How to Build a Professional Solar Trailer for $19,000 with Brand-New Hardware
Start with a Mobile Defense Solutions Solar Power Trailer (MST-Base), 24 V, keep everything it ships with, and add an Axis camera package, an Antaira PoE+ switch, a RUT956 LTE router and YourSix.
Parts associated
Mobile Defense Solutions MST-BaseSolar Power TrailerView part
Victron Energy SmartSolar MPPT 150/45Victron SmartSolar MPPT 150/45View part
Victron Energy Blue Smart IP22 24/16 (1) 120VVictron Blue Smart IP22 Charger 24/16, 1 output, 120 VACView part
Victron Energy Cerbo GXVictron Cerbo GXView part
Victron Energy SmartShunt 500AVictron SmartShunt 500A/50mVView part
Axis P3747-PLVEPanoramic Camera, 4x 5 MPView part
Axis T91D61Wall Mount 1.5" NPSView part
Axis TP3108-EPendant Kit for Outdoor Use, WhiteView part
Axis C1310-E Mk IINetwork Horn SpeakerView partLNP-0500G-24Antaira LNP-0500G-24LNP-0500G-24 5-Port Industrial Gigabit PoE+ Unmanaged Switch, 12–36 VDCView part
Teltonika RUT956Teltonika RUT956 Industrial 4G LTE RouterView part
Victron Energy Smart BatteryProtect 12/24V-65AVictron Smart BatteryProtect 12/24V-65AView part
Victron Energy BAT524120620Victron Lithium NG Battery 25.6 V 200 AhView part
Victron Energy LYN034160310Victron Lynx Smart BMS NG 500A (M10)View part
Victron Energy LYN060102010Victron Lynx Distributor M10View partOn this page
What the MST-Base ships withCamera packagePower budgetGel bank and SmartShunt setupWiring the camera package into the MST-BaseVRM over the RUT956Connectivity and YourSixCost breakdownFreezing weatherCommissioning checklistTroubleshootingUpgrade the power system (Victron)Other trailersDocumentsSourcesFAQsThis build starts with a Mobile Defense Solutions Solar Power Trailer (part number MST-Base), a 24 V trailer that already has Victron charging, a gel battery bank, a Cerbo GX and VRM. Keep everything it ships with. Add an Axis camera package, an Antaira LNP-0500G-24 PoE+ switch that runs straight off the 24 V bus, a Teltonika RUT956 for LTE, and YourSix for video. Every line in the cost table is new hardware.
What the MST-Base ships with
| Spec | Result |
|---|---|
| System voltage | 24 V DC bus |
| Solar array | 820 W, 2 × 410 W in series, fixed angle; Voc 37.5 V each, 75 V series |
| Battery bank | 6 × 12 V 150 Ah gel: 450 Ah at 24 V, 10,800 Wh total, 5,400 Wh usable at 50% DoD |
| Charge controller | Victron SmartSolar MPPT 150/45: 45 A max output, 150 V input, VE.Direct |
| Shore charger | Victron Blue Smart 24 V/16 A, gel mode, 15 A/120 V input socket |
| Monitoring | Victron Cerbo GX with VRM, plus a SmartShunt; 2 programmable relays (SOC load shedding, strobe) |
