Wireless security cameras have surely been the talk of the town for home security enthusiasts. One common concern amongst home owners, though, is the battery life in such camera models. Exactly how long do batteries last in wireless cameras?
Let’s take a look!
How Long Do Batteries Last in Wireless Security Cameras?
Battery life in wireless security cameras can range anywhere from a month to over three years. It mainly depends on the usage of the camera along with the type of battery used. Rechargeable batteries often last the longest, with many enduring at least 500 charge cycles in their lifespan.
Today, most battery-powered cameras use Lithium-ion batteries. These small cells are one of the most powerful battery types and can withhold a charge for the longest time. However, even they’re likely to die out due to extreme or negligible usage.
Rechargeable batteries are perhaps the safest option to play in terms of long battery lives. These batteries have a total life span of over 3 years and can last at least 500 charge cycles. It is also cost-effective if you’re planning on saving a few bucks.
Though it all comes down to what drains these batteries out. Let’s check that out!
What Factors Does the Battery Life of a Security Camera Depend On?
Here’s a list of several factors which might impact your wireless camera’s battery life:
Battery Capacity
A majority part of your battery life depends on the charge capacity of the battery you’re using.
If you’re unaware of your battery’s capacity – check your camera’s specifications. Try to find the connection type. This might be titled differently but it should reference a numeric value with mAH appended to it.
Ampere-hour is a measure used to calculate the charge stored in a battery. This is the actual capacity of your battery to charge the camera you’re using it in. The higher the amp hours, the better your battery is going to perform.
Streaming Mode
Most cameras aren’t actually recording continuously. These optimized settings allow security cameras to operate under certain modes. For example, your wireless camera might only record when there’s thermal or motion activity in the camera’s region.
On average, battery-powered camera models charge only 5 minutes a day. This average use helps their batteries last for 3 to 6 months. If you do not record with the optimized settings, your battery life is going to decrease significantly faster.
Temperature
Batteries charge electronic equipment by means of chemical reactions. Just as heat would speed these reactions up, extreme cold can swiftly slow them down. As it slows down, it doesn’t keep up with the camera’s power demands.
If you reside in areas with a temperature below 32F (0 degrees celsius), your battery life will decrease as the charge drops. This, in turn, increases maintenance of the camera as you’ll frequently be replacing the batteries.
Internet Connection
Signal strengths to the receiver also impact your camera’s battery life. Since the camera is going to transmit data over the air, your receiver should be in close contact with the camera. If they have a weaker connection, your camera would require more power.
WiFi interference can also cause a weaker internet connection. Even if both the receiver and the transmitter are nearby, make sure no solid obstructions or interferences exist between the two.
Night Vision
Security cameras with IR emitters have a better view in low-light environments. However, these also require the emitters to output more IR lights to produce a viewable picture. If your camera’s placement doesn’t have ambient lighting near it, it’s going to wear out the batteries quicker.
Firmware
If everything is perfect, it might be the security camera itself. Wireless security cameras feature firmware from the manufacturer to operate as intended. These also go through continuous upgrades to make sure all bugs or issues are fixed in time.
However, firmware upgrades are also a probable cause for a decrease in battery life. Upgrades are likely going to transmit more data and put more pressure on the device. Once done, a fault or bug in the upgrade might only be fixed by the vendor of the camera model.
Frequently Asked Questions on Battery Life of Wireless Security Cameras
Still not convinced about the battery life of your wireless security camera? Here’s a short FAQ section for you to satisfy your curiosity:
Do wireless security cameras run on batteries?
Wireless security cameras may or may not be powered by batteries. The “wireless” aspect of the wireless security cameras is due to the nature of transmission of data (audio/video) i.e. footage recorded by the camera is sent to the receiver over a wireless medium.
You may still choose a wired connection to power up the cameras. Otherwise, a solar-panel or Lithium-ion battery is a good option if you’d like to keep the flexibility of the wireless camera.
Should I get wired or wireless security cameras?
Wireless security cameras are excellent options if you’re constantly worried about your camera’s placement or charging. They’re easier to install and run without electricity. Wired connections, on the other hand, have a much better transmission rate due to their wired nature.
Transmission of data over wireless connections is fairly intermittent. If quality footage in real-time is a mandatory requirement, a wired security camera would be the best fit. A small issue with these systems would be their installation and flexibility of placement.
Are battery security cameras any good?
Battery security cameras are excellent alternatives to wired security cameras. No long wires, no installation issues, and a big cut from the electricity bill. Most batteries last for months before they have to be changed which takes ticks off constant maintenance problems.
Most security cameras use rechargeable batteries. These battery packs usually come with the camera and are quite cheap if bought separately. What’s great is – a few packs of these can help last a few months (on ideal usage) and you can switch between them easily.
Can security cameras work without electricity?
Most camera models feature backup batteries or onboard storage to temporarily power themselves up. It will continue to record until both options have been exhausted. So, in case the power is cut to the security camera, the footage doesn’t instantly die.
It is recommended to place charged batteries in your security camera to keep them powered at all times. Even if it is connected to the main supply, backups can help in case of blackouts or if an unknown visitor cuts the supply.
Batteries are one such aspect which might drive you away from wireless security cameras. However, with adequate care and a decent usage, the batteries are likely going to last long. Give your camera settings a view and see how you’ve been running it in the past.
A look today might save you a charge tomorrow!
