Solar Powered Construction Camera

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There are several benefits to using solar powered surveillance cameras, especially in the construction industry. They help to reduce risk, increase security, improve collaboration, cut travel cost and times, and all but eliminate project delays. That’s why their popularity has increased over the last few years and they’ve become a common feature on most construction sites. However, some sites aren’t able to support wired cameras, usually due to the area of land the site occupies, such as parks, farms, ports, or roads, where providing power to a wired camera isn’t possible. Or even if it is, it’s a costly process.

The best solution to this problem is to use a solar powered construction camera. Run by the sun and with enough battery backup power to last a long time, you can take them off-grid anywhere you require, without the need for wires. A standard specification will usually include:

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- A minimum WiFi, and an optional 4G connectivity.

- A minimum 4K resolution capture.

- Cloud hosted and password protected.

- 24-hour monitoring.

They offer all the benefits of a wired construction camera, but with none of the physical limitations. So, if you’re looking to invest in a wireless surveillance system, below are our top 6 benefits of using a solar-powered construction camera.

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ONE: Efficient Energy Off the Grid

Solar power is the conversion of energy from sunlight into electricity. It’s one if the best and most efficient benefits of all solar-powered equipment. In terms of construction cameras, they run on sunlight during the day, and any energy not used is stored in battery packs for low light conditions, such as night time or cloudy days. With this method, there is no need for an electrical power source from the grid, and because the cameras don’t need to rely on external electric, they are never affected by power outages. What’s more, because they don’t need access to outdoor power lines, they can be used anywhere – even in remote areas or other jobsites where a power source may not be readily available.

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TWO: Flexible Installation Options

One main reason companies opt for solar-powered equipment is because they can be installed anywhere. And without the need for cables or an electrical power source to operate them, they can be placed on a range of locations, such as large plots of land, farms, parks, schools and remote locations. This also helps when it comes to ensuring your project is cost-effective. Because of how flexible installation is, optimising the visibility of your site is easier and cheaper. Cameras can be grouped, with live feeds incorporated into a single secure login that combines all the footage captured into a simple, easy to view user interface.

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THREE: Environmentally Friendly

In a world that’s growing increasingly environmentally friendly, solar power has been revered as a clean and green alternative that leaves no carbon footprint. The only pollution they produce is during the production of the panels. Plus, the infrastructure needed to install them is minimal, meaning the environment and area surrounding the cameras remains undisturbed and intact. You can also earn money back for being green minded, as energy companies will usually buy back the electricity you generated that hasn’t been utilised.

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FOUR: 24/7 Surveillance Assurance

Using construction cameras is an obvious sign that oversight of the project site is important. Solar-powered cameras can come equipped with several features, such as alert notifications that are triggered when suspicious activity occurs. These notifications can warn you of unauthorised access, detrimental environmental conditions, and even camera performance issues. That’s why being able to rely on solar-powered cameras to constantly monitor the site is important.

Understanding how they convert their energy is helpful. The process involves either a direct conversion of energy called photovoltaics (PV), an indirect concentrated solar power (CSP), or a combination of both. In the case of solar-powered construction cameras, they soak up the sun during the day and store the excess solar energy generated by the panels in their battery backup systems. This means they work electricity-free around the clock, so you don’t have to worry about adverse weather conditions, because the battery pack will ensure the camera keeps rolling despite the clouds.

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FIVE: Money Saving and Cost-effective

Summarising the reasons solar-powered construction cameras are the most cost-effective solution is simple.

- There is no additional infrastructure necessary when deploying solar-powered cameras.

- Once the cameras are installed, their monitoring and maintenance is minimal.

- Because they’re powered by the sun, the cost of running them is free.

- Cabling and trenching costs are eliminated.

- Their battery power back-up source means they’ll work even in poor conditions.

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SIX: Greater Demand Equals Future Benefits

As their popularity increases, so do their improvements. The only current disadvantage of using solar-powered construction cameras is their initial cost. Although they more than pay for themselves in the long run, these up-front costs will decrease as the availability and designs for solar powered equipment increases (as dictated by the law of supply and demand). When that happens, the future benefits will far outweigh the initial cost of the cameras.

In conclusion, the benefits of solar powered construction cameras in comparison to a traditional CCTV system are clear. They offer total independence and control, constant surveillance that takes away the need to be everywhere at once, huge cost savings, and security that extends far beyond loss and prevention.

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