How Long Will a UPS Last for Your 2, 4, 6, or 8 Camera System?
Ensuring continuous surveillance during power outages means having the right UPS capacity. Here's how long popular UPS models from CCTV Guru will run with different camera setups — and how to estimate runtimes yourself.
UPS Models Overview
Compact line-interactive UPS with voltage stabilisation and full protection.
Basic protection with AVR and surge defense.
Higher capacity for more demanding setups.
Robust runtime with AVR and LCD monitoring.
Runtime Estimation Formula
Runtime (hours) = (Battery capacity in watt-hours × Efficiency) ÷ Total load (watts)
Bitrate in Mbps
Efficiency is usually ~80% for most UPS units.
Example Calculation (Estimates)
Assuming modern IP cameras draw approximately 8 W each, and an NVR draws 20 W (plus an HDD ~6 W), here are rough runtime estimates:
-
Total load estimates:
- 2 Cameras + NVR = 2×8 + 20 = 36 W
- 4 Cameras + NVR = 4×8 + 20 = 52 W
- 6 Cameras + NVR = 6×8 + 20 = 68 W
- 8 Cameras + NVR = 8×8 + 20 = 84 W
-
Estimated battery capacity equivalents (approx.):
- 600VA ≈ 360 W × 1 hour = ~360 Wh
- 1 000VA ≈ 600 W × 1 hour = ~600 Wh
- 2 000VA ≈ 1 200 W × 1 hour = ~1 200 Wh
Estimated Runtimes (assuming 80% efficiency)
| UPS Model |
2 Cams (~36 W) |
4 Cams (~52 W) |
6 Cams (~68 W) |
8 Cams (~84 W) |
| 600 VA / 360 W |
≈ 8 h |
≈ 5.5 h |
≈ 4.2 h |
≈ 3.4 h |
| 1 000 VA / 600 W |
≈ 13.3 h |
≈ 9.2 h |
≈ 7.1 h |
≈ 5.7 h |
| 2 000 VA / 1 200 W |
≈ 26.7 h |
≈ 18.5 h |
≈ 14.1 h |
≈ 11.4 h |
How to Apply to Your Setup
- Check the UPS spec for battery capacity (in Wh or VA × power factor).
- Add up your equipment's power draw: cameras, NVR, HDDs, PoE switch, etc.
- Plug values into the runtime formula above.
- Allow a safety margin: UPS efficiency varies and batteries degrade.
Bottom Line
- A 600 VA (360 W) UPS typically gives ~3–8 hours, depending on camera count.
- A 1 000 VA (600 W) model roughly doubles that runtime.
- Larger installations (6–8 cameras) benefit most from a 2 000 VA or above UPS.
- Real-world runtime depends on device load, battery health, temperature, and UPS efficiency.
Note: These runtimes are estimates — actual results may vary depending on your equipment and conditions.
