Home / FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Twenty-five questions we actually get asked, answered in one or two sentences each, including the ones where the answer is “no”. If your question is not here, send it and you will get a straight answer, typically within 24 hours, Mon–Sat.
Sizing & compatibility
Weather & performance
Power limits
Ordering & shipping
Warranty
A · Choosing a model
Sizing and Compatibility
1. How many cameras can one system power?
It depends on what your cameras actually draw. Our reference points: YO-M8040 suits 2–3 mid-size PTZ cameras plus a router, YO-P12060 suits 3–4, and YO-P240120 suits 6–7 low-power PTZ cameras. The system limit is 60 W total (5 A at DC 12V); larger PTZ draw reduces the usable count.
2. Which of the four models should I choose?
Start from your total continuous load, then from how long your site has to ride through cloudy days. YO-M8040 is the small single-pole site; YO-P12060 and YO-P12060-T are the multi-camera workhorses (the -T has a heavy-duty triangle bracket for pole mounting); YO-P240120 is the frame-mounted system for multi-point sites and long rain seasons.
3. Does it work with my Hikvision, Dahua or Reolink camera?
If your camera is powered by a 12V DC adapter and its total draw stays inside the system limit, yes: the brand does not matter, the electrical input does. Check the label on your camera’s original adapter: it should read 12V DC. Cameras that run from 24V, active PoE or mains AC are outside what our systems supply.
4. What if my camera has a different power connector?
Our output leads end in a 5.5 × 2.1 mm DC barrel plug (DC5521), the common connector on many 12V CCTV cameras. A different socket usually just needs an inexpensive adapter. One caution: a 5.5 × 2.5 mm socket often signals a device that draws more current, so send us the model before you order.
5. Can it power a 4G router or a WiFi bridge?
Yes if the device takes 12V DC directly: a DC 12V router typically draws around 8 W, which our systems cover comfortably. If your bridge or CPE is 12V passive PoE, a 12V passive PoE injector lets the system power it. 24V passive PoE equipment is not compatible.
6. Do your kits include cameras?
No. We supply the solar power system only: panel, battery, controller, bracket and output leads. That is deliberate: if you already own cameras, you only need the power side, and you keep your own camera brand, recorder and warranty. Tell us which cameras you have and we will size the system around them.
B · Weather & performance
Rain, Cloud and Cold
7. How long will the system run in cloudy or rainy weather?
Our specification tables carry the manufacturer’s rating: 4–5 days for YO-M8040 at a ≈15 W reference load, 7–10 days for YO-P12060 and YO-P12060-T, and 15–25 days for YO-P240120, all for intermittent rain days with 2–3 h of weak-light charging per day at low average draw. These are not continuous-runtime figures: with every camera and router drawing power continuously, battery-only runtime is measured in hours, not days.
8. What about very cold weather?
The battery’s BMS protection range is −20°C to 60°C. Below freezing, the usable capacity of a lithium battery drops and the protection circuit may hold charging off until the pack warms, so treat winter autonomy as shorter than the summer figure. We do not fit heaters or low-temperature compensation boards. If a site sits well below −20°C, tell us and we will say honestly whether our standard system fits.
9. Is it waterproof?
The battery box is sealed to IP65: rain and splash resistant. It is not designed for immersion, and it should not be hosed down at close range. Mount the box so water cannot stand around the lid, and keep the panel clear of mud splash.
10. How long does it take to recharge?
About 1–1.5 sunny days from deep discharge back to full for YO-M8040, YO-P12060 and YO-P12060-T, and about 1.5–2 sunny days for YO-P240120. That is a full recharge from an empty battery, not a daily top-up.
11. Does the panel still work in winter or at a low sun angle?
It produces less, and that is normal for any panel. Winter means shorter days and a lower sun; anything you can do to keep the panel facing the sun, clear of shading and free of dust is worth more than any specification line. If your site has long dark winters, size for the rainy-season figure rather than the summer one.
