CCTV: protect the recorder, switch and router
If the recorder stops, nothing is recorded, and if the router stops, phone viewing stops. Put the NVR or DVR, the PoE switch or camera power supply, and the internet router on one UPS. A UPS also protects the hard drive from sudden shutdowns, a common cause of lost recordings.
Alarms, fences and gates: check the batteries
These devices already include a battery, but batteries age. A battery that is two or three years old may last minutes instead of hours. Test them during maintenance visits and replace them before they fail.
When solar is worth it
Solar charging makes sense for gate motors and fence energizers far from a power point, for farm cameras, and for sites where outages last many hours. A small solar panel and battery sized for the load is usually enough; it is not necessary to put the whole building on solar.
Frequently asked questions
How long can a UPS keep CCTV running?
It depends on the UPS battery capacity and the power drawn by the recorder, switch, cameras and router. Small systems can be kept running for a few hours with a correctly sized UPS or an external battery bank.
Can I use my house inverter for CCTV?
Yes, if the inverter switches over fast enough that the recorder does not restart. Many installers still add a small UPS in front of the recorder for a clean switch-over.