Part of UPS applications → Security / surveillance
UPS for CCTV: what size do I need?
Size chart for CCTV and security cameras (4–16 PoE IP or analog + NVR/DVR) — pick VA by camera count first, then verify backup minutes in the workflow below. This is a sizing guide, not a shopping list.
Best for: PoE IP / security camera and NVR or DVR installs sizing VA before purchase. Not ideal for: city-wide CCTV, Amazon “best UPS” shopping alone, or stamped electrical studies.
Recommended UPS size for CCTV & security cameras (by camera count)
Quick answer — what size UPS for CCTV or security cameras? Same plant either way: do not buy one VA for every site. Screening: 4 cameras → 650 VA; 8 cameras → 1000 VA; 16 cameras → 1500 VA (line-interactive, ~30% headroom). Protect the PoE switch + NVR/DVR with the cameras—not cameras alone. A blanket “1500 VA for all CCTV” often oversizes small plants and still undersizes long backup policies—confirm watts and minutes below.
| Cameras | Typical load | Buy this UPS size | Typical backup (screening) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 cameras | ~98 W (0.10 kW) | 650 VA / ~400 W | 20–40 min (stock battery) |
| 8 cameras | ~171 W (0.17 kW) | 1000 VA / ~650 W | 20–35 min (stock battery) |
| 16 cameras | ~307 W (0.31 kW) | 1500 VA / ~900–1050 W | 25–45 min (stock battery) |
| 24–32 cameras | ~450–600 W | 3000 VA+ | External battery bank |
Visible loop: camera count → buy VA (table) → confirm UPS capacity (kVA) from measured kW → verify minutes in the sizing workflow below (runtime presets only in step 4).
Which UPS for your surveillance deployment?
Purchase decision by site type—not just camera count. Match topology and battery chemistry to how the CCTV / security camera plant is installed (PoE IP + NVR or analog + DVR).
| Deployment | Typical scale | Recommended UPS | Topology | Battery / notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail / small office | 4–8 cameras | 650–1000 VA | Line-interactive | Stock VRLA; 30 min recording policy common |
| Warehouse / retail edge | 8–16 cameras | 1000–1500 VA | Line-interactive | Add battery string if 60+ min required |
| Outdoor cabinet | 4–16 cameras | Per measured load + derate | Line-interactive or online | Lithium often preferred in heat; derate minutes |
| High-security / noisy utility | 8+ cameras | 1500 VA+ | Online double-conversion | Zero transfer gap for continuous NVR recording |
When to choose online UPS: Frequent brownouts, motor loads on the same feeder, or policies that cannot tolerate a recording gap during switchover to battery.
CCTV UPS buying checklist
Complete before purchase—screening ranges on this page are not product endorsements.
- Measured watts per camera channel (not PoE class budget alone)
- PoE switch base draw included (typically 15–30 W plus camera PoE)
- NVR, switch, and cameras on the same protected UPS branch
- Backup minutes policy defined (30 / 60 / 120 min)
- Outdoor cabinet heat derate applied if applicable
- Online vs line-interactive chosen for site power quality
- Manufacturer runtime chart checked at your measured kW and Ah
CCTV UPS sizing workflow
Four steps from surveillance load to verified backup minutes. Runtime presets are the last step—not the starting point.
-
Measure CCTV load
Sum IP camera, PoE switch, NVR/DVR, and router watts on the protected branch.
UPS Load Calculator -
Pick UPS size (kVA)
Convert kW to kVA with site power factor (~0.8 for mixed IT/CCTV) and add headroom.
UPS Capacity Calculator -
Size battery Ah
Enter target backup minutes and battery voltage to estimate required Ah.
UPS Battery Calculator -
Verify surveillance backup time
Confirm minutes at your measured kW, UPS kVA, and Ah before procurement. Open a camera-count preset:
PoE standards for CCTV cameras
Switch PoE class limits are not the same as measured camera draw. Budget per channel, then add switch base power (typically 15–30 W) plus NVR load.
| Standard | IEEE | Max per port | Typical CCTV use |
|---|---|---|---|
| PoE | 802.3af | 15.4 W (12.95 W at device) | Fixed dome, bullet, 8–12 W measured |
| PoE+ | 802.3at | 30 W (25.5 W at device) | IR night vision, PTZ, 15–25 W |
| PoE++ | 802.3bt | 60–90 W | Heated outdoor, long-range IR, multi-sensor |
Brands such as Hikvision, Dahua, Axis, Ubiquiti, and Reolink publish per-model watts in datasheets—use measured values, not PoE budget alone.
