To run IP cameras, power is required. But there are places where power is simply not available. This is where solar-powered IP cameras can come in handy. This note discusses the various benefits and use cases of solar-powered IP cameras.
To run
IP cameras, power is required. But there are places where power is simply not available. This is where solar-powered IP cameras can come in handy. This note discusses the various benefits and use cases of solar-powered IP cameras.
Solar-powered IP cameras offer certain benefits over conventional cameras. The latter, of course, need to be connected to a power source – a
PoE switch, for example. Solar-powered cameras, on the other hand, get their power from associated solar panels that convert sunlight into direct current. This makes them an ideal solution in places where power sources are not available. Installation can be made easier as well.
“With solar-powered IP cameras, remote sites and operations can boost their security quickly, easily, and at low cost. With no need for a fixed network or power supply, and simple installation that can be carried out even by one person, the solution can be rolled out in hours, which requires very little ongoing maintenance or support,” said Jayson Gao, Product Manager for IP Cameras at Hikvision.
“A solar-powered security camera requires no cables and power grid to work. So it can be used in various surveillance applications, such as remote sites or geographically challenging environments,” said Lenny Li, Partner Relationship Manager at Reolink. “The DIY solar-powered wireless security cameras are fast to install in any location you desire, as you don't need to run any messy cables or drill roles, which is quite a cost-effective security option. Better yet, you can easily move your solar security cameras when a project advances or completes, such as the construction sites or your new houses under construction, and then take your solar IP cameras to a new site.”
Additional benefits
According to Li, solar-powered IP cameras have additional benefits. One of them is
environmental friendliness. “Powered by the renewable sunlight, the solar-powered security cameras won't destroy the environment or cause any pollution as the waste and disposable batteries do,” Li said. “What's more, creating an infrastructure to support traditional surveillance systems can be disruptive. Solar-powered surveillance cameras require no infrastructure and can allow such areas as wetlands to be preserved.”
Li also cites a longer lifespan for solar-powered security cameras. “Most manufacturers of solar panels offer a 25-year standard warranty, which means the solar panel for security cameras can still produce no less than 80 percent power after 25 years and it also requires little maintenance,” he said.
Various use scenarios
Typical sites that can benefit from solar-powered surveillance cameras include – but are not limited to – vacation houses, sheds, construction sites, vineyards, farms, barns, boats, warehouses and RVs. Below we discuss some interesting applications for solar-powered IP cameras.
Farms
From time to time, farm and
ranch operators have the need to monitor staff or animals. A lack of power sources to run surveillance cameras can be a headache. Solar-powered cameras can come in handy in this regard. “In some cases, wired power supply may not be available, especially in remote locations such as mines or farms, making it impossible to monitor and protect people and assets using traditional wireless or wired cameras,” Gao said. “For example, farmers and ranchers are looking to monitor their livestock and installations effectively, even though some of their land is ‘off-grid.’ In some regions, we have customers who want to minimize the impacts of power cuts with solar and battery backup.”
Temporary commercial events
If you have a Woodstock type of event where people gather in pasture-like venues and need to be monitored, solar-powered IP cameras can also help. “One major application of the solar-powered camera is for temporary commercial events, such as sporting events or music festivals. These kinds of events may be held in locations where no available cabling exists to roll out a 'wired' camera network. In this case, solar cameras can be deployed to meet the security and monitoring requirements of event organizers,” Gao said.
Energy companies
Energy companies often have facilities in the middle of nowhere. These assets need to be monitored and can also rely on solar-powered IP cameras. “Energy companies are also deploying solar cameras to monitor high-voltage power towers and oil pipelines more effectively in remote locations,” Gao said.
Home surveillance and construction sites
Home surveillance is of great importance. In areas of the home where running a cable can be a hassle, solar-powered IP cameras can be an option. The camera can also be used to record the home or a building’s construction process. “For outdoor installations without power supply for home surveillance, it is recommended to use solar-powered cameras in this scenario. Solar-powered cameras can work with WiFi or 4G, and it's 100 percent wireless,” Li said. “Recording time-lapse video, like monitoring construction sites, can also employ solar-powered IP cameras.”