Exploring Battery Powered CCTV Options: Are They Viable?

While installing a security camera, the most irritating thing is running wires inside or outside your property. Even if you have a wireless CCTV, you have to run the power cable. A battery-powered CCTV can get you out of this trouble. But can you get a battery-powered CCTV?

The answer is yes, there are plenty of battery-powered CCTVs available on the market and you can get whatever you want. But if you are looking for a battery-powered CCTV just because you don’t have electricity in your place, then it may not prove so effective. Because you still need the electricity to recharge the battery of your CCTV camera.

Don’t worry, everything about the Battery-Powered CCTV camera is explained in this article. And this guide will help determine whether getting a battery-powered CCTV is worth it or not.

Is There a CCTV Camera that Works without Electricity?

Many people commonly ask a question that whether there is any CCTV available that works without electricity. The question is both – “Yes” & “No”.

How “Yes”? – Well, battery-powered CCTVs use battery cells as the power source to run. This means you don’t need any direct electrical connection to your CCTV.

Then why “No”? – The batteries used in the battery-powered CCTVs are rechargeable. This means you need an electrical connection to recharge the battery of the CCTV camera.

Before going any further, let’s check how a battery-powered CCTV works

What Is Battery-Powered CCTV and Why Should You Choose It?

It is as it sounds – battery-powered CCTV cameras refer to those independent security cameras that need no electrical outlets, no basic stations, and sync module. They use batteries as the power source.

Now let’s check the pros & cons of battery-powered CCTVs and you’ll get your answer as to why you should choose it and why shouldn’t.

Advantages of Battery-Powered CCTV Cameras

You can get a lot of advantages from the battery-powered CCTV camera. Here are the best 4 advantages –

Portable: As battery-powered CCTV cameras don’t require any cables, you can put them almost anywhere and any place.
Easy to Hide: The size of battery-powered cameras is small and as there are no wires, they can be used as a hidden camera.
Don’t Need Internet: Battery-powered cameras store data on SD cards. So, if you have no internet connection in your place, you can still use it.

Drawbacks of Battery-Powered CCTV Cameras

Though battery-powered cameras have lots of advantages, they have disadvantages too. Here are some of the disadvantages –

Not Reliable: As the batteries, if the camera can die anytime, you may miss your surveillance footage in case the battery is dead.
Security: The security of battery-powered cameras isn’t reliable. As they don’t have any base station, they can easily be stolen.

Battery-powered cameras are basically used in homes for monitoring babies, watching birds, or as hidden cameras. But they aren’t reliable for your home or office security. However, there are some alternatives to battery-powered CCTV cameras available for you. Let’s have a look.

Alternatives to Battery Powered CCTV Cameras

If you don’t have any electrical connection in such a place where you want to set up the CCTV, then don’t worry! There are solar-powered CCTV cameras available on the market. This means you neither need electricity nor batteries to run your CCTV.

Surprised right? Let’s check more alternative options to the battery-powered CCTV that works without electricity.

Solar-Powered CCTV: It will use the solar panel to recharge the battery of your CCTV camera. However, you still need to connect your camera to the solar panel using a wire.
Conserve Battery-powered CCTV using Motion Detection: This CCTV records footage only when it detects motion. Thus, it doesn’t need to run 24/7 and saves battery. You can use it on the doorbell but using it in a place where the motion would be non-stop is a bad idea. For example – departmental store.
Using UPS or Generator: If you are concerned about missing footage during a power outage on your regular CCTV cam, then you can use a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) or generator to power your CCTV during the power outage.

However, if you’re still determined to get a battery-powered CCTV camera, then we’d recommend you get the best one. Some best battery-powered security cameras are given below.

Top 5 Best Battery-Powered Security Cameras in 2023

Ring – If you’re looking for the best Battery Powered Security Cameras Overall
Lorex – If you prefer Battery Powered Cameras for outdoor.
Arlo – If you are searching for the best DIY Battery Powered Security Cameras.
Blink – If you’re looking for something easiest to use Battery Powered Cameras.
Reolink – If you’re low on budget, go for these Battery Powered Security Cameras.

Frequently Asked Questions And Answers

Which Battery Is Required for CCTV the Battery Powered CCTV?

Battery-powered CCTV cameras require rechargeable batteries. Normally, battery-powered CCTVs use 12VDC 7Ah rechargeable batteries.

How Long Do Battery CCTV Cameras Last?

If the batteries are fully recharged, they last for about 14 hours of recording until recharged in wireless battery-powered CCTV cameras. However, the lifetime of the rechargeable batteries used in CCTV cameras is 1 to 3 years.

Can CCTV Work on Both Electricity and Battery?

Yes, some smart CCTV cameras use both electricity and batteries to function. Normally, they run using electricity. But in case the power goes out, the camera uses batteries as the power source. Normally rechargeable batteries are used in these types of cameras and they automatically get recharged while the electricity is on.

What Power Supply Do I Need for My CCTV Camera?

Almost all the surveillance CCTV cameras require a 12-volt power supply with external power of 12 volts. However, some CCTV cameras use 24V AC or 5-volt DC via USB power supply in some exceptional cases.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a CCTV camera that is easy to install, does not need a power cord or electricity, and doesn’t require any professional knowledge, then the battery-powered CCTV is the best option for you. Everything you need to know about battery-powered CCTV is described in this article and we hope, you get your answer about whether you can get a battery-powered CCTV or not after reading it. If you still have any confusion regarding this topic, feel free to ask in our comment section below. Thanks for reading.