Guides
Keeping CCTV running through load-shedding
CCTV stops recording during a power cut unless it is on backup, which is a real problem where load-shedding is routine. A modest UPS on the recorder and the camera power supply keeps a four-camera system running for one to three hours and costs far less than the system it protects.
The recorder is the critical part
If the recorder is down, nothing is stored even if the cameras have power. Protect the recorder first, then the cameras, then the switch.
Sizing the runtime
A four-camera system with a recorder draws modest power. A small UPS gives one to three hours, which covers a typical load-shedding slot. Longer needs a larger battery, not a bigger inverter.
Do not forget the router
If you want remote viewing during an outage, the router and the internet equipment need backup as well. Otherwise the system records locally but you cannot see it from your phone.
Solar interaction
Where a premises already has a solar hybrid system, the CCTV can sit on that supply and needs no separate UPS. We check before quoting one you do not need.
Will my CCTV work during a power cut?
How much does CCTV backup cost?
A small UPS suitable for a four-camera system and recorder is a modest addition to the install. Set against the cost of losing footage during exactly the hours when the power is out, it is one of the easiest decisions in the quote.
Can my existing inverter run the cameras?
Usually yes, if it has capacity. We check the load before assuming it, because adding cameras to an already loaded inverter shortens its battery life.
Need this doing?
CCTV installation covers surveying your premises, choosing camera positions that actually cover your entrances and till, running cable in conduit, fitting the recorder with enough storage for your retention needs, and setting up phone viewing before we leave. A four-camera system typically costs PKR 45,000 to 70,000 installed.
CCTV installation — what it costsRelated pages
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