| Protection | Inline breaker per circuit, reverse polarity protection; no equalization, max 28.8 V absorption |
| Base load | 28.2 W typical, before cameras or cellular |
| Payload output | 24 V DC bus, up to 45 A continuous (1,080 W, MPPT limited) |
| Mast | 20 ft dual mast, manual raise; wind rating 60 mph |
| Mast cable run | 20 ft concealed: 2 × Cat6, 1 × 18/4 |
| Cabinets | Lockable. Lower: power + monitoring. Upper head: payload ready |
| Trailer | 132.7 × 60.6 × 106.4 in, 2,218 lb ATM, single axle, 13 in tires, foldable drawbar, 5 manual supports, galvanized chassis, DOT lighting, 60 mph towing |
| Environment | -40 °C to +55 °C, IP66 external components (trailer sheet lists -35 °C to 60 °C) |
Camera package
| Spec | Result |
|---|---|
| AXIS P3747-PLVE panoramic | 4 × 5 MP multidirectional, AI analytics, varifocal 3.18–7.42 mm, 360° IR (20 m at 0 lux). 802.3at Type 2 Class 4, typical 10.8 W, max 23.7 W. IP66, NEMA 4X, IK10. -40 °C to 50 °C, start-up -30 °C (S1) |
| AXIS C1310-E Mk II horn | Class 3, typical 2 W, max 12.95 W. -40 °C to 60 °C (S2) |
| Antaira LNP-0500G-24 PoE+ switch | 4 × 10/100/1000 PoE+ (802.3af/at, 30 W per port) + 1 × 10/100/1000 uplink. 12–36 VDC redundant input, 145 W at full load with PoE, IP30, DIN rail. STD model -10 °C to 70 °C, EOT -40 °C to 75 °C (S4, S5) |
| Teltonika RUT956 | 9–30 VDC input, 4 LAN ports; 2.47 W at 24 V with data on, 10.56 W at full load (S6, S7) |
Power budget
The MST-Base's own 28.2 W base load covers its Victron gear. The camera package adds to that. Typical is normal use at room temperature. Max is the worst case: heaters at full, IR at 100%, the coldest rated temperature. (S3)
| Load | Typical W | Max W | Typical Wh/day |
|---|---|---|---|
| MST-Base base load | 28.2 | 28.2 [VERIFY max] | 676.8 |
| AXIS P3747-PLVE | 10.8 | 23.7 | 259.2 (S1) |
| AXIS C1310-E Mk II | 2.0 | 12.95 | 48.0 (S2) |
| Antaira LNP-0500G-24 overhead | Not published [VERIFY: measure] | 25 (145 W full load − 4 × 30 W PoE) | Not included (S5) |
| Teltonika RUT956 at 24 V | 2.47 | 10.56 | 59.3 (S7) |
| Total | ≈43.5 + switch | ≈100.4 | ≈1,043 + switch |
- Typical day. 676.8 + 259.2 + 48.0 + 59.3 ≈ 1,043 Wh/day, before the switch's own draw. (S1, S2, S7)
- Worst-case day. 100.4 W × 24 h ≈ 2,410 Wh/day. (S1, S2, S5, S7)
- Autonomy. 5,400 Wh usable (450 Ah × 24 V × 50% DoD) ÷ 1,043 ≈ 5.2 days typical, less the measured switch draw. 5,400 ÷ 2,410 ≈ 2.2 days worst case.
- Break-even sun. Daily harvest ≈ 820 W × peak sun hours × 0.77 derate ≈ 631 Wh per sun hour. Typical: 1,043 ÷ 631 ≈ 1.7 peak sun hours. Worst case: 2,410 ÷ 631 ≈ 3.8 peak sun hours. Enter your ZIP code in the LV Handbook Peak Sun Hours tool to get your worst-month peak sun hours.