How much power does a CCTV system use?
Include every device on the same UPS branch: cameras, recorder, PoE switch, monitor, and uplink router if remote viewing must survive outages.
| Device | Typical power | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| IP camera (non-PoE, local adapter) | 6–10 W | Fixed dome, no IR heaters |
| PoE IP camera | 8–15 W | Higher with IR or motorised PTZ |
| PoE+ / high-power camera | 15–25 W | Long-range IR, heaters, PTZ |
| NVR (4–16 channel) | 25–60 W | Add storage bays and fans |
| DVR (legacy coax) | 20–45 W | Cameras powered separately |
| PoE switch (8-port) | 15–25 W | Excludes delivered PoE to cameras |
| PoE switch (24-port, partial load) | 40–80 W | Scale with active ports |
Last reviewed: July 2026. Values are planning estimates—meter each channel where possible.
Example: 4, 8, and 16 camera load roll-ups
| System | Cameras | NVR | PoE switch | Total (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-camera site | 4 × 12 W = 48 W | 30 W | 20 W | ~98 W |
| 8-camera site | 8 × 12 W = 96 W | 40 W | 35 W | ~171 W |
| 16-camera site | 16 × 12 W = 192 W | 55 W | 60 W | ~307 W |
Recommended backup time for CCTV
- 15 minutes: Graceful NVR shutdown and brief blips—minimum for unattended recorders.
- 30 minutes: Common retail / office policy; covers most utility reclosers.
- 60 minutes: Sites without generators that must keep recording through longer outages.
- 120+ minutes: Remote sites, gate security, or until manual generator start—size extra battery strings.
Key variables for surveillance UPS
- PoE budget vs. measured draw: Switch PoE class limits differ from real camera consumption—sum per-channel measurements when possible.
- Motion detection & night IR: Recording and IR LEDs can add 2–5 W per camera versus daytime steady draw.
- PTZ patrol: Motorised cameras may spike to 20–30 W during movement.
- Outdoor cabinet temperature: Heat accelerates battery aging; derate expected minutes for wall-mounted enclosures in sun load.
- Single PoE switch failure point: If the switch loses power, every camera on that switch goes dark—size the UPS for the full switch + camera load.
Common CCTV UPS sizing mistakes
- Using PoE class budget instead of measured watts — oversizes VA and wastes budget, or undersizes if IR runs at night.
- Forgetting the PoE switch base draw — add 15–30 W plus delivered PoE to cameras.
- Protecting only the NVR — cameras and switch still drop if not on the same UPS branch.
- Sizing on VA nameplate alone — binding limit is output kW; confirm watts at your power factor.
- Expecting stock battery for multi-hour recording — long policies need extra Ah strings or external battery cabinets.
UPS battery sizing for CCTV
Battery minutes scale with usable Ah at your system voltage, UPS efficiency (~0.8 screening), and safety factor (~0.7 for aged cells). Parallel strings increase Ah when the UPS supports them.
Example: 0.17 kW (8-camera plant) on a 1 kVA UPS with 48 V / 100 Ah often screens near 45–75 minutes before temperature and age derates—add a second string if policy requires 120 minutes.
Assumptions and disclaimer
Figures on this page are planning estimates using typical efficiency (~0.8) and safety factor (~0.7). Battery age, temperature, discharge rate, and UPS topology change real minutes. VA recommendations are screening ranges, not product endorsements. Confirm procurement with manufacturer runtime charts and your licensed engineer where required.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
What size UPS do I need for CCTV?
Size by camera count and measured watts—not a single VA for every site. Screening: 4 cameras → about 650 VA; 8 cameras → about 1000 VA; 16 cameras → about 1500 VA (line-interactive, ~30% headroom). Confirm with PoE switch + NVR load and your backup-minute policy.
Which UPS is best for a CCTV system?
The best UPS is the VA band that clears measured kW with headroom and matches topology to site power quality. Most small PoE + NVR plants use line-interactive 650–1500 VA; choose online double-conversion for noisy utility or zero-transfer recording policies. Prefer expandable battery if you need 60–120+ minutes.
