How Much Power (Watts)Does a CCTV Camera Use?

Most of the people from us might hear about IP security cameras are slowing down your home-based network, but few of us may have never factored about the consumption of the power of your security cameras. So how much power do your analog CCTV cameras, PoE/ wireless security cameras, DVR/NVR, or security cameras systems use? Do you think these use lot of electricity? So be patient, here we go and answer to you these questions.

When you discuss the power consumption of CCTV camera/systems, you must aware of the information below first.

Note Please: DVR systems are more compatible with these models.

Each CCTV camera system has power consumptions specification so you can aware of how much exactly it will be costed. 

You must aware that some security cameras come with different features such as an IP camera or Hikvision ColorVu that have a night vision mood, so according to this prospectus power consumption will be different as compared to wireless CCTV cameras that don’t have features like these.

Along with this, PoE (powered over Ethernet) cameras can consume a bit of power. But overall, these security cameras are not energy-consuming, if we compared them with others like computers, toasters, and TV.

Power Consumption of CCTV Camera System

The power consumption depended on the security cameras and on the models of gadgets and also depend on the specifications of these. If you have installed a CCTV camera, and recording HD quality footage for a long period of time, obviously it will cost more energy. Some models came with other extra features that consume more power such as night vision mode, motion detectors, or additional light.

Here, if you want to calculate the power consumption of a CCTV camera system, you can simply determine by using the camera wattage and multiplying it with the number of hours that the cameras were used per day. Divide that number by 1000 and you will get kilowatt per hour (kWh). More, the formula is the following:

• Device (camera) wattage x hours per day = Watt-hours per day (Wh)
• Device ( camera) usage per day (Wh)/1000 = Camera usage in kWh
• Device (camera) usage per day (kWh) x 30 days = Monthly usage (kWh/month)

Note! If you have multiple cameras, just calculate each one separately and add them up. The total sum should include each device’s CCTV camera and DVR device.

The average consumption of electricity in the US is around 13 cents per kWh. If a CCTV camera consumes 7 watts, and you have 3 of them in your home together with a 30 watts DVR that you use 24/7, it will cost you approx. $4.7 per month.

Does DVR/NVR Use a Lot of Electricity?

Digital Video Recorder (DVRs) are estimated to consume between 15 watts to 40 watts while a non-DVR HD consumes around 8 – 15 watts. Some models of them, for example, Hikvision ColorVu use 40 watts and it runs on 100~240VAC,6.3A. Also, these cameras are running the whole week and they are really important for the camera system to function properly and that’s why they consume more energy down the road.

As we discussed earlier, DVR consumes more power than security cameras. Monitoring time, types of CCTV cameras and their number and ambient temperature in which they operate can be caused to increase the electricity bill.

That’s why it’s important to take some serious types of measurements to reduce energy consumption, like adopting the right cameras and security cameras, quality cables, etc.

Calculating CCTV Camera Power Consumption

Now that we know how much power CCTV security cameras use, we can calculate the power consumption of a CCTV system. To do this, we need to know three things: the number of cameras in the system, the average power consumption of each camera, and the length of time that the system will be running.

For example, let’s say you have a CCTV system with four cameras that use an average of 0.03 watts of power each. If you plan on running the system for eight hours per day, then your CCTV system will use about 0.48 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per day. This is equivalent to about $0.05 worth of electricity at current prices.

So there you have it! CCTV cameras don’t use very much power, and a CCTV system is not going to break the bank in terms of electricity costs. Of course, if you have a large CCTV system with dozens of cameras, then your power consumption will be higher. But even then, CCTV is still a relatively efficient way to keep an eye on your property.

What Power Supply Do I Need For CCTV Camera?

The power requirements for CCTV cameras vary depending on the type of camera you are using. Analog CCTV cameras need a 12-volt power supply, while digital CCTV cameras typically use a 24-volt power supply. If you are not sure what type of CCTV camera for home you have, you can check the specifications or contact the manufacturer to find out.

Once you know the voltage requirements for your CCTV camera, you can purchase a suitable power supply. Power supplies for CCTV cameras are available at most electronics stores or online retailers. Be sure to get one that is rated for the correct voltage and has enough amperage to power your CCTV camera.

How To Reduce Power Consumption Of CCTV Cameras?

There are a few things you can do to reduce the power consumption of CCTV cameras. One is to use energy-efficient CCTV cameras. These days, many CCTV camera manufacturers offer energy-saving models that use less power than traditional CCTV cameras.

Another way to reduce power consumption is to use motion-activated CCTV cameras. These types of cameras only turn on when they detect movement, which can save you a lot of electricity compared to leaving them on all the time. You can also install timers or occupancy sensors so that your CCTV system only turns on when it is needed.

Finally, make sure that your CCTV system is properly ventilated. Overheating can cause home CCTV cameras to use more power, so keeping them cool will help you more.

Does CCTV Camera System Work Without Electricity?

No, CCTV cameras will not work without electricity. They need a power source to operate, so if there is a power outage, your CCTV system will not be able to function. This is why it’s important to have a backup power source for your CCTV system in case of an emergency.

Conclusions

However wireless CCTV camera system installed into your home, consume only a few watts of your electricity bill, but it’s good to know how much it will cost you on monthly basis. That’s why we’ve tried much better through this article what the CCTV systems consist of and how much they cost.

Also, we learned that we need DVR systems where the footage will be saved and they definitely consume energy additionally. We hope, you’ll find this article helpful and get a better insight into spending, and that you will be able to take advantage of it.