Dual Solar Panel Installation Guide

Use this guide to power a CR63-E Remote Deployment Camera with two 100W solar panels.

The ACC-SOLP-100W-1 is a 100W solar panel that powers the CR63-E in remote deployments where no wired power is available. A single panel is sufficient for most installations, and it mounts to a pole using the ACC-MNT-SOLP-1 solar panel mount.

Some deployments cannot generate enough power from a single solar panel due to partial shade, limited daylight during winter months, or consistently overcast conditions. In these cases, you can connect two solar panels in parallel to increase the charging capacity available to the camera.

The ACC-POLE-1 direct burial pole is rated for a single solar panel only and does not support a two-panel installation. To install two panels, you must supply your own pole rated for the combined size and weight load of both panels.

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Before you start

Confirm you have the following:

• 2x ACC-SOLP-100W-1 solar panels — both panels must be the same model and rating. Mismatched panels wired in parallel will pull output down toward the weaker panel.
• 1x Solar Splitter MC4-Y Connector Pair — an outdoor-rated MC4 Y-branch connector pair, widely available online. The pair contains the two branch connectors you need: one that combines two positive leads, and one that combines two negative leads.
• MC4-Style Pigtail — included in the CR63-E box.
• 2x ACC-MNT-SOLP-1 solar panel mounts (or equivalent mounting hardware compatible with your pole).

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Wiring diagram

Wire the panels in parallel, never in series. Parallel wiring keeps voltage the same as a single panel and increases the current available to the camera. Series wiring roughly doubles the voltage and can exceed the camera's input rating.

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Installation steps

1

Install both panels on your pole using the solar panel mounts. Face both panels in the same direction and set them to the same tilt angle.

Panel angle, orientation, and cleaning recommendations are the same for single- and dual-panel installations. For guidance on panel positioning and maintenance, see Set Up Your CR63-E for Remote Deployment.

2

Identify the leads on each panel. Each panel has two leads: a positive (+) lead and a negative (−) lead, each terminated in an MC4 connector.

3

Take the branch connector from the MC4-Y pair that accepts two matching positive connectors. Plug the positive lead from Panel A into one input and the positive lead from Panel B into the other. Press each connection until it clicks.

Verify that each branch connector carries only one polarity: connect both positive leads to one branch connector and both negative leads to the other. Connecting both positive and negative leads to the same branch connector creates a short circuit between the panels.

4

Repeat Step 3 with the second branch connector from the pair, using the negative lead from each panel.

5

Route the single output from each branch connector to the MC4-Style Pigtail, matching by color: red to red, black to black. Press each connection until it clicks.

6

Plug the MC4-Style Pigtail into the M12 port on the CR63-E or ACC-BAT-430WH-1.

7

Confirm the camera is charging by checking charging status in Verkada Command.

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Troubleshooting

• If the camera is not charging as expected, verify the following:

  • Both connectors on each branch connector are fully seated and clicked in.
  • Red is connected to red and black to black at the pigtail.
  • No shading on either panel across the full day, including shade cast by the other panel.
  • Panels are clean and free of snow, dust, or debris.
  • No visible cracks or damage to either panel surface, and no damage to cables or connectors.
• If the above looks good, measure the voltage from each solar panel individually to determine whether the issue is isolated to a single panel. Connect the multimeter's positive and COM leads to the panel's red and black MC4 connectors, then measure the voltage.
• If both solar panels produce the same voltage and the camera still fails to charge after these checks, contact Verkada Support.