There are many factors that will contribute to whether or not your CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) camera system will continue to work without electricity on the Mornington Peninsula. In this article, we will break down some of the types of power systems available to you as a home or business owner to ensure that you get the right system to work for you.
How does a CCTV camera system work?
Usually, a CCTV camera system will consist of 4 different components. These are:
- Cameras – these can be either interior or exterior, hard-wired or wireless.
- A power supply. The power supply options are what we will be breaking down below.
- A monitor or viewing device – this can be a computer screen, television screen, tablet, or mobile phone device. This can also be done by engaging with a 24/7 monitoring service. As they will be able to keep an eye on your property for you.
- A recording system for the camera footage – either DVR (Digital Video Recorder), which is used with analogue cameras. That sends the raw video signals through the DVD system, allowing that system to process and record the actual footage. Alternatively, an NVR (Network Video Recorder) is used with Internet Protocol (or IP for short) cameras. The cameras process and record the actual footage, whilst the NVR will only store the footage.
An important note to keep in mind is that the electricity supply in and around the Mornington Peninsula is stable. Unless there are inclement weather conditions. However, there can always be unexpected interruptions to the power supply. Which means you need to think about how this can affect your home or business’s security system.
What are the options for CCTV camera power supply?
CCTV cameras can be powered in 3 main ways:
- Main power – This is standard for almost all homes and businesses. However, during any kind of blackout or interruption to your mains power. This will cause your system to shut down and not work at all. That means you will not be able to record any video footage of that time period.
- Solar powered – Due to the sunny nature of areas such as Peninsula, this could be a good alternative to mains power. However, it will most likely require battery backup to ensure continuous system operation should there be any interruptions.
- Uninterruptible Power Supply – An UPS is a backup system that uses battery power to ensure your devices will continue to run even if the mains power supply fails. Whilst this will allow for a seamless transition of power, it will only work for several hours.
Other considerations for your CCTV camera in the Mornington Peninsula
It is important to make note of other considerations for your CCTV camera system, such as:
Router and Internet power
Should your CCTV cameras and security system have smart integration technology, such as remote access to your camera footage or uploading your CCTV camera footage to the cloud, you will require an internet connection. If a blackout or any interruption to your mains power supply happens, you will be unable to continue uploading the data or to remotely access your devices. A solution to this would be to have your internet connection and router connected to either a UPS or some other form of battery-operated power bank. You can find out more about this by visiting our article: Do you need internet for home security systems.
Why do power outages matter in and around the Mornington Peninsula?
Whilst Mornington Peninsula and its surrounding areas are a stunning coastal zone, it can certainly experience power outages for a number of different reasons, such as:
- Planned our unplanned maintenance outages
- Infrastructure overloads caused by heavy tourist seasons
- Blackouts caused by severe weather
- Power disruptions during the summer months due to a high bushfire risk
Unfortunately, it is unknown how long these outages can last, anywhere between a few minutes to several hours. Due to these potential power outages, your home or business can become far more vulnerable to external threats, especially because usually, it would mean both the lights and alarms would also be off.
It is handy to have an understanding of power outages and how to be prepared for power outages within the Mornington Peninsula.
At ION Security, our dedicated team of professional installers will help you work out what CCTV systems will work best for your home. This includes and potential need for a backup power supply to ensure continuity of service to your home or business security system. Contact us today to find out more.
