{"id":44156,"date":"2026-09-24T17:25:12","date_gmt":"2026-09-24T15:25:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fvcomponentes.com\/como-poner-camaras-de-vigilancia-sin-corriente-electrica\/"},"modified":"2026-09-24T17:26:33","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T15:26:33","slug":"how-to-install-cctv-cameras-without-a-power-supply","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fvcomponentes.com\/en\/como-poner-camaras-de-vigilancia-sin-corriente-electrica\/","title":{"rendered":"How to install CCTV cameras where there is no mains power supply"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Quick answer:<\/strong> To install CCTV cameras in places where there is no mains electricity, you need a small off-grid solar system: <strong>solar panel + charge controller + lithium battery<\/strong> which supplies 12 V to the IP cameras and a <strong>4G router<\/strong> so you can view them on your mobile. If it\u2019s the right size, it works 24 hours a day, even at night and on several consecutive cloudy days. In this guide, we explain how to work it out step by step and what mistakes to avoid.<\/p>\n<h2>Options for monitoring a location without electricity<\/h2>\n<p>Country estates, country cottages, vegetable gardens, building sites, agricultural sheds, car parks or access roads to housing estates: these are places where surveillance is needed and there\u2019s almost never a power socket nearby. These are the real alternatives:<\/p>\n<table style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;margin:12px 0 20px\">\n<thead>\n<tr style=\"background:#f2f7fb\">\n<th style=\"text-align:left;padding:10px;border:1px solid #e3e8ee\">Option<\/th>\n<th style=\"text-align:left;padding:10px;border:1px solid #e3e8ee\">Advantages<\/th>\n<th style=\"text-align:left;padding:10px;border:1px solid #e3e8ee\">Drawbacks<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #e3e8ee\"><strong>Solar-powered camera with built-in battery<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #e3e8ee\">Inexpensive and easy to fit<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #e3e8ee\">It only records when it detects movement, runs out of battery in winter and relies on Wi-Fi or its own SIM card<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #e3e8ee\"><strong>To carry the current<\/strong> from the internet<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #e3e8ee\">Unlimited energy<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #e3e8ee\">Trenching, cabling and administrative procedures: once you\u2019ve gone beyond a few dozen metres, it usually costs more than a solar kit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #e3e8ee\"><strong>12 V off-grid solar kit<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #e3e8ee\">Standard IP cameras recording 24 hours a day, night vision, 4G router always connected, expandable<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #e3e8ee\">You need to size it correctly and fit the circuit board and watertight housing<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>For one or two cameras at a temporary location, a solar-powered battery camera may suffice. To properly monitor a site or a building site, with continuous recording and no unexpected power cuts in winter, the reliable option is the <strong>12 V solar kit<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2>What you need to power cameras with solar energy<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Solar panel<\/strong>: generates energy during the day.<\/li>\n<li><strong>MPPT charge controller<\/strong>: charges the battery whilst making the most of the board. The Victron and SmartSolar models feature Bluetooth so you can view everything from your mobile.<\/li>\n<li><strong>LiFePO4 lithium battery<\/strong>: it stores energy for the night and for days when there is no sun. It lasts much longer than a lead-acid battery and withstands heat better.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Surge protection<\/strong>: switches the cameras off if the battery level gets too low and switches them back on once they have recharged.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Fuses, disconnect switch and wiring<\/strong>: essential for ensuring the installation is safe.<\/li>\n<li><strong>4G router with data SIM<\/strong>: to view the cameras and receive notifications on your mobile.<\/li>\n<li><strong>IP cameras<\/strong> and, if you want to save locally, a <strong>NVR recorder<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Waterproof case<\/strong> for the battery and the regulator, and a <strong>bracket or post<\/strong> for the plate.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure style=\"margin:20px 0;text-align:center\"><a href=\"\/en\/product\/12v-380w-medium-sized-solar-kit-for-security-cameras\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/fvcomponentes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/kit-solar-videovigilancia-medio-12v-380w-2-56-kwh.webp\" alt=\"Solar kit for CCTV cameras with Victron solar panels, SmartSolar MPPT controller and SuperPack lithium battery\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" style=\"max-width:100%;height:auto\" title=\"\"><\/a><figcaption>Medium-sized solar kit for CCTV cameras: 2 x 190 W panels, MPPT 100\/30 and a 200 Ah lithium battery.