Urban Community Security Monitoring & Night Lighting System
Project Background
This project is located in a mid-to-high-end gated residential community in Lagos, Nigeria. The region experiences frequent and unpredictable grid instability, with power outages occurring multiple times per day and often lasting several hours.
These disruptions are particularly critical during nighttime hours, directly impacting essential community infrastructure such as:
- CCTV surveillance systems
- Perimeter and street lighting
- Access control and gate automation
- Security alarm systems
Given the security-sensitive nature of the community, uninterrupted power supply for these systems is a non-negotiable requirement. Therefore, a hybrid backup power solution is required to ensure continuous operation of critical loads while maintaining energy efficiency and cost control.
System Overview
The system is designed as a 24V hybrid solar power solution based on a 3000W all-in-one inverter, which integrates inverter, MPPT solar charging, and utility charging functions. The system prioritizes solar energy, followed by utility grid input when available, and uses battery storage as the backup energy source.
The design goal is not full off-grid independence at all times, but rather stable daily operation with solar contribution, grid support, and battery backup working together.
System Design & Load Analysis
The system mainly supports security, lighting, and essential community services. The total peak load remains relatively low, but operation duration is long, especially for surveillance systems.
| Equipment Type | Quantity | Power | Runtime | Daily Energy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surveillance Cameras | 8 units | 8W | 24h | 1.54 kWh |
| NVR Recorder | 1 unit | 25W | 24h | 0.60 kWh |
| Street Lighting | 8 units | 30W | 10h | 2.40 kWh |
| LED Area Lighting | 1 system | 200W | 6h | 1.20 kWh |
| Alarm System | 1 unit | 50W | 24h | 1.20 kWh |
| Total | - | ~350–500W peak | - | 6.94 kWh/day |
Core Equipment Configuration
To meet the power requirements of the target loads, the system adopts a fully integrated PowMr energy solution, combining battery storage, inverter control, and solar charging.
Battery Storage System
The energy storage system consists of eight 12V 100Ah LiFePO₄ batteries, configured in a 2-series, 4-parallel arrangement to form a 24V 400Ah battery bank. This provides a total nominal capacity of 9.6 kWh.
This storage level is designed to support overnight operation of essential loads such as surveillance cameras, NVR, and partial lighting, which typically account for around 5.5–6.0 kWh during night hours.
Solar Inverter
The system uses a 3000W 24V solar inverter with integrated MPPT controller. The inverter supports up to 3000W of photovoltaic input and includes utility charging capability, allowing flexible operation under different power conditions.
The inverter provides pure sine wave output at 220V/50Hz and supports UPS-level switching (<10ms), ensuring continuous operation of security systems during grid failure.
Solar Array
A 2.5kW solar array is configured to match realistic installation conditions, considering available roof space and cost constraints. Under Lagos solar conditions (approximately 4–5 peak sun hours), the system can generate around 10.8 kWh per day.
System Operation Logic
The system operates under a prioritized and reliability-focused energy hierarchy:
Daytime Operation
- During daytime, the system primarily draws power from the utility grid to supply all connected loads.
- When grid power becomes unstable or insufficient, the system will automatically supplement energy using solar power to ensure continuous and stable operation.
- Any additional available solar energy can be used to support system demand or reduce grid dependency when conditions allow.
Battery Charging Strategy
To ensure reliable nighttime operation of security and critical systems, the battery charging strategy is dual-source:
- The battery is charged using utility grid power
- and solar energy simultaneously when available
This hybrid charging approach ensures sufficient backup capacity is maintained at all times.
Nighttime Operation
- At night, the system is primarily powered by the battery.
- The battery is designed to support essential loads such as security and monitoring systems throughout the night.
- The utility grid will only be used as a supplementary power source if the battery level becomes insufficient.
Summary
This project delivers a 24V hybrid solar backup system for a gated community in Lagos, Nigeria, where frequent grid outages disrupt critical security infrastructure. The system is built around a 3000W hybrid inverter integrating solar MPPT, grid charging, and UPS-level switching. A 24V 400Ah LiFePO₄ battery bank (9.6 kWh) provides reliable nighttime backup for CCTV, NVR, lighting, and alarms. A 2.5kW solar array generates about 10.8 kWh daily, supporting loads and battery charging. The design prioritizes solar energy, with grid and battery as support, ensuring continuous, stable, and cost-efficient 24/7 security operation.