CCTV UPS & Battery Backup Calculator

Calculate CCTV camera, NVR, and PoE switch UPS apparent power (VA) and deep-cycle VRLA battery capacity (Ah) for power outage runtime.

Input Parameters

Try Example:

Calculation Results

camCount: 16
camWatt: 7.5
totalCamsWatt: 120
nvrHddCount: 2
nvrTotalWatt: 36
poeSwitches: 1
switchBaseWatt: 12
totalLoadWatt: 168
recommendedVa: 312
stdVa: 650
backupHours: 4
battVoltage: 12
requiredAh: 83
batteryUnits12V: 1
summaryText: Ringkasan Backup UPS & Baterai Aki CCTV – InfraCalc.id Perangkat Aktif: 16 Kamera (@7.5W) + NVR (2 HDD) + 1 Unit Switch Total Beban : 168 Watt Kontinu 24/7 Target Backup : 4 Jam tetap merekam saat listrik PLN padam Rekomendasi UPS: Minimal 650 VA (Wajib Pure Sinewave + External Battery / DC Power Backup) Kapasitas Aki : 1× Aki VRLA Deep-Cycle 12V @ minimal 83 Ah (Sistem 12V DC)

How to Use This Tool

Input total active CCTV cameras and specify average camera night-time power draw in Watts.
Specify the number of installed NVR hard drives, active PoE switches, and desired backup runtime in hours during power outages.
Select the DC battery bus voltage (12V, 24V, or 48V) to review recommended UPS VA sizing and battery bank Ampere-hour (Ah) capacities.

Worked Example: Standard 16-Camera 1080p 4-Hour Backup (12V)

Worked example: A 16-camera setup (@7.5W) with an NVR (2 HDDs) and 1 PoE switch draws a total continuous load of 168 Watts. To sustain non-stop recording for 4 hours during a blackout mandates a UPS of at least 650 VA paired with a 1× 12V VRLA battery bank rated for at least 83 Ah (12V DC system).

Example Input

{
  "camCount": 16,
  "camWatt": 7.5,
  "nvrHddCount": 2,
  "poeSwitches": 1,
  "backupHours": 4,
  "battVoltage": 12
}

Calculated Output

camCount:: 16
camWatt:: 7.5
totalCamsWatt:: 120
nvrHddCount:: 2
nvrTotalWatt:: 36
poeSwitches:: 1
switchBaseWatt:: 12
totalLoadWatt:: 168
recommendedVa:: 312
stdVa:: 650
backupHours:: 4
battVoltage:: 12
requiredAh:: 83
batteryUnits12V:: 1
summaryText:: Ringkasan Backup UPS & Baterai Aki CCTV – InfraCalc.id Perangkat Aktif: 16 Kamera (@7.5W) + NVR (2 HDD) + 1 Unit Switch Total Beban : 168 Watt Kontinu 24/7 Target Backup : 4 Jam tetap merekam saat listrik PLN padam Rekomendasi UPS: Minimal 650 VA (Wajib Pure Sinewave + External Battery / DC Power Backup) Kapasitas Aki : 1× Aki VRLA Deep-Cycle 12V @ minimal 83 Ah (Sistem 12V DC)

Core Concept & Engineering Notes

The operational integrity of physical security closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems depends fundamentally on continuous, zero-transfer-time electrical power backup during main utility outages. During commercial burglaries or deliberate perimeter sabotage, perpetrators frequently sever the facility's main electrical breakers first. If IP cameras, PoE switches, and NVR recording appliances lose power instantly, vital forensic evidence is irrevocably lost. Sizing an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) architecture for video surveillance introduces unique operational demands distinct from typical office workstations. Surveillance loads operate continuously around the clock with steady base consumption and night-time current surges driven by infrared illumination arrays. Consumer off-the-shelf UPS units equipped with tiny internal batteries typically sustain runtime for merely five to fifteen minutes, falling drastically short of standard commercial requirements demanding two to eight hours of continuous recording resilience. Consequently, surveillance integrators mandate Online Double Conversion or Line-Interactive Pure Sinewave UPS systems featuring external DC battery bus connectivity. When sizing deep-cycle VRLA (Valve Regulated Lead Acid) battery banks, engineers must rigorously factor an 85% DC-to-AC inverter conversion efficiency alongside an 80% Depth of Discharge (DoD) threshold to protect lead-acid battery plates from irreversible chemical sulfation and capacity degradation. This calculator models complete CCTV system power loads, recommended UPS apparent power VA ratings, and mandatory battery ampere-hour (Ah) capacities.

How It Was Calculated (Formulas & Steps)

Mathematical Formulas

Total System Load (W) = (Cameras × Power W) + (NVR Base 18W + HDDs × 9W) + (PoE Switches × 12W)
Recommended UPS Apparent Power (VA) = ceil((Total Watts × 1.3 Safety Margin) ÷ 0.7 Power Factor)
Battery Bank Capacity (Ah) = ceil((Total Watts × Backup Hours) ÷ (DC Bus Volts × 0.85 Inverter × 0.80 DoD))
12V Battery Series Units = round(DC Bus Volts ÷ 12)

Step-by-Step Calculation

1. Active CCTV System Load: Cameras (16 × 7.5W = 120W) + NVR (Base 18W + 2 HDDs × 9W = 36W) + PoE Switches (1 × 12W = 12W) = 168 Watts continuous
2. Minimum UPS Capacity: (168 W × 1.3 safety margin) / 0.7 power factor = 312 VA -> Selected standard rating: 650 VA
3. Battery Energy Requirement: (168 W × 4 hours) = 672 Watt-hours
4. VRLA Battery Bank Sizing: (672 Wh) / (12V DC bus × 0.85 inverter efficiency × 0.80 Depth of Discharge DoD) = 83 Ah
5. Battery Bank Configuration: 1× 12V series batteries yielding 12V DC bus at 83 Ah

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why are standard desktop office UPS units unsuitable for CCTV installations?

Standard consumer UPS units are designed exclusively for 5–10 minutes of runtime to allow graceful operating system shutdown. Furthermore, budget units output simulated modified sinewaves, which generate harmonic distortion, electrical hum, and premature failure across sensitive PoE switch power supplies.

What is the difference between 12V, 24V, and 48V battery bus systems on a UPS?

Higher DC bus voltages (e.g. 48V DC constructed by four 12V batteries in series) divide current proportionally for an identical power load. This substantially reduces resistive I²R heat generation in battery cables and boosts inverter efficiency across large CCTV deployments.

Why is battery Depth of Discharge (DoD) capped at a maximum of 80%?

Discharging lead-acid (VRLA/AGM) batteries down to 100% capacity triggers irreversible lead sulfation across internal plates, degrading operational lifespan from hundreds of cycles down to a few dozen. Limiting discharge to 80% DoD preserves battery health over 3 to 5 years.

Server UPS VA/kVA & Battery Runtime Calculator

Calculate server UPS capacity (kVA/VA), VRLA battery runtime (Ah), and 24/7 monthly electricity cost with 25% safety margin and power factor.

PoE Cable Voltage Drop Calculator

Calculate PoE Cat6, Cat5e, and CCA cable voltage drop, delivered terminal voltage, safe run distances, and night-time infrared reboot risks.

CCTV NVR Storage Capacity & Bandwidth Calculator

Calculate CCTV NVR storage capacity (TB), network ingress bandwidth Mbps, recording retention days, PoE budgets, and surveillance HDD recommendations.

References & Notes

Last updated: 2026-11-06Content Status: Draft (Pending Editorial Review)

Note: Results above are mathematical estimates based on standard formulas. Always verify against official vendor documentation and site conditions before production deployment.