- String Voc. 75 V series Voc at STC. At -40 °C, assuming the panels' Voc coefficient is near -0.35 %/°C, that's about 92 V, well under the 150/45's 145 V operating limit. [VERIFY panel coefficient on the panel label] (S8)
- Controller current. 820 W ÷ 24 V ≈ 34 A, under the 150/45's 45 A. (S8)
- PoE. Max PoE is 23.7 + 12.95 = 36.65 W. Each device is under the 30 W per-port limit. (S1, S2, S5)
Gel bank and SmartShunt setup
- Read the battery labels. Note the voltage, Ah (C20) and charge voltages on each battery. Label values override the presets below. (S11)
- MPPT charge settings. The MST-Base caps absorption at 28.8 V with no equalization. Confirm the 150/45 is on a gel profile: rotary position 0 (28.2 V absorption, 27.6 V float) or position 1 (28.6 V / 27.6 V), or the label values. (S9)
- Keep equalization off. The gel presets equalize at 31.8–32.2 V at 24 V, over the RUT956's 30 V input limit. (S6, S9)
- Temperature compensation. The preset is -32 mV/°C at 24 V. Victron's gel datasheet calls for -4 mV per cell (-48 mV/°C at 24 V), centered on 25 °C, and says it's required below 10 °C. Use the label value. (S9, S11)
- SmartShunt. Capacity 450 Ah (C20). Charged voltage 28.0 V, tail current 4%, charged detection time 3 min, Peukert 1.25 unless the battery datasheet gives one, discharge floor 50%. (S10)
- Battery temperature. Fit the SmartShunt temperature sensor and share battery temperature to the MPPT over VE.Smart networking, so compensation follows the bank and not the controller. (S8, S10)
Wiring the camera package into the MST-Base
The mast carries only 2 × Cat6 and 1 × 18/4, but there are 2 PoE devices on top, with room to add more. Put the switch in the upper head, feed it 24 V up the 18/4, and run a single Cat6 uplink down to the RUT956.
| Terminal | Connects to / function |
|---|---|
| 24 V bus spare breaker (lower cabinet) | 18/4 mast cable: two conductors paralleled for +, two for - |
| 18/4 at upper head | LNP-0500G-24 PWR1 + / -, 12–36 VDC (S5) |
| LNP-0500G-24 port 1 (PoE+) | AXIS P3747-PLVE (PoE Class 4) (S1, S5) |
| LNP-0500G-24 port 2 (PoE+) | AXIS C1310-E Mk II (S2, S5) |
| LNP-0500G-24 ports 3–4 (PoE+) | Spare (S5) |
| LNP-0500G-24 port 5 (uplink, no PoE) | Cat6 #1 down the mast to RUT956 LAN (S5, S6) |
| Cat6 #2 | Spare, or a later device on the head |
| 24 V bus spare breaker | RUT956 4-pin power socket, 9–30 VDC (S6) |
| Cerbo GX Ethernet | RUT956 LAN, so VRM reaches the cloud over LTE (S12) |
| Cerbo GX relay 1 | SOC load shedding: remote on/off of an optional Smart BatteryProtect on the switch feed (S13) |
| Cerbo GX relay 2 | Strobe, as shipped |
- Breaker and fuse. Feed the switch's 18/4 and the RUT956 from spare inline breakers on the 24 V bus. Size each to its cable. [VERIFY breaker ratings on your unit]
- Mast power. At worst case the switch draws up to about 62 W (36.65 W PoE + 25 W overhead), about 2.9 A at a 21 V bank. With two 18 AWG conductors per side over the 20 ft run, the drop is about 0.5 V, well inside the 12–36 VDC input. [VERIFY 18/4 rating] (S5)
- Upper head. DIN-mount the LNP-0500G-24 in the upper head, on the 24 V feed from the 18/4. Use the EOT version for sites below -10 °C. (S5)
- Devices on the head. Mount the P3747-PLVE at the top for 360° coverage: thread the AXIS TP3108-E pendant kit onto the AXIS T91D61 1.5" NPS wall mount on the head. The T91D61 is aluminum, rated IK10 and takes up to 15 kg; the P3747-PLVE weighs 3 kg. Put the C1310-E Mk II on the head arm with its included mount. Drip-loop every cable at its gland. (S1, S2, S23, S24)
- RUT956. Mount it in the lower cabinet. Route its LTE antennas up the outside of the mast, or onto the head, for signal. [VERIFY antenna mounting points]
- Load shedding. Set Cerbo relay 1 to open below a SmartShunt SOC threshold. To cut the switch, wire the relay to the remote input of an optional Smart BatteryProtect on the switch feed. That drops all PoE devices and keeps the RUT956 and Cerbo GX on VRM. The LNP-0500G-24 is unmanaged, so it can't shed single ports. [VERIFY relay SOC setting in your Venus OS version] (S5, S12, S13)
VRM over the RUT956
- Network. Cable the Cerbo GX to a RUT956 LAN port. VRM is listed as LTE-optional through an external modem, and the RUT956 is that modem. (S12)
- Portal. Turn on VRM logging on the Cerbo GX and claim the site with its VRM Portal ID. [VERIFY menu path] (S12)
- Alarms. Set VRM alarms for low SOC, offline and MPPT faults.
