VOLTAIC SOLAR PANELS
6 Watt / 6 Volt: Waterproof, UV, and scratch-resistant. Designed to last for 10+ years of use. Comes with four mounting screws. Dimensions are 8.7"L x 6.9"W x 0.2"H.
1) Timelapse Camera
GoPro products are tried and true tools for running time lapses. Each camera has a “timelapse mode” with easy settings like photo vs. video export, interval length, smoothing, etc. If you want to get into really detailed tuning like creating a capture schedule (e.g. 9a-5p on weekdays), or varying the exposure depending on the time of day, you can do this through GoPro Labs.
3) Solar Panel
Voltaic solar panels are the go-to choice when your long-term rig is far from an electrical power source. These of course pair seamlessly with the Voltaic batteries that we love for their Always On feature. They also have a 2 year warranty.
GOPRO CAMERAS
HERO 12 BLACK: Love the latest model for its compatibility with a standard camera mount. Best in class choice for time lapses and other video projects..
HERO 11 BLACK: Excellent choice for time lapse projects, plus a stellar camera choice for any video capture. Great accessory options.
VOLTAIC BATTERIES
V50 battery: Keeps a GoPro running for 4X its normal battery life
V75 battery: Even longer battery life. Great for shooting through the night and charging via solar during the day.
VOLTAIC BRACKETS
Medium Bracket: For everything - solar panels, cameras, batteries, etc.
Small Bracket: Great for a small rig with a camera and/or battery, but note that this is not compatible with Voltaic solar panels over 3.5 Watts.
2) External Battery
We recommend Voltaic batteries for their durability and their Always On feature. Very few USB battery packs send continuous power to small devices like cameras (especially when running slow time lapse captures). Avoid finding yourself with a dead camera battery due to your battery pack going to sleep!
4) Mounting bracket
Whether or not your project requires a solar panel, we like using a Voltaic mounting bracket as the backbone of our camera rig. They are U-bolt and pipe clamp compatible. Plus there are plenty of holes for zip ties batteries, camera mounts, cam straps, solar panel screws, etc. Just be sure your mounting surface is wide enough (e.g. a tree is great, but a flagpole is probably too skinny).
AYAPORT LASHING STRAPS
4-pack (12 ft): Extra long length, great for a large tree mounted rig
4-pack (6 ft): Medium length
5) Lashing Straps
A simple, effective tool to tie together your rig (no pun intended). The straps come in many different sizes, their relatively thin width allows them to fit nicely through mounting brackets. And the cam buckles make them super easy to fasten. Having a couple extra can be useful if your rig needs extra support.
ZIP TIE
100-pack (8 inch): You know what a zip tie is ;) Don’t spend more than $5 on this.
6) Zip ties
Handy little things to have around whenever building a rig. They help with getting a tight fit. They’re also an added layer of “security”* for a relatively short term project in a high-visibility area.
* Not actually THAT secure, but better than a tie that can be untied.