Camera System Electricity Cost Calculator
What the Camera System Electricity Cost Calculator does
The Camera System Electricity Cost Calculator estimates how much electricity a security camera system uses over a 30-day month and converts that usage into an estimated cost. It includes the cameras and a continuously running recorder, such as a digital video recorder (DVR) or network video recorder (NVR).
For readers of thebestsecuritycameras.com, this estimate can help make the ongoing cost of a home or business surveillance system easier to understand. Enter the number of cameras, their average power draw and operating time, the recorder’s average power draw, and your electricity rate. The result is an Estimated monthly cost in the same currency used for your rate.
The calculator assumes that every camera uses the same average number of watts and operates for the same number of hours each day. It also assumes that the recorder runs 24 hours a day. The default values are illustrative, so replace them with figures that reflect your equipment and electricity rate for a more useful estimate.
This is an estimate of electricity used by the cameras and recorder only. It does not include other equipment, fixed utility charges, or taxes.
How to use the Camera System Electricity Cost Calculator
Gather the average power information for your cameras and recorder, along with your electricity rate. You can use measured average wattage or a manufacturer-specified average when available. Then enter the following values:
- Number of cameras: Enter the total number of cameras included in the estimate. The calculator applies the same power draw and daily operating time to each camera.
- Average power per camera (watts): Enter the average electrical power used by one camera, in watts. Use an average that reflects typical day and night operation if possible.
- Camera operating time (hours per day): Enter how many hours the cameras are powered each day. Use 24 for cameras that run continuously.
- Average recorder power (watts): Enter the average power draw of the DVR or NVR in watts. The calculator assumes the recorder runs continuously, even if the cameras operate for fewer than 24 hours a day.
- Electricity rate (currency per kWh): Enter the amount you pay per kilowatt-hour of electricity. Use the currency shown on your electricity bill; the result will use that same currency.
Read the Estimated monthly cost as the cost for an assumed 30-day month. If your cameras have different power draws or operating schedules, a single set of inputs may not represent them precisely. You can make separate estimates for groups of similar cameras, taking care to include the recorder only once when adding the results.
Check the unit on your electricity bill before entering the rate. A kilowatt-hour, or kWh, measures energy consumed over time, while a watt measures power draw at a given moment. The calculator uses both to estimate the cost of running your equipment.
How the Camera System Electricity Cost Calculator formula works
The calculator first estimates the daily energy used by all cameras and the recorder. It multiplies that daily total by 30 days, converts watt-hours to kilowatt-hours, and then applies the electricity rate.
Formula:
(Number of cameras × Average power per camera × Camera operating time + Average recorder power × 24) × 30 ÷ 1,000 × Electricity rate
The camera portion uses the number of cameras, watts per camera, and hours of operation per day. The recorder portion uses its average watts multiplied by 24 hours. Multiplying watts by hours gives watt-hours; dividing by 1,000 converts watt-hours to kilowatt-hours.
Worked example using the default inputs
Assume a system has four cameras that each draw an average of 8 watts and operate 24 hours a day. Also assume the recorder draws an average of 20 watts and the electricity rate is 0.16 currency units per kWh. These figures are illustrative assumptions, not current prices or guaranteed equipment power draws.
- Camera energy per day: 4 × 8 watts × 24 hours = 768 watt-hours.
- Recorder energy per day: 20 watts × 24 hours = 480 watt-hours.
- Total energy per day: 768 + 480 = 1,248 watt-hours.
- Energy over 30 days: 1,248 × 30 ÷ 1,000 = 37.44 kWh.
- Estimated monthly cost: 37.44 kWh × 0.16 = 5.9904, displayed as 5.99.
If the entered rate is in dollars per kWh, the example result is $5.99. If the rate is in another currency, the result is expressed in that currency instead. Your actual cost will depend on your equipment’s average power consumption and your applicable electricity rate.
Use cases for the Camera System Electricity Cost Calculator
Estimate the running cost of an existing system. Enter the number of installed cameras and the average wattage of the cameras and recorder to see an estimated 30-day electricity cost. This can help you understand one part of the system’s ongoing expense.
Compare system sizes. Change the number of cameras while keeping the other assumptions the same. The difference between estimates shows how adding or removing cameras with the same average power draw affects the calculated monthly cost.
Compare camera operating schedules. If your cameras are powered for only part of each day, enter that operating time and compare it with a 24-hour estimate. Remember that the recorder is still assumed to run continuously in both calculations.
Compare equipment power requirements. When considering cameras or recorders, you can enter different average wattage assumptions to estimate their effect on electricity use. Make sure the figures being compared describe average power under reasonably similar operating conditions.
Plan a household or business budget. The result provides a starting point for estimating the electricity used by the camera system. For a fuller operating budget, add any costs that fall outside the calculator, such as electricity used by supporting equipment.
Other factors to consider when calculating Estimated monthly cost
Power draw can change throughout the day. A camera may use different amounts of power when its infrared lighting is active, while recording, or under other operating conditions. The recorder’s power use may also vary with activity. An average measured over a representative period can be more useful than a single momentary reading.
Manufacturer figures need context. Check whether a listed wattage describes average consumption or a maximum rating. A maximum rating may be useful for planning power capacity, but using it as the average can overstate an electricity-cost estimate if the device usually draws less.
Supporting equipment is excluded. Network switches, routers, monitors, storage accessories, power supplies, and other devices may consume additional electricity. The calculator includes only the camera and recorder power values you enter. Consider the whole setup when reviewing your total electricity usage.
Electricity bills can include more than a usage rate. Fixed charges and taxes are excluded from the result. Your bill may also use different rates at different times or usage levels. In those cases, a single rate is an approximation, so choose a rate that reasonably represents the electricity consumed by the system.
Months have different lengths. The estimate always uses 30 days. A longer or shorter billing period will change the amount of energy consumed, even if the equipment and rate remain the same.
Different cameras may need separate estimates. The calculator applies one average wattage and one daily schedule to every camera. For a system with substantially different camera groups, calculate each group separately and add the results. Include the recorder power in only one calculation so that its cost is not counted more than once.
Frequently asked questions
Do security cameras use electricity when they are not recording?
Many cameras still draw power while they are on and waiting to record. Enter the hours they are powered, using an average wattage that reflects their typical activity. Recording activity can change power consumption, so an appropriate average matters.
Does the calculator include the DVR or NVR?
Yes. Enter its average wattage in Average recorder power (watts). The calculator assumes the recorder runs 24 hours a day, regardless of the camera operating time entered.
What happens if my cameras run for only 12 hours a day?
Enter 12 for Camera operating time (hours per day). The calculator uses 12 hours for every camera, while continuing to calculate recorder usage at 24 hours per day.
Can I estimate the cost without a recorder?
Yes. Enter 0 for Average recorder power (watts) if there is no recorder to include. The result will then reflect the camera energy calculated from the other inputs.
Why might my electricity bill differ from the estimate?
Actual camera and recorder power draw may vary, and your billing period or effective electricity rate may differ from the assumptions entered. Other equipment, fixed utility charges, and taxes are also excluded. Use representative average power figures and your applicable rate to improve the estimate.