Connectivity and YourSix
YourSixOS works with Axis devices only. Devices connect outbound only, with no port forwarding, gateway or NVR. Storage is the camera's SD card plus optional cloud storage per stream. (S17, S18, S20)
| Switch/Jumper/Code | Setting | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Outbound TCP 443 | archiver / evbridge / oneclick-[1-36].cloud.yoursix.com | Cloud, recordings, one-click (S18) |
| Outbound TCP 443 | dispatchus1-st.axis.com plus one more dispatcher | O3C enrollment (S18) |
| Outbound UDP 3478, 30000–40000 | stun.cloudflare.com, any | WebRTC live view (S18) |
| Outbound UDP 123 | time.aws.com | NTP (S18) |
| RUT956 LAN | DHCP + DNS on | Devices expect DHCP addressing and DNS (S18) |
- Prep YourSix. Create the organization and site in YourSixOS. (S17)
- Add devices. Configuration › Devices › Add device. Set cloud, edge and event retention, then enter name, serial number, OAK and subscription number for each Axis device. (S17)
- One-click. Factory reset any used device. Power it up and press the control button (3 s on devices with autofocus). Amber, amber, then one green flash means it's connected. (S17)
- Or by parameter. In the Axis web UI, set O3C to Always. (S17)
- Recording plan. Record continuously to the SD card and only events to cloud. (S19, S20)
Cost breakdown
All items are new hardware. MSRP is the maker's list price. Average Partner Price is 12% off MSRP for Axis items and equal to MSRP for everything else. The trailer is $15,000 in both columns.
| Item | Qty | MSRP | Average Partner Price | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile Defense Solutions Solar Power Trailer (MST-Base), hardware only | 1 | $15,000.00 | $15,000.00 | Maker price |
| AXIS P3747-PLVE | 1 | $2,409.00 | $2,119.92 | Axis MSRP (S1) |
| AXIS T91D61 Wall Mount 1.5" NPS, for the P3747-PLVE | 1 | $99.00 | $87.12 | Axis MSRP (S23) |
| AXIS TP3108-E Pendant Kit for Outdoor Use, White, for the P3747-PLVE | 1 | $105.00 | $92.40 | Axis MSRP (S24) |
| AXIS C1310-E Mk II, mount included | 1 | $689.00 | $606.32 | Axis MSRP (S2) |
| Antaira LNP-0500G-24 | 1 | $469.00 | $469.00 | List price (S4) |
| Teltonika RUT956 | 1 | $309.00 | $309.00 | MSRP (S22) |
| LTE MIMO antenna kit for RUT956 | 1 | $150.00 | $150.00 | Estimate, not sourced [VERIFY] |
| Shielded outdoor Cat6 patch cords and RJ45 | 1 lot | $60.00 | $60.00 | Estimate, not sourced [VERIFY] |
| M20 cable glands and drip-loop hardware | 1 lot | $30.00 | $30.00 | Estimate, not sourced [VERIFY] |
| Inline fuses/breakers, ferrules, ring lugs | 1 lot | $40.00 | $40.00 | Estimate, not sourced [VERIFY] |
| DIN rail and head mounting hardware | 1 lot | $40.00 | $40.00 | Estimate, not sourced [VERIFY] |
| Build total | $19,400.00 | $19,003.76 | Title uses the partner total, rounded to $19,000 |
| Recurring | Qty | Monthly | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| YourSix base device subscription | 2 devices | [VERIFY] | YourSix publishes no public price (S17) |
| YourSix cloud storage per stream | per stream | [VERIFY] | Optional (S20) |
| LTE data plan | 1 SIM | [VERIFY] | Carrier |
Freezing weather
- Gel can charge below freezing, unlike LiFePO4. Victron's gel datasheet sets no minimum charge temperature and calls for temperature-compensated voltage below 10 °C. (S11)
- Capacity still drops in the cold. Short winter days leave the bank partly charged for weeks, which shortens lead-acid life. Watch for SmartShunt days that never reach 100%. [VERIFY cold capacity on the battery label] (S10, S11)
- Plan on the max-load column in winter, since Axis rates max with heaters at full. That means about 2.2 days, not 5.2. (S3) Check your site's worst-month sun in the LV Handbook Peak Sun Hours tool: below about 3.8 peak sun hours, the array can't keep up with the worst-case load.
