One of the difficulties in placing a security camera in a strategic outdoor location is providing a power supply, and one of the solutions is to use a camera with battery power. Rechargeable batteries also require attention when it comes to replacing the battery or recharge them. So that’s why, the best solution is to use a security camera with solar power.
In this article
- Why solar powered security camera
- Best Solar Powered Camras Reolink Argus PT vs Solium S600
Why Solar Powered Security Camera
In general, security cameras are powered by electricity so that the placement of the camera must be close to the electrical outlet at home. Meanwhile, for data communication in general the IP camera uses UTP network cable to connect to home internet. What happens if you have to install the security camera in a location far from the electricity power source and the network cable is not possible to run?
See also Blink vs Arlo wire-free cameras
Battery powered camera
When the electrical outlet is an obstacle for the camera that you need to place far away from home, the option is to select the security camera with battery powered either disposable battery or rechargeable battery. Disposable battery is not a preference for most people; so the more practical option is a camera with a rechargeable battery.
Solar powered
When the camera gives you an alert to recharge the battery, you need to replace it with fully-charged one. For this reason, the most appropriate solution is to use solar power as a battery charger, so there is no need to bother with recharging the battery. This is in line with our spirit of using renewable energy, especially in areas with abundant sunlight during the day.
Wire-free cameras
Besides eliminating the power cable, a security camera with solar power also requires a wifi connectivity feature if placement in a remote location is required. Unless the camera is close to wired internet network at home, it is better to use a wired connection because it is more reliable against signal interference. Most solar powered security cameras today are ready with a wifi adapter for wire-free connectivity.
Most homes security camera products today come with wifi connectivity including Reolink, Arlo, Ring Stickup and still more.
Which best solar powered cameras for homes?
Looking for the best solar powered security camera is like shooting a flying target, there will always come new products with higher specs and features. For home property surveillance needs, a 2k resolution security camera is sufficient; at least your camera can do expansive surveillance with the person/vehicle detection feature.
Best value Reolink Argus PT vs Solium S600
We find two best solar powered security cameras with affordable price in the market you may consider, appropriate for home surveillance with sustainable energy.
1. Reolink Argus PT 2k
You may find bunch of security cameras with solar powered available in the market with affordable price and of the best solar power cameras in the market with affordable price is offered by Reolink: Reolink Argus PT with 4MP resolution.
Few models of wire-free security cameras cannot work stand alone but require a sync module. Reolink Argus PT can work stand alone and can connect directly to your wifi network at home. And one more apparent difference with most popular Arlo series is that this Reolink argus pt has panning and tilting capabilities like PTZ cameras in general that can panning endless 360 degrees covering the whole area.
Reolink argus is powered by a rechargeable battery and you can opt to add Reolink solar panel for sustainable energy. This is the newer model that comes with 2 k (4MP) resolutions with Pan and Tilt and digital zoom capabilities to cover up to 355 degree horizontally with 122 degree diagonal field of view angle.
Highlights
- Super Full HD 2K (4MP) with 122 degree diagonal field of view angle and 16x digital zoom
- Night vision with 6pcs IR LEDs range up to 33ft (10m)
- Supports up to 100 degree horizontal PIR detection up to 33ft distance; you can customized the PIR sensitivity and schedule;
- Smarter features with human and vehicle detection with customized verbal alerts with its two way audio communications and built-in speaker and microphone
- Pan and Tilt features, up to 355 degree panning horizontally and up to 140 degree tilting vertically, covering the whole viewing angle of your property you can manage and control remotely with its reolink app
- Wifi 802.11b/g/n connectivity with single 2.4GHz radio band
- DC power and 6000mAh rechargeable battery with optional reolink Solar power
- Supports local micro SD card storage up to 128GB and optional cloud storage
With a price of under $150, Reolink Argus pt is very adequate to be implemented to monitor your property at home, with a water resistant feature you can install it in locations exposed to hot and rainy environment and with the option of a solar panel, Reolink Argus pt is one of the best solar power cameras in its class and is not costly.
There are bunch of solar powered security camera products in the market and one of most popular ones is also introduced by Solium S600.
