Power

Overview

Bugg's typical power draw is between 1-2W, with transient peaks of up to 5W.

Exact power usage numbers will depend on a number of use-case specific variables, including input voltage, recording settings, mobile signal strength, etc.

Bugg has no internal batteries, and therefore DC power must be supplied through the M12 connector at the bottom of the device, or via USB (for testing only).

Please note, power sources must be sourced by users independently. The information on this page will help in choosing suitable equipment, but there is no official Bugg battery or solar equipment.

Batteries and renewables

WARNING

Whilst completely safe if appropriate precautions are taken, please note that live voltages from batteries and renewable power sources (e.g., solar panels) can be dangerous.

The instructions listed here assume the user has prior experience working with similar equipment, and do not cover all the potential risks and hazards.

If you do not have experience, please seek assistance from someone with the appropriate skills.

Bugg can be powered from any battery designed to deliver a stable 7-36V DC output (e.g., car batteries, motorcycle batteries, off-grid power sources).

However, to get long unattended deployments without extremely heavy batteries, we recommend the use of renewable off-grid power sources to continuously top-up batteries during deployments.

Solar powered deployments

Solar power is the most common choice for powering long-duration Bugg deployments.

Here we provide guidance for the basic elements needed to deploy a solar powered Bugg device for year-round 24/7 data collection from an uncovered area in the UK.

When deploying devices in other locations (e.g., with longer or shorter daylight hours), or where there are occlusions to sunlight (e.g., from leaves in the canopy), adjustments will likely be necessary.

You will first need to acquire the following equipment (in addition to the Bugg and its power cable):

  • Solar panel (50-100W)
  • Solar panel mount (e.g., aluminium frame)
  • Deep-cycle battery (24Ah, 12V)
  • Solar charge controller
  • Box for battery and charge controller
  • Spare wiring

Then, to deploy a solar powered Bugg device, simply mount the solar panel in the desired orientation, and connect the solar panel, battery, and Bugg power cable to the charge controller, and ensure the battery and charge controller are in a waterproof location (e.g., inside a sealed box).

Some solar charge controllers have multiple modes. Please ensure yours is configured for 24 hour operation (most often the default setting).

USB

For testing, Bugg devices can be powered by USB at 5V by connecting USB power through the appropriate pins of the M12 connector.

However, this is potentially unstable and may result in a decrease in audio quality, so is not recommended when deploying devices.

Please ensure the USB power source can deliver at least 2A at 5V (e.g., most power banks).