Farm Security with Solar-Powered CCTV

Project Overview

A farm owner in Barnsley required a reliable CCTV security system to monitor her property. The main challenge was that her barn, which needed surveillance, was located across the road from her house and had no power or internet connection. Due to previous vandalism and disputes with neighbours, she needed a solution that provided real-time alerts and ensured that the security system remained operational even in remote conditions.

 

Challenges

 

• • No electricity or internet in the barn, making traditional CCTV setups impractical.

• • Long distance between the house and barn (across the road), requiring a wireless solution.

• • Winter weather conditions making solar power a challenge.

• • Vandalism concerns, including previous incidents of damage to property.

• • Customer wanted a one-time investment without recurring monthly fees for cloud-based security.

 

Solution Provided

To address these challenges, we installed a solar-powered CCTV system with a wireless bridge to connect the barn cameras to the customer’s home network. The system was designed for self-sufficiency and remote access monitoring.

1. Solar Power & Battery Storage

 

• • Installed high-efficiency solar panels optimised for UK weather conditions.

• • Used a solar charge controller with leisure batteries to store energy for night-time operation.

• • Designed the system to function year-round, even in low sunlight conditions.

2. CCTV & Security System

 

• • Installed multiple high-definition CCTV cameras around the barn for full coverage.

• • Used infrared night vision to provide clear footage even in low light.

• • Configured tripwire alerts to notify the customer of unauthorised activity.

• • Initially installed four cameras, later expanded to six for additional security.

3. Wireless Bridge for Connectivity

 

• • Installed a long-range WiFi bridge to transmit footage from the barn to the house.

• • Ensured seamless data transmission without requiring expensive fibre optic cabling.

• • Integrated the system with the customer’s home network and mobile app for remote access.

4. Redundancy & Backup Storage

 

• • Installed a hidden recorder inside the barn for local storage, preventing data loss in case of connectivity issues.

• • Implemented motion detection recording to optimise storage usage.

• • Ensured the customer could access footage even if the WiFi bridge was damaged.

 

Incident & Security Improvement

During the project, the customer experienced vandalism, where an unknown individual shot the WiFi transmitter with an airgun, causing the cameras to go offline. As a result:

 

• • We installed a hidden recorder in the barn, allowing local footage storage even if the wireless connection was lost.

• • The customer received an alert on her phone about the cameras going offline, even while she was on holiday in New York.

• • This incident reinforced the importance of local recording backups, leading to a system enhancement.

 

Results & Benefits

✅ Reliable security coverage for the barn, protecting animals and property. 

✅ No need for expensive electricity or internet installation.

✅ Remote access from the customer’s mobile device, providing peace of mind.

✅ Expanded coverage with additional cameras after initial installation.

✅ Local storage backup in case of connectivity issues.

✅ No monthly fees, unlike other solutions that required GSM-based subscriptions.

 

Customer Feedback

The customer was extremely satisfied with the setup and praised the self-sufficient design. She was relieved that she could monitor her animals at any time, from anywhere in the world. The vandalism incident reinforced the need for a robust, fail-safe system, which our solution successfully provided.

 

Final Thoughts

This project highlights the effectiveness of solar-powered CCTV systems in rural settings. By using WiFi bridges, local storage redundancy, and smart power management, we created a cost-effective, long-term security solution tailored to the customer’s needs.