A standard wired NVR system stops recording the moment mains power drops, unless it is backed by a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) or battery, in which case recording continues until the backup runs out. Solar and 4G battery cameras keep recording through a mains outage entirely, since they were never dependent on household power in the first place.
Does a wired system lose all footage from before the outage?
No. Footage already recorded to the NVR's hard drive before the outage stays intact and viewable once power is restored. Only the gap during the outage itself goes unrecorded, unless a UPS bridges that gap.
How long does a typical UPS keep a system running?
It depends on the UPS capacity and how many cameras/NVR draw from it, but a modest UPS sized for a 4-8 camera PoE system commonly bridges 30 minutes to a couple of hours, enough to cover most short local outages rather than an extended blackout.
What continues recording during a mains power outage
|
System type |
Recording continues without mains power |
|---|---|
|
Wired NVR, no UPS |
No |
|
Wired NVR with UPS |
Yes, until UPS battery depletes |
|
Solar/4G battery camera |
Yes, entirely independent of mains power |
|
Wireless Wi-Fi camera on battery, router on mains |
Camera may run on its battery, but loses network/remote viewing once the router itself loses power, unless the router is also on a UPS |
Real product check
For outage-proof coverage of a specific high-priority position such as a gate or entry, a Dahua 3+3MP WizColor 4G Solar Camera keeps recording regardless of mains status. For an existing wired NVR system, adding a basic UPS between the wall and the NVR/PoE switch is the more cost-effective fix for most homes and small businesses.
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Does the same apply to a business's alarm system?
Most monitored alarm panels run on their own backup battery independent of the CCTV system's power arrangement, so check the alarm and CCTV backup separately rather than assuming one covers the other.
Browse alarm kits and solar powered cameras for outage-independent coverage.