- Device ratings: P3747-PLVE -40 °C operating, but start-up and sensor movement need -30 °C or warmer. C1310-E Mk II -40 °C. LNP-0500G-24 -10 °C (STD) or -40 °C (EOT). (S1, S2, S5)
- The fixed-angle panels hold snow. Brush them after storms and check VRM for zero-yield days.
- Use the Blue Smart shore charger when the trailer is near 120 V during long cloudy stretches.
Commissioning checklist
- Trailer leveled on all 5 supports, mast locked, tongue locked
- SmartShunt reading 450 Ah, current in both directions
- MPPT on the gel profile, equalization off, absorption ≤ 28.8 V
- Switch input measured at the head under full PoE load, within 12–36 VDC
- Switch draw measured with all devices up; budget table updated
- RUT956 on LTE, signal logged, outbound ports open
- Cerbo GX online in VRM over the RUT956
- Relay 1 load shed tested (if fitted): force it, confirm all PoE drops and VRM stays online
- Both Axis devices green in YourSixOS; SD recording and cloud event clips confirmed
- Horn test tone played from YourSix
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Head devices dark, VRM online | Relay 1 load shed, or switch breaker tripped | Check SOC and the switch breaker (S13) |
| Switch reboots when IR turns on | Voltage drop on the 18/4 | Measure at the head; check terminations (S5) |
| RUT956 reboots during charging | Input over 30 V | Confirm equalization is off (S6, S9) |
| Devices won't enroll | Dispatcher or 443 blocked, or device not reset | Open the S21 endpoints; factory reset; one-click again (S17, S18) |
| Live view fails, recordings OK | UDP WebRTC blocked | Allow UDP 3478 and 30000–40000 (S18) |
| Bank never reaches 100% in winter | Harvest below load | Shore-charge with the Blue Smart; shorten IR hours |
Upgrade the power system (Victron)
The MST-Base already has the MPPT, Cerbo GX, SmartShunt and Blue Smart charger. These are optional additions. Their prices aren't in the build total.
