Security Camera Power Consumption Calculator
Security cameras may use only a few watts each, but their electricity consumption adds up when they run around the clock. The Security Camera Power Consumption Calculator estimates how much energy a group of cameras uses over a chosen number of days, accounting for different daytime and nighttime power draws.
For readers comparing home or business surveillance setups, the result provides a practical starting point for understanding camera energy use. It is an estimate in kilowatt-hours (kWh), the unit commonly used on electricity bills.
What the Security Camera Power Consumption Calculator does
The calculator estimates electricity consumption for cameras that operate continuously, 24 hours a day. It divides each day into two periods: the hours at the entered nighttime power draw and the remaining hours at the entered daytime power draw. It then calculates energy use for the specified number of cameras and days.
This distinction can be useful because a camera may draw more power at night when its infrared illumination is active. The nighttime figure should include the average power used by the camera and its infrared illumination, where applicable.
The result, labeled Estimated consumption, covers the cameras only. It assumes every camera has the same entered power draw during each period. It does not include a recorder, network equipment, or power supply losses. The default values are illustrative; actual consumption depends on the equipment and how it is used.
How to use the Security Camera Power Consumption Calculator
Enter the following details for the cameras you want to estimate:
- Number of cameras: Enter the number of cameras with the same average daytime and nighttime power draws. The calculator accepts whole numbers from 1 to 1,000.
- Daytime power per camera (W): Enter the average power draw of one camera during the daytime period, in watts. You can enter values from 0 to 1,000 W.
- Nighttime power per camera (W): Enter the average power draw of one camera during the nighttime period, in watts. Include infrared illumination in this figure if it is used.
- Nighttime operating hours per day: Enter the number of hours each day that the cameras operate at the nighttime power draw. This can be from 0 to 24 hours, in half-hour increments.
- Number of days: Enter the length of the period you want to estimate, from 1 to 365 days.
Read the Estimated consumption result in kWh. For a monthly estimate, enter the number of days in the month you are considering. For a yearly estimate, you can enter 365 days, although a single daily nighttime duration may not reflect seasonal changes throughout the year.
Use an average power figure that represents actual operation as closely as possible. A manufacturer’s specification can provide a starting point, but a maximum power rating may be higher than the camera’s average draw. If you have a suitable measured average, it may better represent your setup.
How the Security Camera Power Consumption Calculator formula works
The calculation starts with the relationship between power, time, and energy. Multiplying watts by hours gives watt-hours. Dividing watt-hours by 1,000 converts the result to kilowatt-hours.
For each camera, the formula calculates daytime and nighttime energy separately:
Estimated consumption (kWh) = Number of cameras × [(Daytime watts × (24 − Nighttime hours)) + (Nighttime watts × Nighttime hours)] × Number of days ÷ 1,000
The nighttime hours are the hours spent at the entered nighttime power draw. All remaining hours in each 24-hour day use the entered daytime power draw. The formula then multiplies one camera’s daily energy use by the camera count and the number of days.
Worked example using the default values
Assume a system has 4 cameras. Each camera draws an average of 5 W during the day and 8 W at night. Also assume 12 nighttime hours per day and a 30-day period. These figures are illustrative assumptions, not measurements or guarantees for a particular camera.
- Daytime per camera: 5 W × 12 hours = 60 Wh per day.
- Nighttime per camera: 8 W × 12 hours = 96 Wh per day.
- Total per camera: 60 Wh + 96 Wh = 156 Wh per day.
- Four cameras for 30 days: 156 Wh × 4 × 30 = 18,720 Wh.
- Convert to kilowatt-hours: 18,720 ÷ 1,000 = 18.72 kWh.
The calculator therefore displays 18.72 kWh as the estimated consumption for those inputs. If you want to estimate the associated electricity cost, multiply the kWh result by your electricity rate per kWh outside the calculator. The actual amount billed can also depend on your tariff and other charges.
Use cases for the Security Camera Power Consumption Calculator
Estimate a home camera system’s energy use. If you have several matching cameras, enter their average power draws and the number of days in your billing period. This gives you a camera-only estimate that you can compare with your household’s overall electricity consumption.
Compare camera specifications. If you are choosing between models, calculate each option separately using comparable average power figures. Keep the number of cameras, nighttime hours, and days consistent so the difference in the results reflects the figures you entered.
Plan a larger installation. Businesses and property managers can use the calculator to see how consumption changes as cameras are added. Since the formula assumes identical power draws, calculate different camera models in separate groups and add the results.
Explore nighttime usage. Change the nighttime operating hours or the nighttime power figure to see how infrared operation affects the estimate. Use realistic averages for each scenario rather than assuming infrared lighting always draws the same amount of power.
Estimate a longer period. Enter a period of up to 365 days to see how continuous operation accumulates over time. For a more representative annual estimate when nighttime duration changes by season, calculate shorter periods separately and add their results.
Other factors to consider when calculating Estimated consumption
Infrared illumination: Night vision can increase a camera’s power draw, but the increase depends on the camera and its settings. Some cameras may change infrared output based on lighting conditions. Enter an average nighttime figure that includes illumination where applicable.
Recording and camera settings: Features and operating modes can affect power use. The entered wattage should reflect the configuration you expect to use, rather than a figure for a different operating mode.
Temperature and conditions: Actual consumption can vary with temperature and other environmental conditions. A single average figure cannot capture every change over the selected period.
Different camera models: The calculator applies the same daytime and nighttime power draws to every camera in one calculation. If your system has mixed models or different settings, estimate each group separately and add the kWh totals.
Recorder and network equipment: A network video recorder, network switch, router, or other supporting equipment may use electricity as well. Their consumption is excluded from the calculator’s result, so estimate it separately when assessing the whole system.
Power supply losses: Electricity drawn from the wall can be higher than the power used by the cameras because power supplies are not perfectly efficient. The calculator excludes those losses. Check where a wattage figure was measured before combining it with other estimates, so you do not count the same losses twice.
Continuous operation: The formula assumes every camera runs for all 24 hours of every day. It does not have a control for a camera that is switched off for part of the day or operates on a different schedule.
Security Camera Power Consumption Calculator FAQ
How much electricity do security cameras use?
It depends on their average power draw, the number of cameras, and how long they operate. In the illustrative default example, four cameras using 5 W by day and 8 W by night consume an estimated 18.72 kWh over 30 days, with 12 hours at each power level per day. Your result will differ if your inputs differ.
Why might a security camera use more power at night?
A camera may use additional electricity for infrared illumination in low light. The amount depends on the equipment and conditions. Enter the camera’s average nighttime draw, including infrared illumination where applicable, rather than adding an assumed infrared figure without evidence.
What if my camera has the same power draw day and night?
Enter the same wattage in both power fields. The calculator will then use that figure for all 24 hours of each day, regardless of the nighttime hours entered.
Can I calculate consumption for cameras with different wattages?
Yes, by making separate calculations. Group cameras with the same average daytime and nighttime draws, calculate each group’s consumption for the relevant period, and add the resulting kWh values. One calculation applies the same power figures to every camera entered.
Does the result include the recorder and power supply?
No. The result estimates camera consumption and excludes the recorder, network equipment, and power supply losses. Include those separately if you want an estimate for the complete security system.