C · Power limits
What the System Can and Cannot Run
12. What is the maximum load?
60 W total continuous, 5 A at DC 12V. This is a system limit, not a suggestion: it is set by the controller and the output side. Add up the rated draw of every device you plan to connect and keep the total below it, with a little margin for cold weather and start-up current.
13. Can I run a water pump or a motor from it?
Not directly, and we would rather say so up front. Motors and pumps draw a brief inrush current far above their running figure, which our standard 5 A output is not designed to feed. These are standard models with fixed specifications, so we cannot tune the output for that kind of load.
14. Can I connect two systems together to power one bigger load?
The supported approach is the opposite: split the equipment across two systems, one per group of cameras, rather than trying to combine outputs. Combining outputs is not part of our standard specification, and it is also the safer answer for a site, because one fault then takes down one group instead of everything.
15. What does “max DC 16V” mean on the output?
The output is nominal DC 12V, and the open-circuit voltage rises to a maximum of about DC 16V while the battery is charging. Equipment designed for a 12V DC supply handles this; that is why we describe the output as DC 12V / 5 A (max DC 16V). Check your device’s own input tolerance if you are unsure.
16. Can it run 24V, PoE or mains AC equipment?
No. Equipment marked 24V, 48V or 110–220V AC is not compatible. Active PoE is out of scope too, and so is 24V passive PoE. If your equipment needs any of those, our standard systems are the wrong tool and we will tell you so rather than sell you something that will not work.
D · Ordering & shipping
Buying From Us
17. What is the minimum order?
2 pcs. You can mix standard models in the same order, for example one YO-M8040 and one YO-P12060, which is what most first orders look like while a customer tests one model on a site.
18. Can you put my logo on the units, or change the specification?
No: no OEM, no private label, no custom logo and no custom specifications. It is a real limitation, and it is also what keeps the price and the lead time stable for everyone. If you need a branded system, we are not the right supplier and we would rather you know that now.
19. How long is the lead time?
Typically about 15 days for standard models, counted from order confirmation and receipt of payment in full to goods being ready for dispatch. It is a typical figure rather than a fixed date, and it does not include freight transit. Larger quantities are quoted with their own lead time.
20. Do you ship by air?
No. Our systems contain lithium batteries, which in our shipping experience are not accepted for air freight, so orders travel by sea or land. The battery cells are UN38.3 tested and transport documents are available on request.
21. How do I get a quote, and how do I pay?
Send us your camera and router models, the site country and the quantity you are considering. You will normally have a reply within 24 hours, Mon–Sat, naming a model and a FOB China price. Payment is 100% in advance by T/T bank transfer. There is no deposit stage. The currency and the quotation’s validity period are stated on the proforma invoice for your order.
E · Warranty & after-sales
If Something Goes Wrong
22. What does the warranty cover?
Panel 5 years, battery 2 years from the shipment date. It covers defects in materials and workmanship under normal use: the panel, the battery and the controller as supplied, used within the system’s published limits. There is no separate charge for claiming within the period.
23. What is not covered?
Impact or transport-after-delivery damage, theft or vandalism, animal damage, immersion or water ingress beyond the box’s IP65 rating, unauthorised modification or repair, incorrect installation or reversed polarity, loads above the 60 W (5 A at DC 12V) limit, lightning and storm damage, and the normal capacity fade of a battery over time.
24. What if a unit arrives damaged?
Check the packages against the packing list before signing the carrier’s documents, and photograph any carton that looks crushed or opened before you unpack it. Then send us the order number, the photos and a short description; that is normally enough for us to agree the fix, which is usually replacement parts.
25. Are you the factory or a trading company?
We are not the factory. We are a small, specialist export team working with a partner production line that we have known for years. We say this openly because it tells you what to expect: you get honest specifications and a person who answers your email, rather than a factory shop-front we would have to invent.
Still not answered? Two lines describing your site and your equipment is usually enough: how many cameras, which models, and whether you need a router powered at the same point. Send that and you will get a straight answer.
Next Step
Get Your Load Checked
Send us your camera and router models. We will confirm which of the four standard models fits your site, free of charge, and you can decide from there.
Typical reply within 24 hours, Mon–Sat (China time, GMT+8)