Security cameras can be costly. One recurring cost that might escalate rather dramatically is the amount of power they use. As such, knowing this might allow you to take steps to better manage your power consumption, so it reflects nicely in your monthly power bill.
The Purpose of a Low Power Camera
The purpose of the camera has a lot to do with its design and operation. Other key factors in determining a camera's suitability for a particular job include the location. Where it will be used and how much lighting is available at that location are determining factors.
When considering installed surveillance cameras for indoor or outdoor applications, one should take into account their required power supply type (e.g., AC or DC). Also, be mindful of the power source availability status (e.g., available power line voltage).
For many years, low voltage technology was the only choice available for installations requiring less than 600 TVL resolution. Even today, low voltage cameras are often the only choice for installations with marginal power supply availability.
However, camera design and technology changed a great deal in recent years, however, making today's low power camera more reliable and flexible than its predecessors. These new designs allow many of them to be used in a variety of applications where AC or DC-powered models would not work as well.
ras Can Become Low Power Cameras
It might sound counter-intuitive, but the addition of a little bit more technology can lower the power consumption of a surveillance camera. Manufacturers add motion sensing technology to surveillance cameras in order for them to pick up movement nearby their field of vision.
It is at the moment that the camera finally picks up movement that it will actually start recording. The rationale for this? It is only when some moving entity enters the field of vision that something would happen in most cases.
Let's use the example of a warehouse. Lots of valuable material stored in there, yet, it should only see movement during the hours workers access it. If someone happens to enter the warehouse during off-hours, a well-placed motion-sensing IP camera with a motion sensor would then record them.
If that camera were a CCTV 24/7 recording camera, it would record around the clock. Thus, it would consume more energy to operate continuously along with consuming more storage space for the footage. Not to mention it would also capture a lot of footage where absolutely nothing happens.
By incorporating motion-sensing technology, it's possible to cut untold amounts of recording time to, hopefully, just the interesting parts. Whenever not recording, the camera will remain on standby mode in which its power consumption reduces. This is one way in which an IP camera can act as a low power camera and reduce energy costs.
IP cameras do have their own settings you can access to. In there, you can set how long of a time it records after picking up movement. Alternatively, you can also set most IP cameras to record continuously, meaning 24/7 as a CCTV system would. That, however, would end up making it act like the opposite of a low power camera.
A Solar Camera as A Low Power Camera
A special kind of camera called a solar camera has a solar panel attached to it. When the solar panel gets hit by sunlight, the panel will strip the electron particles from the sunlight. Through a receiving metal plate and copper wires attached to it, the electrons become electric power that will feed the camera.
Due to being solar-powered, the solar camera does not in any way consume electric power your utility provider would bill you for. The only amount of wattage costs incurred through it would be the NVR unit the camera connects to via the internet. The camera also has either an internal battery or space to insert rechargeable batteries. Thus, it is also able to keep working at night.
Finally, solar cameras are basically IP cameras powered by solar energy. Thus, some models do come with the aforementioned motion sensing capabilities to trigger the recording. Thus, making the solar camera one of the biggest, most convenient low power camera options around.
In short, if you are looking for a low power camera today, choose an IP camera with motion sensors. High-quality recording done only when it's relevant will surely save you as much as spending in a lower quality 24/7 surveillance setup.