Which is likely when he would remotely upload his images to his studio in Ky.
>
> Please tell me where I am wrong or if I am thinking way over kill on this.
>
> So that we are on the same page, your friend wants to operate a camera, computer etc, power system in the middle of no where, and use a shack ( GMC MOTORHOME ON TOPIC ) to house all this. He wants to keep it alive 24/7 even if the generator is cut off.
>
> 24/7 power would be solar panels, battery bank, inverter, apc
>
> The inverter, if so equiped might be able to charge the battery when the gen set is on, but if he has an adequate solar panel system, he wont need the genset.
>
> NOTE: it has been my experience that an APC at best will maintain power for about 15 to 30minutes. They are intended to give you time to shut down the computer before the battery drains.
>
> I am thinking using 2 -6 volt deep cell batteries, like we use in the GMC
> then add the charger / converter, like we use in the GMC
> Add an APC power unit for surge protection because the generator is not something many photographers would plug any of our equipment into.
> (I am sure there is one unit that likely would take care of the surge and charger and converter)
>
> AM I wrong, please advise or please lead me down another path.
>
> I have toyed with the idea of taking the tiny 12vdc APC battery out and connecting to a battery bank. The battery bank should handle that load for a time, the question would be will the APC hold up to 6 to 10 hours of continuous output?? You would need to experiment with that.
> The other concern would be will the built in battery charger be big enough to charge a larger battery bank?
>
> You could hook up an additional Solar panel and or a charger for if or when the genset is turned on. Since your friend is going to operate this from a remote location, there is NO GUARANTEE that the genset will be started in the morning.....
>
> I would tend to try to come up with something that can sustain itself without outside power if possible or at least be able to support the equipment in power for at least 24 hours, more is better.......
>
> There are lots of GMC for sale that would make a good shed for the equipment and be able to go to other locations for photo shoots as well.... :twisted:
>
>
>
> Good luck
>
> LarC ( interested in the project )
> --
> Gatsbys' CRUISER :d
> 74 GLACIER X, 260
> 455/APC/4 bagg'r(ver3)
> Remflex Manifold gaskets
> _______________________________________________
> Purchased 08-18-04
>
> _
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> List Information and Subscription Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
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| Re: [GMCnet] Way off GMC topic.. but need expertise [message #95569 is a reply to message #95559] |
Thu, 12 August 2010 16:45 |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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I don't think his power requirement has been mentioned. For anyone to make
any reasonable evaluation, the voltage and current requirement must be
determined. I've seen no mention of an inverter, so I can only presume that
no 120 vac will be needed when the generator is not running. That leads to
the presumption that only 12 VDC is needed -- but how many amperes?
Ken H.
On Thu, Aug 12, 2010 at 4:10 PM, Kim D M Simmons <ksphoto1@one.net>wrote:...
>
> BUt staying in his world for a few minutes and away from our beloved GMC's,
> would what I am thinking of work? Anyone else out there in the electrical
> world care to help think this through?
>
>
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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| Re: [GMCnet] Way off GMC topic.. but need expertise [message #95625 is a reply to message #95548] |
Thu, 12 August 2010 23:08 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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You need to go at this by FIRST determining the business need before crafting a solution.
How much power do you need in watt hours or kilowatt hours in every 24 hour period?
At what voltage(s) do you need to supply the power? 12 VDC? 5 VDC? 120 VAC ? etc.
Is the power requirement steady for every hour of the day and night? If not what are the power requirements by time of day (and night)?
Is there an additional power requirement for lighting, heating, and cooling?
What commercial or generator power will be available during the typical 24 hour period? Is the availability the same 7 days a week including holidays?
Once you have answered all of these questions then we can try to come up with a solution that fits your need.
A side note.
I had a friend who bid on all of the Instrument Landing Systems for the construction of the Alaska Pipeline in the 1970s. Approximately every 3 weeks they carved out a new airstrip and abandoned a previous one on up the line. There would never be more than 3 active strips on line at any time. All strips were on a North - South heading and they started at Prudhoe Bay and gradually worked south.
He bid the whole thing against the big boys like Hughes, etc. and won it.
All of the other companies bid a new system at each airport location along with generator power was someone to maintain the generators and fill them once a day. When an airport was abandoned the ILS equipment was also abandoned in place.
My friend figured out the maximum power requirement each ILS would require and decided that he could run the whole thing off of solar. He made up 5 complete ILS systems on sleds. 3 were active ones, and 2 spares. Approximately every three weeks he would fly in and remove a sled from an abandoned location and drag it to the new location, reusing the equipment over and over again.
My point here is that by determining the real power needs he was able to save a bunch of money on his bid and also make a ton of money on the project. He also sold off all of the equipment when the project was finished.
2nd side note:
He forgot about the long periods of night time in the winter where solar would not work. To fix that problem he made a deal with the people building the strips. He stole power off of the runway lights (which were left on all night) to power and recharge his ILS batteries when solar was not available.
Figure out exactly what your needs for power are and go from there developing a solution.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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