Unfortunately you could not be more wrong. No disrespect, but it does work and very well we might add. Lack of knowledge is a huge contributory factor to failure. 

Many people do not realise just how much calculations are involved when using renewable energy to make something simple happen like powering a device.  

The fact we have so much success and 100% reliability even in mission critical applications is a testimonial to how reliable it is. If renewable energy did not work, there would not be a continual growth in solar and wind farms. The fact is, it works very well if done correctly and unfortunately whenever it was you did it, you must have been doing something wrong.

A good analogy would be a car.  On the surface it looks simple and you may well take it for granted that it just works, but when a problem occurs you take it to an expert because what is actually involved in making something simple happen like making it move is a complex series of calculations, engineering and a wealth of knowledge and experience.  Renewable energy powered systems are similar but on a smaller scale.  What may appear simple on the surface is actually a series of complex calculations, engineering, knowledge and experience.

Using one or the other would not provide an effective or secure system.  The solar modules, do not need direct sunlight but cannot charge in darkness.  Equally a security system cannot solely rely upon a wind charger as the wind and breeze does not blow 24 hours a day.  This combination allows for winter where light hours are less, but winds are stronger.  Having both provides a very effective way of keeping the power supply at full charge at all times.

These exact solar module and windchargers are manufactured in the UK to ISO9001 and have been used successfully in extreme environments including Antarctica and the Sahara Desert for mission critical applications.  Because the CCTV cannot sleep, we have designed the system using accurate calculations based on quiescent and load currents,  duty cycles, sunlight hours per 24hr period, wind speeds, location, wind resource data, etc.  This means that the system works effectively at all times, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year without compromise.

The emergency backup power is included for extreme circumstances.  Its a bit like having a parachute in a plane, it’s there for emergency and you probably think you won’t use it but if anything happened you’d be very glad you had it.

Security applications cannot rely on a direct input from the solar and wind charger because if the breeze stopped during a pitch black night even for a second the system would power down, so we’ve included a full 7 day backup, this means that if there were zero sun and zero wind for a full 7 days the system would still work fully and effectively for the duration.  Realistically we only need a few hours to last the night but we like to be safe and do things properly, better too much back-up power than not enough.  The result is a self-powered system that can be left alone indefinitely with the only exception being general camera maintenance.

Yes, we do this anyway.  Initially we decided against this, but then we realised it was the best way to market the product.  So we went away and redesigned the product completely so that even someone with very little experience can install one or more of our products.  This is beneficial to both the installer and us.  At present there are no other companies providing such a detailed, well designed and effective system that is reliable.  Ecovision are putting together an approved Distributor/Installer/Reseller programme and training facility for the near future. 

It should be said though that it took us over a year of testing, calculating, designs, redesigns, R&D and relationship building to get to this point, which could explain why the amount of companies with a product similar to this can be counted on one hand.  This could be due to the amount of companies who have tried to do this type of system and have not researched enough or do not have a full understanding of how technical this type of work is. 

Many people think that powering something from solar or wind is easy and fail to realise the calculations, factors and technicalities involved, often fitting dangerously without knowing.  Ecovision want the renewable energy CCTV market to be reliable and proper to avoid people thinking it doesn’t work all because a company said they could do it, had a dabble and messed it up.  This has happened in so many industries and decent companies have suffered as a result.  We do all the hard work, so installers can basically plug in and go with a good profit margin to time ratio.

At present there is an inherent problem with vertical turbines.  One side is moving with the wind, while the opposite side is moving against the wind directly opposing and cancelling out a fair chunk of the power generation.  Vertical axis wind turbines are therefore less efficient.

This means that not only do you require a vertical turbine much bigger than the size of a horizontal axis type to get the same output, the constant counter action of wind on the opposing blades can result in added wear on the unit causing regular fault.  Vertical axis turbine manufacturers will claim they are more efficient due to not having blades or working at lower wind speeds, but these are claims to be wary of until technology progresses, especially if using them for applications where the equipment powered has to be always on.  How many wind farms have you seen with vertical axis turbines?  Now how many are bladed type turbines?.  That is not to say they are unsuitable, just not the best solution on an power output and cost basis.  This is why not many are installed in any wind based applications, and where they are installed they are replaced or removed sooner. 