| Upgrade | What it adds | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Smart BatteryProtect 12/24V-65A | Hardware low-voltage disconnect for the camera bus. 6–35 V, 1.4 mA. The 24 V default disengage is 21 V, so set it from the gel maker's 50% chart (S13) | [VERIFY, Victron EUR list] (S21) |
| 2 × Lithium NG 25,6 V/200 Ah + Lynx Smart BMS NG 500A | 10,240 Wh with 80% DoD and 2,500 cycles. The BMS is required for Lithium NG and draws about 2.6 W. Charging only above +5 °C (S14, S15) | [VERIFY, Victron EUR list] (S21) |
| Lynx Distributor | 4 MEGA-fused circuits on the Lynx busbar (S16) | [VERIFY, Victron EUR list] (S21) |
Other trailers
On a different tower trailer, check four things: the bank voltage (12–36 V keeps the LNP-0500G-24 and RUT956 on the bus with no converter), the string Voc against the controller limit, the conductor count in the mast, and the cabinet temperature range. Then use the same budget table with that trailer's base load and usable Wh. (S5, S6, S8)
Documents
Sources
- AXIS P3747-PLVE Panoramic Camera datasheetwww.axis.com · pulled Oct 25, 2026
- AXIS C1310-E Mk II Network Horn Speaker datasheetwww.axis.com · pulled Oct 25, 2026
- Axis white paper: Typical and maximum power consumption in Axis cameraswhitepapers.axis.com · pulled Oct 25, 2026
- Antaira LNP-0500G-24 product pagewww.antaira.com · pulled Oct 25, 2026
- Antaira LNP-0500G-24 Series datasheetantaira.eu · pulled Oct 25, 2026
- Teltonika Wiki: RUT956 Powering Optionswiki.teltonika-networks.com · pulled Oct 25, 2026
- Teltonika Wiki: RUT956 Power Consumptionwiki.teltonika-networks.com · pulled Oct 25, 2026
- Victron SmartSolar MPPT 150/35 & 150/45 manual: Technical specificationswww.victronenergy.com · pulled Oct 25, 2026
- Victron SmartSolar MPPT 150/35 & 150/45 manual: Configuration and settingswww.victronenergy.com · pulled Oct 25, 2026
- Victron SmartShunt manual: All features and settingswww.victronenergy.com · pulled Oct 25, 2026
- Victron Gel and AGM Batteries datasheetwww.victronenergy.com · pulled Oct 25, 2026
- Victron GX product range (Venus OS)www.victronenergy.com · pulled Oct 25, 2026
- Victron Smart BatteryProtect 12/24V manualwww.victronenergy.com · pulled Oct 25, 2026
- Victron Lithium NG 25,6V battery manual: Technical datawww.victronenergy.com · pulled Oct 25, 2026
- Victron Lynx Smart BMS NG manual: Technical specificationswww.victronenergy.com · pulled Oct 25, 2026
- Victron Lynx Distributor manualwww.victronenergy.com · pulled Oct 25, 2026
- YourSixOS Documentation: Managing devicesdocs.yoursix.com · pulled Oct 25, 2026
- YourSixOS Documentation: Network dataflowsdocs.yoursix.com · pulled Oct 25, 2026
- YourSix: Video Surveillance Bandwidth Requirementswww.yoursix.com · pulled Oct 25, 2026
- YourSix: Video Surveillance Storagewww.yoursix.com · pulled Oct 25, 2026
- Victron price list, EUR ex VAT, 2026 Q4www.victronenergy.com · pulled Oct 25, 2026
- Teltonika RUT956 product pageteltonika-networks.com · pulled Oct 25, 2026
- AXIS T91D61 Wall Mount 1.5" NPS datasheetwww.axis.com · pulled Oct 25, 2026
- AXIS TP3108-E Pendant Kit product pagewww.axis.com · pulled Oct 25, 2026
FAQs
Do I replace anything on the MST-Base?
No. Keep the MPPT 150/45, gel bank, Blue Smart charger, Cerbo GX and SmartShunt. The camera package adds to them.
Does the PoE switch need a DC-DC converter?
No. The LNP-0500G-24 takes 12–36 VDC, which matches the trailer's PoE-ready range, so it runs straight off the 24 V bus. (S5)
Why put the switch in the upper head?
The mast has only 2 Cat6 runs and there are 2 PoE devices, with room for 2 more on the switch. A head-mounted switch needs one Cat6 uplink plus power on the 18/4.
How long does it run without sun?
About 5.2 days typical (less the switch's measured draw) and 2.2 days worst case, from the 5,400 Wh usable gel bank. To see whether the array refills it at your site, enter your ZIP code in the LV Handbook Peak Sun Hours tool; break-even is about 1.7 peak sun hours typical and 3.8 worst case.
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