The latest trend among closed-circuit television cameras, also known as CCTV, is wireless security cameras. The term “wireless” here means that the mode of transmission of the video and audio footage that is caught by the camera requires no wire.
It doesn’t necessarily mean that the camera doesn’t require any wire. There are two types of wireless cameras available in the market. One kind of wireless security camera uses a wire to get power from the power grid.
The other kind, which is relatively new in the market, are the ones that don’t require any wire at all. These wireless security cameras run on batteries that are directly attached to the camera. So, how long do batteries last in wireless security cameras?
If you are a wireless camera user of the second kind, you will need sufficient knowledge of the battery of your wireless security camera. If the battery of the camera dies, it will stop recording any video or audio. So today, we will discuss the various kinds of batteries that can be found in a wireless security camera and how long users can use those batteries before their charge runs out.
Wireless Camera Working Procedure
Wireless security cameras work the established principle on which all wireless devices work. Instead of connecting with a wire, they connect using a short-range signal with a nearby hub or device. A closed-circuit camera is integrated with a wireless signal transmitter; the security camera sends signals that are short in range.
Then the signal is received by a receiver. A receiver can be any kind of device that has a signal receiving module, such as smartphones, tablets or special hubs provided by the security camera company. It is best if the wireless cameras are put in a straight line with the receiver that the cameras are connected to. The working range for a regular wireless camera is 250-450 feet when both the camera and the receiver are in the same room without any obstacles between them.
If the camera goes out of this range, then the video signal will grow weak, and the receiver cannot receive the signal anymore. In a sense, the camera will stop working. For outdoor use, where the camera and the receiver are not in the same room, and there is a wall between them, the working range can come down to 100-150 feet as the walls between them corrode the signal.
Where To Use Wireless Security Cameras
Wireless security cameras are immensely popular these days as they are very small, modular, cheap and easy to install. They have become one of the most used security and safety devices in the market. Wireless security cameras can be used for various purposes. Here are some of the sectors where you can use wireless security cameras:
1. The most useful wireless security cameras are seen inside households, especially for home security. Some of us have to work for a long period of time of the day, and at that time, the house stays unoccupied.
There is no way of telling what is happening in the house if you are away. But this problem is solved by using wireless security cameras. You can monitor your home from work or any other place just by accessing a simple app on your mobile. Most advance wireless security cameras provide live video of the place it is attached to. These cameras also record the videos and keep them in safe storage. You can access the videos anytime if you need to. For this convenience, wireless security cameras are heavily used in many households nowadays.
2. Outdoor monitoring is also a popular sector for using security cameras. You can install wireless security cameras on the outside of your house, and they will record everything that is happening on your lawn and all the places surrounding your house. As they are easily accessible, you can see what is happening in the outside area of your house without even having to step outside. The convenience of using wireless security cameras is unreal.
3. Another sector where wireless security cameras are heavily used in the field of law enforcement. Law enforcement agencies often use security cameras to scope out crimes. The wireless security cameras can be very small. As a result, they can be put in remote locations to watch out for criminals. The video signal in these cameras is transmitted through very secure channels. Many police departments all around the world also use wireless security cameras for security purposes.
Different Batteries For Wireless Security Cameras
Though most wireless security cameras are connected with on wire for getting power, there are some wireless cameras that run on batteries. This concept of battery-running cameras is relatively new, and very few companies in the market are making them. But people are generally drawn to the battery cameras as they have no wire attached to them and can be fitted in any remote area.
The batteries that are normally used for any wireless security camera are mostly rechargeable. That means after the battery runs out of juice, you can recharge the battery to its full capacity to run the wireless camera again, much like the batteries of a smartphone.
There are two different types of batteries that are used for security cameras. One is Nickel Metal Hybrid batteries, and the other one is Lithium-Ion batteries. Nickel metal hybrid batteries are very common and accessible. They feature an energy-dense battery system. Thus, the average backup of these batteries is more compared to lithium-ion batteries.
These batteries can be found in all shapes and sizes, which makes them compatible with all kinds of wireless security cameras. Nickel metal hybrid batteries are also very safe as they have a lower number of active metals. The downside of these batteries is that they are sensitive to high temperatures and also require a longer time to charge. These batteries have a very high rate of self-discharge and should not be used for low-charge devices.
Lithium-ion batteries are very light and small in comparison to other types of batteries. This battery features a high voltage output and a significantly low self-discharge rate. The recharge time of these batteries is also very low, which makes these batteries very lucrative to consumers. The disadvantage of a lithium-ion battery is that it is not always compatible with different types of devices and sometimes gets damaged quickly.
Battery Life On Wireless Security Cameras
As we have already seen above that, two kinds of batteries are available for a wireless security camera that runs on batteries. Though both can be used for any wireless camera, the second one, which is the lithium-ion battery, is more preferred. Batteries used in wireless security cameras need to be recharged regularly, and lithium-ion battery charges quicker than any other battery available in the market. That is why it is more convenient to use the lithium-ion battery for wireless cameras.
The average backup time is 10-12 hours for a fully charged battery. This battery backup time also depends on the type of wireless camera it’s attached to. If the wireless camera has advanced features like 360° rotation or zoom lenses, it might require more power and consume more battery. On the other hand, simple wireless security cameras require much less energy and, most of the time, and the battery lasts longer than usual in these cameras.The batteries are mostly removable, and any user can remove the batteries from the cameras very easily. After the charge is finished, the user can recharge the battery again to use it for the next time.
We recommend that you keep more than one battery pack so that if you need to use the camera after 12 hours of use, you can just swap the batteries and put the previous battery on charge. Battery technology, as well as wireless camera technology, is getting better day by day. Companies are introducing updated products regularly. We can surely hope that the charging and lasting time of these batteries will increase very soon.
Conclusion
I hope now you know how long do batteries last in wireless security cameras.