When the theft occurred, it went undetected for two days before the project manager discovered it. Expensive construction tools and materials — a circular saw, some lumber, and 12 boxes of tile — were stolen late on a Friday night from the jobsite. Upon discovering the robbery on Monday, the project manager decided to install construction cameras.
However, there was a problem. No power source was available where the theft had occurred. In fact, no power or cabling could be run to the appropriate locations throughout the jobsite. Fortunately, the project manager knew that wireless, solar-powered cameras were an option and could be deployed virtually anywhere on any jobsite.
No Power, No Problem
According to a report published by Dodge Data & Analytics, 79% of construction firms and 38% of specialty trades were utilizing cameras on their jobsites even pre-pandemic. Given greater adoption of digital tools since, that percentage is sure to be even higher today. That’s because cameras act not only as a deterrent to theft but also enable remote jobsite monitoring, simplify compliance audits and help to improve back-office efficiency and collaboration.
However, on sites where a source of power is inaccessible or nonexistent, traditional wired camera systems won’t work. Generators can help, but that’s just another costly component in the system to maintain and monitor.
By eliminating the need for a wired power source, solar-powered cameras provide the ideal solution. On large, sprawling jobsites, DOT projects or jobsites in remote locations, solar-powered construction cameras can be a game-changer for construction firms. Project managers can view and monitor the job remotely and document site activity at all times, even when no other source of power is available. Footage can then be used to review any jobsite incident — whether an accident, theft or trespassing — for detailed analysis to support disciplinary action, disputes arising from injuries on the job, and theft investigations.
Installation of solar-powered cameras is fast and flexible, requiring only the mounting of the solar panels and camera followed by installing the battery and connecting the pre-configured cables between them. Wireless, solar-powered camera systems are also available in mobile trailers, which can be transported to the site and set in the desired position. No mounting is necessary, and when the job is done, the contractor can simply move the trailer to the next site.
Battery Backup Ensures Continuous Operation and Peace of Mind
You might be wondering what happens on cloudy days or in bad weather. If the sun isn’t shining, would the cameras power down or fail to operate? No! The solar panels are continuously capturing energy from any available light source, feeding the camera what it needs and storing the rest in efficient on-board batteries. Those batteries then provide uninterrupted power when sufficient light isn’t available and will store enough power for several days of camera operation.
Knowing that your system will have enough power to get through long spells of bad weather should give you peace of mind. It’s also important to note that all of the components — the camera, solar panel and battery system — are rugged and weather-proof.
Harnessing Sunlight with TrueLook
The popularity of wireless, solar-powered camera systems has grown rapidly, and TrueLook is helping this trend gain momentum with solar-powered camera solutions that can be deployed quickly and easily, and operate completely off-the-grid.
TrueLook’s solar panels feature a multicrystalline solar cell heavy-duty anodized frames, and rust-proof aluminum build – designed to withstand high wind pressure, hail and snow. They can be packaged with TrueLook’s fixed-position or PTZ cameras, but many customers prefer mobile trailer solutions. All of TrueLook’s solar-powered cameras automatically connect to the internet over our 4G LTE cellular service, eliminating the need for hard-wired service.
TrueLook’s solar-powered cameras are deployed on numerous DOT projects and other unique jobsites where access to power sources is limited. To learn more about TrueLook’s state-of-the-art construction cameras, download the TrueLook Buyer’s Guide: https://www.truelook.com/buyers-guide/.