How long will a 1500VA UPS last?
Runtime depends on load watts and battery Ah—not VA alone. On a ~0.31 kW (16-camera) plant, a 1500 VA UPS with stock VRLA often screens near 25–45 minutes; the same chassis at ~0.10 kW (4 cameras) can run longer. Verify with manufacturer charts or the UPS Runtime Calculator at your measured kW.
What size power supply do I need for CCTV?
If you mean a UPS (backup power), use the camera-count VA chart on this page. If you mean DC adapters or PoE budget only, size each camera to its datasheet watts and the switch PoE class—those are not substitutes for UPS VA when you need recording through an outage.
Can I use UPS for CCTV camera?
Yes. Put the PoE switch, cameras (via PoE), and NVR on the same UPS branch so recording and live view survive utility drops. Size VA on total watts, not camera count alone.
What is UPS in CCTV?
A UPS (uninterruptible power supply) bridges CCTV loads—typically PoE switch, IP cameras, and NVR—during brownouts and short outages so recording continues. It is not a generator; long outages still need extra battery or a generator.
Do you need UPS for CCTV?
You need a UPS when recording or remote viewing must survive brief utility events. Sites that only need a graceful NVR shutdown can use a smaller UPS; critical retail or remote gate cameras usually target 30–120 minutes of backup.
What size UPS for 8 cameras?
Screen roughly 150–250 W total load (8 PoE cameras + NVR + switch). A 1000 VA / 650 W line-interactive UPS with ~30% headroom is a common starting point—confirm with measured watts and your target backup minutes.
Can a UPS power a PoE switch?
Yes—PoE switches are often the largest steady load in small CCTV plants. Include switch PoE budget and any uplink gear on the same protected branch when sizing VA and battery Ah.
How long should CCTV stay online during an outage?
Many sites target 30–120 minutes so recording continues through brief outages. Critical sites or those without generators may need several hours—size battery Ah to your policy, not a generic default.
What battery Ah is required for 60 minutes of CCTV backup?
Depends on total kW, battery voltage, string count, UPS efficiency, and age derate. Use the UPS Battery Calculator for Ah from load and minutes, then verify minutes in the Runtime Calculator with your nameplate values.
Should NVR and cameras share one UPS?
Common for small installs: one UPS feeds PoE switch, cameras, and NVR. Sum steady watts; avoid mixing high-inrush loads (motors, large HVAC) on the same branch.
How much power does a 4-camera CCTV system consume?
Typical screening: 4 × 12 W PoE cameras (48 W) + 30 W NVR + 20 W PoE switch ≈ 98 W (0.1 kW). Night IR and heater-equipped outdoor cameras can run higher—measure per channel when possible.
What UPS works for outdoor CCTV cabinets?
Choose a temperature-rated enclosure and derate battery minutes for heat. Lithium packs tolerate wider temperature swings than VRLA in many cabinets—still follow the manufacturer chart for your ambient range.
UPS vs generator for CCTV — which is better?
UPS bridges seconds-to-minutes instantly; generators cover long outages but need start time. Many sites use UPS for ride-through and recording continuity, plus a generator for extended events.
Can I use inverter batteries for CCTV UPS?
Only when the UPS or external battery cabinet is designed for that chemistry and BMS. Do not substitute automotive or inverter cells on a VRLA-rated string without an engineer-approved plan.
Do I need online or line-interactive UPS for NVR recording?
Line-interactive UPS units cover most small CCTV sites. Online double-conversion helps when input power is noisy or sag-heavy; either type must be sized on real kW, not VA nameplate alone.
What size UPS for security cameras?
Same screening as UPS for CCTV: size by camera count and measured watts. Typical: 4 cameras → about 650 VA; 8 → about 1000 VA; 16 → about 1500 VA (line-interactive, ~30% headroom). Include the PoE switch + NVR or DVR on the protected branch—not cameras alone. Use the chart above, then verify minutes in the UPS Runtime Calculator.
Do I need a different UPS for DVR vs NVR security cameras?
No separate product category—size on total watts. Analog DVR plants often draw less than PoE IP + NVR at the same channel count, but IR, heaters, and the recorder still dominate. Measure DVR + camera power supplies (or PoE budget), then use the camera-count chart as a ceiling check.
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