Though many home and business owners love the idea of having security cameras protecting their property, one of the biggest challenges that they all face is how to power them. Wired systems can be bulky and expensive to install if an electrician needs to get involved. Popular wireless systems tend to run on battery power, which then needs replacement every year. Batteries may even need to be replaced more frequently if the camera is getting constant use or has special features that draw more power. Fortunately for those who are intimidated by this conundrum, there are now some good solar powered security camera options to choose from as well. If you live in an area that gets a reliable amount of sun year round, then perhaps these are the best products for you.
This camera by LXORY has its solar panel integrated directly into the same hardware casing as the camera, so it is truly wireless and fully powered by sunlight. It is quick to install the free app and a Wi-Fi connection and can be mounted with the included hardware wherever you need to put it. The live video can be streamed to your app and it can also alert when motion is detected. There is no external or cloud storage for the recorded video. Instead, the unit comes with an internal 16 GB SD card. The only downside to this is that the SD card has to be cleared manually by connecting it to a computer and deleting unwanted video files. All setup and configuration are done with the smartphone app so it is essential to have one of these devices. If any motion is detected it will automatically record 30 seconds of footage, but you can also watch the live stream for as long as you want. The night vision camera comes with an infrared light to further clarify the picture in the dark. One full day of sunlight can power this camera for five to six days, making this a great option for those who occasionally get a few rainy days in a row.
If some basic surveillance is what you need, take a look at this solar trail camera by Spypoint. This camera is meant for long-term motion-activated monitoring rather than live viewing, so there is no app or Wi-Fi connectivity. The pictures and video are stored on an internal SD card and can be viewed on the camera’s internal screen or on a computer when the SD card is removed. Please note that this camera does not come with an SD card so you will need to purchase one separately. It can accept up to a 32 GB sized card, which can be enough for a couple of months of occasional use. As there is no extra functionality to support, the solar panel can theoretically keep the rechargeable battery full and the camera operational indefinitely. The camera uses camouflage coloring to blend in out in the woods, making trees and deer stands ideal mount points.
Similar to the LXORY solar powered camera, this camera has a built-in solar panel so it is completely wireless. It only turns on when motion activated or when you turn it on in the app. It is on standby when it is not recording, so it can last a long time on a single charge, up to a month or two. The playback includes audio so you can hear as well as see what was recorded, with the video being in 720p HD. The camera uses a Wi-Fi connection to send video to the user app, but it only supports 2.4 GH routers so if you are using a newer 5 GH router this will not work on your system. If you only need a single standalone camera or two, this is a great option.
Ring Stick up Cam and Solar Panel Bundle
Ring has quickly become one of the most recognizable and popular names in home security. If you own a smart doorbell with camera, chances are it is a Ring device. It should, therefore, come as no surprise that they make a solar powered security camera for home security. This bundle includes two cameras and two solar panels. This set is one of only a few options in smart security cameras. If you have ring devices already then it will seamlessly integrate with your current system, but it is not necessary. The camera looks much like the Ring doorbell and uses similar 720p HD video with 180-degree vision field. This smart camera allows for two-way audio so you can speak with anyone on the other side of the camera through the app on your smart device or PC. As with the Ring video doorbell, the security camera has advanced motion detection that can be configured however works best for the user. Since there is no built-in storage with this system you will need to sign up for their cloud recording service to see past events. This service is only $3 per month or $30 per year, which is a small price to pay and much less than the cost of an NVR in a wired system. The solar panel only needs a few hours per day of direct sunlight to power the camera all day and night, which is easily doable in most locations.
Solar and surveillance technology have both improved greatly in the past few years. In these products, they are now being combined to give you a powerful system for keeping your house secure. In most cases, these cameras can keep themselves fully-powered without any modification or recharging on the part of the owner. They also give pictures and video of impressive clarity, with a variety of storage options including local hard drives and cloud storage. Whatever your application is, there is a solar powered camera here for you.