Before You Buy Battery Powered Motion Security Cameras: Read This

Choosing a battery operated security camera with motion detector can be tricky.

Some battery powered motion activated CCTV cameras alert you in real-time when human movement is detected, while some send tons of false alarms each day or can’t even send any alerts.

If you are in the market for a battery powered motion detector CCTV camera, read this guide to set yourself on the right path.

How Battery Powered Motion Activated Security Cameras Work

A battery powered motion activated security camera uses PIR (Passive Infrared) sensor to detect changes in the surrounding area's ambient infrared radiation.

When a human or animal body gets in the range of the sensor, the battery operated motion sensor security cameras can sense the infrared energy and trigger instant alerts, like smart siren, email snapshots and push notifications.

Normally the high quality battery motion activated security cameras will allow you to enable or disable these alert options via the camera app, so that you can customize an alarm mode that suits you most.

Unlike the pixel based motion detection, which compares the changes in pixels from one frame to another, the battery operated security IP camera with PIR motion sensor measures infrared light emitted from objects that generate heat.

Working in this way, the battery powered motion detection security cameras can greatly reduce the false positives from wind in the trees, shadows, etc.

Watch the video below to see how the rechargeable battery operated motion sensor security cameras, Reolink Argus 2 works.

Video Transcription

When someone enters the monitoring zone of this battery operated outdoor motion activated camera Reolink Argus 2, such as a mailman at your front door, you will receive an instant push notification alert from your phone. And then you can log into the app and inform him to leave your package at your porch via the two-way audio function.

Factors to Consider Before Buying Battery Operated Security Cameras with Motion Detectors

Before you buy a battery powered motion activated security camera, make sure you have considered all the following important factors.

1. False Positives

Don’t want too many false positives from your battery powered motion sensor IP camera?

Check if the battery operated security cameras with motion detectors allow you to adjust motion detection sensitivity. The less sensitive the motion detection is, the battery powered motion IP camera is less likely to trigger alarms.

Over time, you will find the exact sensitivity in the motion detection battery powered camera that works for your particular location and situation.

Another method to reduce false positives is to place your battery operated motion activated CCTV security camera in a proper spot. If possible, do not allow any moving items to remain in an area where the PIR motion sensor is located.

Bonus: Read this post to learn more tips about how to reduce false alarms battery powered motion activated cameras.

2. Scheduling

The scheduling feature of battery motion trigger security cameras allows you to set the specific time for motion detection and alert notifications.

This is particularly useful when you only want to be notified in certain situations, say, when you are away from home or when your kids come back from school.

It can also reduce the unwanted alarms of your battery control motion activated security cameras and save recording space.

3. Local Recording

Some battery powered motion activated security cameras are equipped with an SD card slot. If so, you can save the motion triggered events directly on the battery operated motion detector security camera with SD card.

And the battery powered motion activated security cameras with memory card can also eliminate the monthly storage fees (See more home security systems without contract and monthly fees).

4. Resolution

The recorded videos are of little use if they are blurry or distorted, so look for a battery powered motion detection security camera with highest possible resolution that can provide you with more details, like the license plate numbers and human face features.

Now most battery control motion sensor security cameras display 720p images and videos, but some have led the way and come out with 1080p resolution, such as Reolink Argus 2 and Reolink Argus Pro. (Click here to learn more about the high resolution battery operated motion security cameras.)

Below is a video shared by a real user of Reolink Argus 2.

5. Alert Options

When the battery powered motion aactivated security camera detects any human movement, you certainly want to be alerted in real time.

Some top battery operated security cameras with motion detectors, like Reolink Argus 2, offer multiple alert options, including the voice alert, emails with snapshots and push notifications to your phone.

Besides that, the 4G/3G battery operated security camera with motion detector Reolink Go, also allows you to record your own alert message, so you can get notified with it when motion is detected.

6. Night Vision

Whether you want a battery operated security camera with motion detector for home or for cars, clear night vision is a must-have feature for the battery powered motion activated CCTV security cameras.

Now some battery powered motion security cameras even provide starlight night vision by utilizing the cutting-edge image sensors, which take the image quality in low-lit conditions to a new height and allow for color video recording as well.

Say, you want to catch the car thief on tape at night, the battery powered motion activated security cameras with starlight night vision will be the most helpful tool to recognize the prowler’s face.

Watch the image captured by a user of Reolink Argus 2 to check out its performance at night.

7. Battery Life

The battery life of wire free battery operated motion activated security cameras is often listed in the product specification. You can make a comparison among some battery operated security cameras with motion detectors and go for the one with longer battery life.

In fact, your actual usage can also impact the camera’s battery life. Learn the tips on how to extend battery life of indoor & outdoor battery motion activated surveillance cameras.