Imagine you have the choice of two cars, one a really reliable car that looks nice and gives you no problems, the other a really nice looking car, perhaps a little nicer and you are told this one is much better on fuel economy.  Which one do you go with and rely on getting you from A to B without a single problem?  Then imagine you find out the fuel economy is because the nice looking car has no engine, the wheels oppose each other and it has a hole in the floor for you to move the car in the style of the Flintstones with your feet.  The ‘fuel economy’ was an attempt at selling a product that wasn’t suitable for your needs.  Now, which one would you rely on?

This is an essential feature.  Over the years we have learned, tested and improved our designs to get to where we are today, we have prior history and experience in this market and work in closely conjunction with our manufacturers. 

The diameter of the pole is tested to allow for all the wind loading and surface area issues associated with this type of equipment.  The steel is a certain thickness and the diameter is at a minimum for good reason.  Without it the operator viewing the cameras would get “sea sick” from the wobbly picture whether the camera zoom was at telephoto or wide angle.  Simple mounting solar equipment onto existing light columns or standard CCTV poles is no good for camera applications.  Fine for street lights and similar, but when you introduce a camera, it all changes.

One of the other main reasons it because our pole is a one-man easy Tilt-Over design.  The pole is designed to withstand the immense pressure and additional stress put on it while it is being winched down or up.  Since the weight of the mounted equipment is much more than you would find on a standard CCTV pole, many other structural calculations and alterations have to be made.  The Tilt-Down feature allows easy maintenance or additions without the need for a cherry picker/access boom, scaffolding or ladders - which is really handy since many of our products are deployed in remote areas or the middle of nowhere.
 

We are the only company with a products that has been designed properly and specifically for mission critical applications at present and we are very successful as a result.  There are a couple of similar products available, which have either design flaws or use cheaper components but are actually more expensive, or have backup generators for the wrong reasons.  Without sounding too unprofessional, we have a better understanding from both sides of the coin.  The least experience any one ecovision person has in the security industry is 9 years.  Our manufacturers have been manufacturing renewable energy equipment for 30 years in the UK, and our pole manufacturing is backed by 25 years experience in the UK and export.

It is important to note that we are doing this full time as our core business, our products aren’t a bolt on, or a “ooh, lets plonk a camera on it instead of a light and say we have a CCTV version” solution.  They are the main part of our business, this is what we do day in day out.

We also work as consultants for manufacturers and product developers for their own potential renewable energy powered products and we are currently working with a small number of very well known brand security industry manufacturers so watch this space.

Virtually every part (including the options) of the system is designed and manufactured in the UK.  Some of which are already industry well know in themselves.  We have full traceability of parts and our manufacturers have a combined experience of over 100 years.  That’s a lot of experience.  No cheap imports, just good, well manufactured, decent quality equipment.

Many factors are considered and calculated from what type of equipment is connected, how much current the equipment uses under active and inactive conditions, duty cycles of each individual part, length of emergency power required, area of the country/world, wind resource data, etc.  This determines not only the size of output required but which modules and chargers are required as a direct result.  The angle of the solar modules also depends on where they are mounted and the furlmatic element of the turbines is selected to prevent damage to the windcharger in varying and extreme wind conditions.  

We’ve used our years of experience, expertise and knowledge to put together complete kits that cover certain power requirements, so if you know you need  one PTZ, one DVR and one wireless link, you need renewable energy kit number “x”.  We do all these calculations and research for you so that all you need to do is say “I want that, that and that... how much?... ooh, is that all?... I’ll have twenty”.

Yes.  There are a couple of ways we can do this, you should speak to our exports department about your requirement, call our office and go through to sales or general enquiries.