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Step 1: Work out the power consumption of your appliances<\/h2>\n<p>This is the most important step. Add up the power of everything that will be switched on and multiply it by 24 hours a day:<\/p>\n<table style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;margin:12px 0 20px\">\n<thead>\n<tr style=\"background:#f2f7fb\">\n<th style=\"text-align:left;padding:10px;border:1px solid #e3e8ee\">Team<\/th>\n<th style=\"text-align:left;padding:10px;border:1px solid #e3e8ee\">Regular consumption<\/th>\n<th style=\"text-align:left;padding:10px;border:1px solid #e3e8ee\">Per day (24 hours)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #e3e8ee\">Fixed IP camera (with infrared)<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #e3e8ee\">3 to 6 W<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #e3e8ee\">72 to 144 Wh<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #e3e8ee\">Motorised PTZ camera<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #e3e8ee\">10 to 25 W<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #e3e8ee\">240 to 600 Wh<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #e3e8ee\">4G router<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #e3e8ee\">3 to 6 W<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #e3e8ee\">72 to 144 Wh<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #e3e8ee\">PoE switch (without cameras)<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #e3e8ee\">2 to 5 W<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #e3e8ee\">48 to 120 Wh<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #e3e8ee\">NVR recorder with hard drive<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #e3e8ee\">6 to 15 W<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #e3e8ee\">144 to 360 Wh<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Check your camera\u2019s technical specifications and use the power consumption figures <strong>with the infrared lights on<\/strong>, which is when it uses the most power. If you can\u2019t find this figure, assume 5 W per camera.<\/p>\n<h2>Step 2: Choose the battery based on the number of days without sunshine<\/h2>\n<p>The battery needs to last through the night and several consecutive overcast days. For video surveillance, we recommend <strong>between 3 and 4 days\u2019 battery life<\/strong>. The formula is simple:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Battery capacity (Wh) = daily consumption \u00d7 number of days of autonomy \u00f7 0.9<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The 0.9 is because it is not advisable to completely discharge a lithium battery. Example: 290 Wh\/day \u00d7 4 days \u00f7 0.9 \u2248 1,290 Wh, i.e. a 12.8 V, 100 Ah lithium battery (1.28 kWh).<\/p>\n<h2>Step 3: Calculate the plates using the winter data<\/h2>\n<p>Here\u2019s the most common mistake: basing your calculations on summer sunshine. In December, a solar panel produces about a third of what it does in July. To ensure your system doesn\u2019t shut down in winter, follow this rule:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Panel power (W) = daily consumption \u00f7 (peak sunshine hours in winter \u00d7 0.75)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In the south-east of the peninsula, you can expect around 3 hours of peak sunshine in December with the panel at a steep angle; in the northern half, between 1.5 and 2.5 hours. Example for 290 Wh\/day in Murcia: 290 \u00f7 (3 \u00d7 0.75) \u2248 130 W. With a 190 W panel, you\u2019ll have more than enough and the battery will recharge more quickly after several cloudy days.<\/p>\n<h2>Step 4: Regulator and safety devices<\/h2>\n<p>Use a regulator <strong>MPPT<\/strong>: It gets up to 30 % more out of the panel than a PWM controller, particularly in winter. Choose the size according to the power rating of your 12 V panels (for example, a 75\/15 MPPT can handle around 220 W and a 100\/30 around 440 W). Always add a <strong>fuse between the regulator and the battery<\/strong>, a <strong>disconnector<\/strong> to work safely and with a <strong>surge protection<\/strong> (the regulator\u2019s load output or a BatteryProtect) so that the cameras switch off before the battery is damaged.<\/p>\n<h2>Step 5: Connect the cameras to a 12 V power supply, without an inverter<\/h2>\n<p>Many people connect a 230 V inverter and plug in the camera transformers. It works, but the inverter itself consumes several watts 24 hours a day, and each transformer loses energy: <strong>between 15 and 25 % of the total is lost<\/strong>. By powering the cameras, router and recorder directly from 12 V, you\u2019ll need a smaller power supply and a smaller battery. If your cameras are PoE, use a PoE switch with a 12 V input.<\/p>\n<h2>Step 6: 4G connectivity and installation<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>4G router<\/strong> with a data SIM. If coverage is poor, add an external aerial.<\/li>\n<li><strong>South-facing panel<\/strong> and at a fairly steep angle (between 50 and 60\u00b0) to prioritise winter use. What\u2019s more, this means it gets cleaned more effectively by the rain.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Battery and regulator in a waterproof housing<\/strong>, in the shade and in a well-ventilated place. Lithium batteries must not be charged at temperatures below 0 \u00b0C: in cold areas, store them in a sheltered place.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Anti-theft protection<\/strong>: anti-theft fastenings on the plate and the box, either mounted high up or inside a shed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Real-life example: a property with two cameras and a 4G router<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>2 \u00d7 4 W IP cameras + 4 W 4G router = <strong>12 W<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>12 W \u00d7 24 h = <strong>288 Wh a day<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Battery: 288 \u00d7 4 \u00f7 0.9 \u2248 1,280 Wh \u2192 <strong>lithium 12.8 V 100 Ah<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Panels: 288 \u00f7 (3 \u00d7 0.75) \u2248 128 W \u2192 <strong>190 W panel<\/strong> by a wide margin.<\/li>\n<li>Regulator: <strong>SmartSolar MPPT 75\/15<\/strong>, which also has a charging port to protect the battery.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>That\u2019s exactly what our <a href=\"\/en\/product\/basic-12v-190w-solar-powered-cctv-camera-kit\/\">Basic solar kit for CCTV cameras<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Errors that leave cameras switched off<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Design with the summer sun in mind.<\/li>\n<li>Using a small lead-acid battery: it deteriorates quickly with daily charging cycles and when exposed to heat.<\/li>\n<li>Power everything using a 230 V inverter.<\/li>\n<li>Do not take into account the night-time power consumption of the infrared devices.<\/li>\n<li>Place the sign flat or with shadows cast by trees or buildings in winter.<\/li>\n<li>Do not forget fuses and surge protection.