Has anyone built solar panels that power Wildlife Acoustics SM4/SM4bat meters? I'm getting tired of replacing batteries and need some technical specifications.
The power needed by the SM4bat FS can be deduced from the user guide (attached) that says that with 4 D-size batteries, the instrument can run for 450 hours. I assume that the batteries are connected in series to get 4*1.5=6 volt. A D size alkakline batery has a capacity of 18 Ah, so 18*6=648 Wh are needed to run during 450 hours. or about 15 Wh for one night.
The PV cells should the provide on average 15 Wh per night at 6 or 12 V. If the panel is exposed to the sun (not shaded by trees for example), a 10 W panel (or about 1 Amp with a 12 V panel) could be enough.
The PV panel should be connected to a battery, to make the electricity produced during the day available at night. Combined panels and battery systems are available on the market. See for example https://www.homemade-circuits.com/how-to-make-solar-battery-charger/
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