Better Idea: The outdoor battery motion activated surveillance cameras that offer multiple powering options can free you from the concerns about battery life.

Taking Reolink Argus 2 and Reolink Argus Pro as examples, both of them can get continuous power from both the included rechargeable battery and the Reolink solar panel, saving you the trouble and money to replace batteries frequently.

Best Battery Powered Motion Activated Security Cameras

To save you the trouble of endless search, here we select three best battery operated security cameras with motion detectors for your reference.

1. Reolink Argus 2 – Best Rechargeable Battery Operated Motion Detector Security Camera

Reolink Argus 2 is a long-awaited rechargeable battery operated motion activated security camera and has become another hit following its predecessor, Reolink Argus®.

After its official release, this outdoor battery powered motion sensor security cameras has impressed numerous consumers with the features that are difficult to find among its peers, like the starlight night vision, flexible powering options (battery powered & solar powered), etc.

With a built-in smart PIR motion sensor, Argus 2 is highly sensitive to human movement and can send you multiple alerts (siren, push notifications & email snapshots).

The false alarm rate of Argus 2 has also been minimized to be lower than 0.1%. Neither the passing cars nor the wind from the trees will trigger motion recordings of this small-sized rechargeable battery motion activated camera.

Featuring 1080p Full HD and starlight night vision, the indoor & outdoor battery operated motion activated security camera Reolink Argus® 2 displays crisp videos even in total darkness. You can also adjust the camera settings to get color images and videos at night, so that you can tell the color of the clothing a suspect was wearing or the car he was driving.

Watch the video shared by a real user of the battery wireless motion activated security camera Reolink Argus 2.

2. Reolink Go – Best Cellular Battery Operated Motion Sensor Security Camera

As noted above, the cellular battery operated motion sensor security camera Reolink Go can not only send instant alerts (push notifications, emails, siren) upon motion detection, you can also record your customized alert message to be alerted when motion is detected.

This 4G/3G mobile rechargeable battery powered motion activated security camera is designed to meet your security needs in the places without WiFi connection and power, such as your barns, farms, construction sites, campsites, RVs, vacation homes, etc.

Despite of the different usages, Reolink Go possesses some common features with Reolink Argus 2, including the flexible powering options (rechargeable battery powered and solar powered), starlight night vision, 1080p Full HD, two-way audio and IP65 weatherproof.

Watch the video below to check out the image quality of Reolink Go cellular battery powered motion activated security camera (shared by Jens on his Youtube channel).

Installation Tips on Battery Powered Motion Activated Security Cameras

“Bugs set off recording of my outdoor battery powered motion activated security camera while a person walking from 20 feet away towards the camera triggers no alarms, any suggestions?”

If you have met such similar problems with your battery operated motion sensor cameras, chances are that you have installed them in a wrong way.

Now follow the expert installation tips below to get the best performance of your battery operated motion activated security cameras.

Tips to Place Battery Operated Motion Detector Cameras with External PIR Motion Sensors

• Make sure the monitoring place is within your battery operated motion detector camera’s field of view and the PIR motion sensor’s range.
• Keep the PIR motion sensor and the camera away from other wireless devices to avoid possible interference, such as the WiFi router, phones, etc.
• Don’t place the PIR sensor and your battery powered motion sensor CCTV camera facing the mirror or the sunlight.

Shortcuts to Install Battery Powered Motion Detector Cameras with Built-in PIR Motion Sensors

• Keep the place that you want to monitor in the battery operated motion sensor IP camera's field of view.
• Mount your battery control motion sensor camera at least 7 feet (2.1 meters) above the floor and the angle between the camera and detected object is best to be larger than 10° for effective motion detection.
• Don’t place the battery operated motion activated security cameras with embedded PIR motion sensors behind the glass or windows. (See the reason why it is not recommended.)

Quick Fixes If Motion Detection Is Not Working

Your battery operated security cameras with motion detectors failed to detect motion and send you alerts? Try out the following methods to troubleshoot the problems.

• As noted above, make sure the battery powered motion detection cameras are placed in the right manner.
• Check if you have enabled or scheduled motion detection in the security camera App.
• Ensure that the motion sensitivity of your battery operated motion detector security camera is not set too low.
• Confirm if the battery power of your battery operated motion security camera is low.
• Examine if you have entered the right email address in the security camera App as the camera may have detected motion events but send email alerts to the wrong place.

Bump: Here are more handy solutions for the common issues of battery operated security cameras with motion detectors.

Your Turn: What problems do you have when selecting the battery powered motion activated cameras? Or do you need some help with the installation or usage of battery powered motion cameras? Leave your questions and comments in the box below! We’d love to hear from you and solve your problems ASAP.