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Ready-to-assemble solar kits for CCTV cameras<\/h2>\n<p>To save you having to work out the specifications or source components one by one, we have put together three kits featuring Victron equipment that is already configured for video surveillance, with a battery life of around 4 days:<\/p>\n<table style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;margin:12px 0 20px\">\n<thead>\n<tr style=\"background:#f2f7fb\">\n<th style=\"text-align:left;padding:10px;border:1px solid #e3e8ee\">Kit<\/th>\n<th style=\"text-align:left;padding:10px;border:1px solid #e3e8ee\">For<\/th>\n<th style=\"text-align:left;padding:10px;border:1px solid #e3e8ee\">Plates \/ battery<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #e3e8ee\"><a href=\"\/en\/product\/basic-12v-190w-solar-powered-cctv-camera-kit\/\"><strong>Basic<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #e3e8ee\">1\u20132 cameras + 4G router (up to 12 W)<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #e3e8ee\">190 W \/ 1.28 kWh<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #e3e8ee\"><a href=\"\/en\/product\/12v-380w-medium-sized-solar-kit-for-security-cameras\/\"><strong>Medium<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #e3e8ee\">3\u20134 cameras + 4G router or recorder (up to 25 W)<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #e3e8ee\">380 W \/ 2.56 kWh<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #e3e8ee\"><a href=\"\/en\/product\/12v-690w-pro-solar-power-kit-for-security-cameras\/\"><strong>Pro<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #e3e8ee\">6\u20138 cameras + NVR + PoE switch + 4G router (up to 50 W)<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:10px;border:1px solid #e3e8ee\">690 W \/ 5.12 kWh<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>You can see them all in the category <a href=\"\/en\/product-category\/solar-kits\/solar-powered-cctv-kit\/\">solar kits for CCTV cameras<\/a>. If your situation doesn\u2019t fit, <a href=\"\/en\/victron-support\/\">Tell us about it<\/a> and we\u2019ll put one together for you, tailor-made.<\/p>\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<h3>Can you install a CCTV camera without a power supply or Wi-Fi?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes. The power is supplied by a solar kit with a battery, and the connection is provided by a 4G router with a data SIM card. This means you can view the camera and receive alerts on your mobile from anywhere.<\/p>\n<h3>How many solar panels does a CCTV camera need?<\/h3>\n<p>An IP camera with a 4G router consumes around 8 to 10 W, or about 200\u2013250 Wh a day. In the south-east of the peninsula, a 150\u2013200 W solar panel with a 100 Ah lithium battery is sufficient; in the north, it is advisable to increase this to around 300 W.<\/p>\n<h3>How long does a battery last when powering cameras?<\/h3>\n<p>It depends on power consumption and capacity. A 12.8 V, 100 Ah lithium battery can power 12 W for around 4 days without sunlight. With double the capacity, you can power twice as many cameras for the same length of time.<\/p>\n<h3>Is a battery-powered solar camera or a solar kit better?<\/h3>\n<p>Solar-powered cameras with a built-in battery are cheap, but they only record when they detect movement and tend to run out of power in winter. A solar kit powers standard cameras 24 hours a day, with continuous recording and the router always connected.<\/p>\n<h3>Can I use PoE cameras with solar power?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes. Connect a PoE switch with a 12 V input to the kit\u2019s output, or a PoE injector that boosts the voltage, and add its power consumption to that of the cameras.<\/p>\n<h3>Does it work in winter?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes, if you base your calculations on December\u2019s production figures and a battery life of 3 or 4 days. That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important not to use summer data for your calculations.<\/p>\n<h3>Does a solar installation for CCTV cameras require planning permission?<\/h3>\n<p>A stand-alone 12 V installation that is not connected to the mains does not require any formalities with the electricity supplier. It must, however, be fitted with the appropriate safety devices and in compliance with the Low Voltage Electrotechnical Regulations.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A step-by-step guide to powering CCTV cameras using solar energy on farms, construction sites or industrial premises without mains electricity: power consumption, batteries, solar panels, 4G and common pitfalls to avoid.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":44151,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1004],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-44156","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-manuales-tutoriales-solares"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fvcomponentes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44156","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fvcomponentes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fvcomponentes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fvcomponentes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fvcomponentes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44156"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/fvcomponentes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44156\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44157,"href":"https:\/\/fvcomponentes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44156\/revisions\/44157"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fvcomponentes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44151"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fvcomponentes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44156"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fvcomponentes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44156"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fvcomponentes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44156"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}