In-Depth Power Usage
12v Camera Power Usage Explained.
Planning an off-grid camera setup? Use this guide to understand how much power RuralView cameras use, how battery runtime is calculated, and what can affect performance in real-world conditions.
Camera Power Usage.
RuralView 12V cameras use different amounts of power during the day and at night. Night-time usage is usually higher because the infrared lights are active. The figures below are approximate and are designed to help you estimate battery runtime for off-grid setups.
360 Zoom Camera.
Day - 4W
Night - 10.3W
360 Mini Camera.
Day - 3W
Night - 8.5W
Bullet Camera.
Day - 2.8W
Night - 6W
Things to consider.
Battery runtime figures are estimates and should be used as a guide only. Real-world performance can vary depending on battery type, battery age, temperature, camera model, mobile signal strength and how the camera is installed.
Cameras generally use more power at night because the infrared lights are active. If a camera is installed inside a barn, stable, shed, wooded area or another dark location, the infrared lights may stay on for longer, which can reduce battery life.
Seasonal daylight also makes a difference. In the UK, winter days are shorter and darker, so cameras may use more night vision while solar panels receive less sunlight.
Doing the Maths.
To figure out how long your camera will last on a battery, you will need to divide the cameras Wh into the batteries Wh.
In this example, we will use the winter and summer solstice as worst and best case scenarios using a 75Ah battery.
Battery Capacity.
To figure out how many Watt hours (Wh) your battery holds, you will need to multiple the Amp hour capacity (Ah) by the battery Voltage (V). In this example, we have a 75Ah battery running at 12v.
V x Ah = Wh
12 x 75 = 900Wh
Summer Solstice.
Winter Solstice.
Bullet Camera.
Short version. A Winter solstice 7.6 days. Summer solstice 9.6 days.
Summer Solstice.
Winter Solstice.
360 Mini Camera.
Short version. Winter solstice 5.6 days. Summer solstice 7.7 days.
Summer Solstice.
Winter Solstice.
360 ZoomCamera.
Short version. Winter solstice 3.9 days. Summer solstice 6.1 days.
Please note: the full battery capacity may not always be usable. Battery type, condition and depth of discharge can affect real-world runtime, so it is sensible to allow a safety margin rather than relying on the maximum theoretical figure.