Security at home is something that is priceless. Or yes? Here you will find the answer to this very important question for those who have surveillance cameras at home. How much electricity do alarm and video surveillance security systems consume? Keep reading to find out.
To know the real performance that a product is giving you, you have to know the data firmly. What a surveillance camera offers you, in terms of security, is something immaterial, not quantifiable. How much is it worth to feel safe at home, or when you leave it empty? Instead, you can find out how much electricity security systems with alarms and video surveillance consume, to have a better idea of how your budget and energy expenditure is distributed each month.
Factors affecting consumption
When installing a security system, it is important to take into account certain elements that influence energy expenditure. From the type of device to its technical characteristics, everything impacts electricity consumption.
One of the first aspects to consider is the type of alarm. In the market we can find wired alarms and wireless alarms:
- Wired alarms: they require being connected to the power supply all the time, which increases their electrical consumption. These alarms are ideal for those looking for a continuous and stable connection, although energy consumption may be higher.
- Wireless alarms: They run on batteries, and only use electricity when operating or transmitting data. This reduces their consumption and, although the batteries have to be recharged, they are usually more economical in terms of energy.
What functions does the video surveillance system have?
The technology that integrates the camera system also impacts your electricity consumption. If the cameras are on 24 hours a day, the bill will increase, but there are several ways to optimize their use.
Some of the functionalities that these video surveillance systems usually have are:
- Motion Detection: Many cameras only record when they detect motion, which helps reduce energy consumption.
- Night vision: If your camera has night vision, it will activate LED lights to capture images in the dark, which increases consumption during hours without natural light.
- Cloud recording: Storing recordings in the cloud allows for remote access, but can also require more power compared to a local system as it involves constant data transmission.
Examples of electrical consumption in security systems
To give you a rough idea of the expense, we can compare the consumption of different components. Let’s imagine a security system with four cameras and a digital video recorder (DVR). Let’s look at the consumption breakdown:
- HD security camera (720p): about 5Wh.
- High resolution camera (1080p): consumes about 8W per hour.
- 8 channel DVR: 12Wh.
- 3TB hard drive: 5Wh.
By multiplying these values by the total hours per month, we can estimate that a system of this type can consume around 21kWh per month. This calculation is indicative and will vary depending on the use and characteristics of each system.
Tips to reduce the consumption of your security system
Although these devices imply an extra expense on the bill, there are strategies to reduce their energy impact:
- Adjust settings: Optimize sensor sensitivity and adjust operating hours to your needs.
- Use event recording: Instead of recording continuously, configure the system to only record when it detects activity.
- Regular maintenance: keeping the system in good condition avoids problems that could increase electrical consumption.
With these tips, you can keep your security systems operational without incurring high electricity costs. Taking care of the energy consumption of your devices not only helps your pocket, but is also a gesture towards a more efficient use of resources.
