6 tips to extend the battery life of your IP camera

The battery of a smart IP camera that never records anything is 7 months. Smart cameras record image when they detect movement. If this happens 20 to 25 times a day, the battery only lasts 1 month. Sometimes batteries of IP cameras even run out within 2 weeks. With these 6 tips, we'll explain how to reduce the energy consumption of your camera.

• Tip 1: reduce the number of notifications
• Tip 2: watch live footage less often
• Tip 3: ensure a good internet connection
• Tip 4: keep the camera warm
• Tip 5: replace the batteries
• Tip 6: use the power grid

A smart IP camera continuously looks for movement. When it detects movement, it starts recording and the camera sends a screenshot to your smartphone. Make sure not to receive more than 5 notifications per day to ensure a battery life that's as long as possible. You can do so by adjusting the settings of your camera schedule. This way, the camera doesn't start recording when you're home. You can also set detection zones so you don't get notifications from people passing by.

It feels good to watch live footage of your camera to see whether the coast is clear. Watching live footage via your camera does consume a lot of energy. That's why you should try to do this as little as possible. And try to watch it even less often as night, because the night vision of your camera consumes even more energy. In short, only watch live footage when necessary.

Your IP camera consumes more energy if it has to send images with a weak internet signal. That's why you should make sure that the internet signal for your camera is strong. If the signal is weak or unstable, you know that the unstable internet connection causes the camera to run out of battery quickly. Read how to ensure a good WiFi signal for your IP camera in the article below.

Batteries run out quickly when it's cold. That's why you should keep the tips above in mind even more so when it's colder than 3°C. Colder temperatures cause the battery to lose more energy. With temperatures below 0°C, the batteries won't even charge anymore. You can cover the camera, but it'll still regularly be cold where your outdoor camera is. All you can do is use the camera less often when it's cold.

Older rechargeable batteries run out faster than new batteries. The technical lifespan of a rechargeable battery is about 3 years. Make sure you replace the batteries often and that you have spare ones. You can also use those spare batteries while you charge the current batteries.

Sometimes, you have to connect the camera to the power grid. When the batteries of your camera keep running out and it takes increasingly longer to charge them, for example. In some cases, we do recommend an IP camera on the power grid. If it's always busy near your front door, for example. Many IP cameras also can be connected with wires. If that's the case, all you need is a power source near your camera.