2. Soliom S600
Similar product as offered by Reolink Argus pt as discussed above you may also consider is Soliom S600 security camera with larger solar panel. When you compared Soliom with Reolink Argus above see that Soliom offers larger battery capacity up to threefold as high capacity as Reolink Argus.
In addition, Soliom comes with Spotlights white LEDs to illuminate bright light around the camera to allow you record in color night vision. You may also like to turn on the spotlight for black and white night vision like security camera in general.
Today, you can find many models of security camera with color night vision such as Annke BR200 color night vision or you may like GW Security 8 channels AI with color night vision.
As comparison the following spec comparison table shows you more details the strengths and weaknesses of each the products.
Camera
Reolink argus with twice the resolution compared to Solium makes this camera superior and provides sharper images. Besides that, Reolink argus pt supports 16x digital zoom, compared to Solium which only provides 3x digital zoom this makes sense since the resolution is only 1080p.
The Solium s600 is a security camera packed and built with solar panel, while the Reolink solar panel is an option that you can attach and remove as needed.
Night vision
One of the more favorable specs for Soliom S600 is that this camera is equipped with 4pcs white LEDs which can provide color night vision in addition to b/w night vision. In contrast to Reolink which is only equipped with IR LEDs, it can only provide b/w night vision with a daylight sensor. Of course, with color night vision, Solium is more attractive; however the resolution which is only half compared to Reolink is one of the drawbacks.
Smarter event
Event detection is more accurate if your camera can detect human and vehicle instead of just motion detection and Reolink supports smarter event detection that can distinguish human and vehicle detection. With the human and vehicle detection feature, reolink argus pt is more accurate and reduces false alerts.
Read more detail the following comparison table between these two products.
Table 1 Reolink Argus vs Soliom solar power cameras
| Solar powered security camera models | Reolink Argus PT | Soliom S600 |
| Image Sensor | 1/3inch CMOS image sensor | Starlight image sensor |
| Resolution | 2k (4MP) 2560 x 1440 @15fps | Full HD 1080p |
| Video format | Supports H.265 | Supports H.264+ |
| Field of view angle | 122 degree diagonal | 160 degree diagonal view angle |
| Zoom | 16x digital zoom | 3x digital zoom |
| Spotlight | N/A | Yes, 4pcs white LEDs |
| Night vision | 6pcs IR LEDs range up to 33ft (10m) | B/W with 2x IR LEDs range up to 32ft (10m) and color night vision with controllable white LEDs |
| PIR sensor | 100 degree detection angle, distance up to 33ft (10m) | Digital PIR sensor 120 degree detecting angle |
| Event detection | PIR detection Human and vehicle detection | Motion detection |
| PT | Panning up to 355 degree horizontal and up to 140 degree vertical | Panning up to 320 degree horizontal and up to 90 degree vertical |
| Audio | Two way with built-in speaker and microphone | Two way audio with noise cancellation, built-in speaker and microphone |
| Connectivity | 802.11b/g/n wifi @2.4GHz band | 802.11b/g/n wifi @2.4GHz band |
| Power | DC5V/2A with USB power adapter; 6000mAh rechargeable battery Optional Reolink solar panel | 4000mAh rechargeable battery, you can install up to 18650mAh battery with solar panel |
| Memory storage | Local memory storage micro SD Card up to 128GB Cloud storage option available | Local memory micro SD Card up to 128GB and supports cloud storage |
| Outdoor | IP64 weatherproof | IP65 weatherproof |
| Dimension & weight | Φ98 x 112 mm 470 gram (16.5oz) | 11.3 in x 7.8 in x 6.6 in (28.6 cm x 19.8 cm x 16.8 cm) |
| Price (Amazon Jun 2022) | $139.99 | $149.00 |
The price difference is not too much, you can say that they are tagged with the same price. Prices are always fluctuated by time. Click the product’s link below to read more details in Amazon (#ads).
- Click here to SHOP Reolink Argus pt
- Or select the color night vision model, Click here to SHOP Soliom S600
Related products
For 8 channels NVR system for business needs, you may consider Lorex 8 channel active deterrent security cameras vs Reolink, or the larger channels requirement you may consider GW Security 32 channels system kit
For homes with baby or pet, consider Vtech Vm5436 video baby monitor.
