Hi,
I plan to use MB Pro in an off-grid fashion, powered by Solar. I do not own an MB Pro (yet, as its out of stock). While I wait for it to be available, I'd like to install Solar cell to deliver power to MB Pro. Can someone tell me the wattage requirements and input voltage/current that needs to be supplied to MB Pro. And if anyone has similar (Solar driven) setup, would appreciate additional tips or things that I should watch out for.
Thanks!
Off-grid usage using solar power
Moderator: Mattk
Re: Off-grid usage using solar power
Input voltage is 5V, connected via Ethernet running RF draw is around 350-450mA & 2 watts. Sounds like you may be connecting a USB internet dongle so that may increase those MB figures? My off grid solar powered systems are typically using separate M2M routers (12 volt) in conjunction with independent WLIP so my battery/power requirements would be entirely different to what you are planning. A recent option added to MBPro (system page) is a boot delay which in a full Low Voltage Disconnect situation and power re-connection allows the router to acquire internet before the MB starts connecting to the router/internet.
Re: Off-grid usage using solar power
I am powering mine with solar with no issues. I just bought a 100w panel since it will be powering other things too. I ran mine at home for about 3 weeks to get used to it and discover the features. This is some live data:
Sensor Signal Metric Data Imperial Data
Indoor 43s 21.3% 37.5°C 24% 1013.0hPa (1013.0hPa) 99.5°F 24% 29.91inHg (29.91inHg)
Rain 8s -46db rate 0.0mm/h rate 0.00in/h
Outdoor 2s -44db 33.9°C 61% (dew 25.3°C, heat 42.3°C) 93.0°F 61% (dew 77.5°F, heat 108.2°F)
Wind 2s -44db 0.0m/s (avg 0.7m/s) 124° SE 0.0mph (avg 1.6mph) 124° SE
Data #10 2 sec 5% system load 5% system load
Data #11 2 sec 6.3h uptime 6.3h uptime
Data #12 2 sec 1% data store usage 1% data store usage
Data #13 2 sec 81% RAM usage 81% RAM usage
Data #15 2 sec 51 processes 51 processes
Data #16 2 sec 2sec since last data 2sec since last data
Data #14 2 sec 1.87W power 1.87W power
Data #17 2 sec 5.48V voltage 5.48V voltage
Data #18 2 sec 0.34A current 0.34A current
Data #19 2 sec 7086.50kb tx data 7086.50kb tx data
Data #20 2 sec 11435.24kb rx data 11435.24kb rx data
System #9 2 sec 44.5°C 16% 1013.1hPa (1013.1hPa) 112.1°F 16% 29.92inHg (29.92inHg)
its pulling 5.4 volts .34amps (340)mA and 1.87 watts. When I was testing at home I ran it off a 14amp hour 12volt. I was going from my panel to a charge controller. The controller has a load out connection that is 12v so I connect it to a 12v car power port. It has 1 additional 12volt connection and 4 USB ports. The USB ports are 5volt 3amp max. From the controller to the batteries I have a fuse on the positive lead and between the controller and power port.
With this little battery I ran the MBPro for 28 hours and used it to charge my wife and my cell phones. Starting voltage of batter was 13.4 volts at 28 hours it read 12.3 volts. So the little box did just fine on it. The thing I didn't want to use was a DC to AC converter just to convert it back to DC. As a back up from the battery I installed another 12v to 5volt 3amp step down converter. That way if for some reason I lost the controller and or panel it would run the mbpro off of the battery. Just a little redundancy since im 1600 miles away.
I now have 2 200amp hour 12volts in parallel. I know this would run that little box for probably a year on those batteries but I run other equipment off it too.. MBPRO, Wireless routers with external directional antennas, cellular router thats 12volt, and several small USB cameras running video.
Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.
Sensor Signal Metric Data Imperial Data
Indoor 43s 21.3% 37.5°C 24% 1013.0hPa (1013.0hPa) 99.5°F 24% 29.91inHg (29.91inHg)
Rain 8s -46db rate 0.0mm/h rate 0.00in/h
Outdoor 2s -44db 33.9°C 61% (dew 25.3°C, heat 42.3°C) 93.0°F 61% (dew 77.5°F, heat 108.2°F)
Wind 2s -44db 0.0m/s (avg 0.7m/s) 124° SE 0.0mph (avg 1.6mph) 124° SE
Data #10 2 sec 5% system load 5% system load
Data #11 2 sec 6.3h uptime 6.3h uptime
Data #12 2 sec 1% data store usage 1% data store usage
Data #13 2 sec 81% RAM usage 81% RAM usage
Data #15 2 sec 51 processes 51 processes
Data #16 2 sec 2sec since last data 2sec since last data
Data #14 2 sec 1.87W power 1.87W power
Data #17 2 sec 5.48V voltage 5.48V voltage
Data #18 2 sec 0.34A current 0.34A current
Data #19 2 sec 7086.50kb tx data 7086.50kb tx data
Data #20 2 sec 11435.24kb rx data 11435.24kb rx data
System #9 2 sec 44.5°C 16% 1013.1hPa (1013.1hPa) 112.1°F 16% 29.92inHg (29.92inHg)
its pulling 5.4 volts .34amps (340)mA and 1.87 watts. When I was testing at home I ran it off a 14amp hour 12volt. I was going from my panel to a charge controller. The controller has a load out connection that is 12v so I connect it to a 12v car power port. It has 1 additional 12volt connection and 4 USB ports. The USB ports are 5volt 3amp max. From the controller to the batteries I have a fuse on the positive lead and between the controller and power port.
With this little battery I ran the MBPro for 28 hours and used it to charge my wife and my cell phones. Starting voltage of batter was 13.4 volts at 28 hours it read 12.3 volts. So the little box did just fine on it. The thing I didn't want to use was a DC to AC converter just to convert it back to DC. As a back up from the battery I installed another 12v to 5volt 3amp step down converter. That way if for some reason I lost the controller and or panel it would run the mbpro off of the battery. Just a little redundancy since im 1600 miles away.
I now have 2 200amp hour 12volts in parallel. I know this would run that little box for probably a year on those batteries but I run other equipment off it too.. MBPRO, Wireless routers with external directional antennas, cellular router thats 12volt, and several small USB cameras running video.
Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.
Re: Off-grid usage using solar power
Nice setup and thanks for sharing your experiences. I guess that might be interesting for some users.