UPS for a house camera system

I have Ring gutter mounted cameras with their own individual solar panels. They are always fully charged.

Seems I can't edit my post now, so my reply to Mikee re camera and hard drive power supply will have to suffice.

Hi John
Probably the most practical option is to fit an approved padlock to your meter box. Alternatively reposition your main switch to inside. Of course the latter may not be feasible or practical
Roy G.

John.
I constantly use a couple of solar panels to power a 300watt Giandel fsw inverter. The batteries can run it for a couple of days without much sun and overnight for frost protection of water panels. It powers my 40w 240v AC hot water pump to take hot water from roof or circulate as needed during a freezing night.
Having something similar would constantly power a security camera system if hidden and autonomous from the grid. Of course you would have to test the constant current drain because the solar panel and battery power would need to be fully recharged by minimal sunlight. Solar panel size and output, battery ah capacity and solar controller essential to be sized correctly. PS more cameras = more constant amps needed!

Hi J&J : Camera's are no deterrent to the crooks while you are away , you are better off with a good monitored security system .
But you would still need a secure powered system thats the trick . My back up battery only last a short time but i am notified if the power goes off to the security system.

Hi John,

A couple of things to remember, padlocks are one of the easiest to defeat security devices, bolt cutters or battery grinder.

Cameras and recording devices will not stop a determined thief from getting what they want. The recent spate of home invasions is evidence of that. You might be able to see them doing it, but when you are 1,000’s of kms away, all you can really do is watch. Yes, you can call the police, and if they are not too busy with more important activities, they can attend, but how long before they get there. Same goes for a monitored security system, by the time the security patrol turns up, the thieves could be long gone. Even if they are still on the premises, one security patrolman is no match for two or three determined thieves.

The other thing with remote cameras and you being able to monitor what is happening, is that if you are in a remote location with no signal, you won’t know what is happening. Of course if you have a Satellite System for remote communications like Starlink, you can get around the no signal issue.

Cameras and recording devices may help identify the time when the incident occurred, and may help identify the thieves after the event, but an audible alarm and flashing lights are probably the best deterrent. However, the system needs to be able to be reset either remotely by yourself, or by your security company. You do not want it continuously going off and annoying the neighbours.

As far as a UPS system is concerned, these systems have been around for decades, they basically consist of a battery bank, an inverter, and a charger. From my perspective, a combination of a mains supply battery charger with a Solar backup charger would seem to be the most appropriate. There are companies that specialise in these systems which you should be able to find online. In reality, your biggest decision will be how much you are willing to pay for the system. The cost may be able to be offset with a reduction in your insurance premium.

Macca.

For extended camping trips get a house sitter.

I have a fully monitored security system, cameras and alarms. Because the whole system is reliant on the NBN I have a battery back-up system for the NBN just in case of power cuts etc. How long it will actually last before it needs recharging I don't know, but being monitored the company will let me know or my alternative contacts if they are concerned. Works for me anyway.

Judy and I are going away next week - only for a week. My niece is going to house sit and feed all the animals etc. She said she would love to do it, as it is something different from her place. We gave her $200- to help with fuel, as the extra distance she has to drive. We also let the neighbours know what we are doing, hence they also keep an eye on the property. You cannot ask for more than that, as lights are on, an movement around the house

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My observations are that external security sirens were of little value, as either a) Neighbours think it is just a false alarm, or b) "I'm not gunna get involved". So when Roz started her own clinic, I of course I did the electrics and tech. Some research revealed that very loud & strident noise causes loss of orientation in humans so for the intruder alarm I connected three of the loudest piezo sirens I could find. The noise in a small premises was unbelievable such that I worried some intruder may sue for injury. Fortunately, it was never called upon, although our receptionist who fumbled the de-arming one morning reported an incredible event!

In my home, still believing that an external siren is of little use, I installed only a blue flashing light outside to warn us on return that there had been an intrusion and maybe they were still inside, armed and awaiting our entry. I don't care if they get the TV but I don't want to enter and get their knife! And it doesn't have a complex keypad to set and disarm the system, just a simple hidden switch at the entry. It also runs from an internal battery with a life of more than 48 hours.

I have two small UPS, one an APC and the other a Cyberpower with no preference as to which is better. They're about the size of a mini tower PC and both have run without any problems for several years. Every few years the battery needs to be replaced and these are readily available and user replaceable with care. They are supporting computer gear and go to battery when there is a power failure, frequency shift or under/over voltage. You will only need a modest power output for what you're doing although higher output versions will also run longer for a given load. Less than $150 for this type usually.