The architecture
A 100W panel and 30Ah battery power the camera/gateway and a motion LED. The package-box door gets a magnetic contact sensor. Connectivity is selected separately: long-range Wi‑Fi if line of sight exists, LoRa for simple alerts, cellular when the road is truly remote.
Load and sizing math
The camera/gateway is the baseline. Lighting should be motion-only so a 20W flood does not run all night.
| Load | Watts | Hours/day | Daily Wh | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camera + gateway | 5 | 24 | 120 | Average |
| Motion LED | 20 | 0.5 | 10 | 30 min total nightly |
| Door/LoRa sensor | 0.5 | 24 | 12 | Tiny continuous load |
| Illustrative total | 142 Wh/day | Before system margin | ||
About 142Wh/day fits a 30Ah LFP system with reasonable margin. A 100W panel gives comfortable recovery.
Full parts list
This is a shopping architecture, not a demand that you buy one exact brand. Match voltage, current and connectors before ordering. Budget ranges reflect the class of hardware rather than a live quote.
100W solar panel
Target spec: Pole/box roof mounted
Harvest for continuous camera connectivity.
Budget: $55–$120 each
30Ah LiFePO4 battery
Target spec: 12.8V
Several cloudy days for small loads.
Budget: $65–$140 each
10A controller
Target spec: Load output + low-voltage disconnect
Protects the small battery.
Budget: $25–$80 each
Outdoor camera
Target spec: Wi‑Fi, LoRa-triggered or cellular
Choose based on actual network reach at roadside.
Budget: $40–$200 each
12V motion floodlight
Target spec: 10–20W, weatherproof
Lights faces/packages without all-night drain.
Budget: $20–$60 each
Door contact / LoRa alert
Target spec: Magnetic switch or long-range sensor
Lets you know the package compartment was opened.
Budget: $20–$80 each
Wiring map
Keep the camera/gateway on a constant fused branch and motion lighting on its own branch.
[100W PV]-->[CTRL]-->[30Ah LFP]-->[FUSE BLOCK]
| | |
Camera Light Door/LoRa
|
WiFi / Cellular / LoRa
Step-by-step build
Test connectivity at the actual road position
Do this before buying the camera. A perfect camera with no usable link is useless.
Choose a tamper-resistant enclosure
Anchor both package box and power enclosure; keep battery access separate from the delivery door.
Mount panel high
Angle it away from easy reach and avoid shading from mailbox posts/trees.
Install camera and motion light
Aim to capture faces/plates without pointing into road traffic glare.
Wire battery/controller
Fuse all branches and use waterproof cable glands.
Add door sensing
Mount the magnetic contact where packages cannot strike it.
Configure alerts
Reduce false motion zones and separate package-door alerts from general driveway motion.
Simulate a delivery
Approach, open box, leave package, walk away and verify every event arrived remotely.
Commission it before you trust it
The project is not finished when the LED comes on. Run it through a controlled test so the first real failure is not in the field.
- Network tested at site
- Panel tamper-resistant
- Battery compartment locked
- Camera field of view verified
- Motion false alarms tuned
- Door alert received
- Night image readable
- Low-voltage cutoff set
- No cable exposed to weed trimmer/vehicles
Mistakes to avoid
Undersizing the battery because the panel is large
Panels make energy only when conditions cooperate. The battery has to carry the load through night, cloud and short high-demand events. Size energy storage from watt-hours, not panel watts.
Ignoring standby loads
Controllers, routers, cameras, inverters and cellular hardware can consume power 24/7. On small projects, a 5W always-on device is 120Wh per day—sometimes more than the 'main' load.
Using one fuse for the entire project
Fuse each branch according to its conductor and load. The fuse protects wire, not the gadget. A downstream short should not require an oversized main fuse to clear.
Mounting the panel where the project is instead of where the sun is
The load can sit in shade. The panel cannot. Use a cable run, pole or remote mount to put the collector in the best solar window.
Skipping a low-voltage disconnect
Deep-discharge protection is cheap insurance. Many charge controllers or smart battery systems can disconnect noncritical loads before the battery is abused.
Upgrade path
Add license-plate-focused second camera
Use a narrow field and strong lighting if vehicle ID matters.
Add a smart lock
A one-time delivery code can secure higher-value packages.
Add a driveway beam sensor
A dedicated beam/magnetometer can reduce camera motion false positives.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a solar camera with its own tiny panel instead?
Yes, but a shared 100W/battery system is far more resilient and can power lighting and long-range networking too.
Do I need cellular?
Only if Wi‑Fi or LoRa backhaul is impractical.
Will 30Ah last a week?
For low-power camera/gateway loads it can, but measure actual draw and cold-weather battery capacity.
Affiliate disclosure: SolarBuild.co participates in Amazon Associates, eBay Partner Network, BLUETTI via CJ Affiliate and Renogy via Impact. We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.