Why Is My Blink Camera Battery Draining So Fast?
A key benefit of the Blink security camera system is its long battery life, with the promise of up to two years of operation on a single set of batteries. So, it can be both surprising and frustrating when you find yourself needing to replace them every few weeks or months. If your Blink camera's battery is draining faster than expected, you've come to the right place.
This guide will help you understand the common causes of rapid battery drain and provide you with effective, easy-to-follow solutions to maximise your camera's battery performance.
Key Factors That Affect Blink Camera Battery Life
Several factors contribute to how long your batteries last. Identifying which of these apply to your setup is the first step towards a solution.
- Battery Type: Using alkaline or rechargeable batteries instead of the recommended lithium ones is a primary cause of poor performance.
- Frequent Motion Events: A camera placed in a high-traffic area will activate, record, and use its Wi-Fi far more often, consuming more power.
- Poor Signal Strength: The camera uses more energy to maintain a connection if it has a weak signal to your Wi-Fi or the Blink Sync Module.
- Extreme Temperatures: Very cold or very hot weather can negatively impact battery chemistry and performance.
- In-App Settings: Long clip-recording lengths, high sensitivity settings, and frequent use of the live view feature all contribute to faster battery drain.
Step-by-Step Guide to Improve Blink Camera Battery Life
Let's work through the solutions to extend the time between battery changes.
1. Use the Correct Batteries
This is the most important step. Blink strongly recommends using AA 1.5V Lithium non-rechargeable batteries.
- Avoid Alkaline: Standard alkaline batteries cannot provide stable voltage for long periods in a high-drain device like a security camera.
- Avoid Rechargeable: Rechargeable batteries (including Ni-MH and Li-Ion) often have a different voltage and are not supported, which can lead to unexpected shutdowns.
2. Optimise Your Camera's Settings in the Blink App
You can make several adjustments within the app to conserve power.
- Clip Length: Reduce the recording time for motion clips. A shorter duration, like 10 seconds, uses less power than 30 seconds.
- Retrigger Time: Increase the retrigger time. This is the cooldown period after a motion event ends before the camera will start a new recording. A longer delay prevents back-to-back recordings of the same event.
- Sensitivity: Lower the motion sensitivity to prevent the camera from being triggered by irrelevant movements like swaying branches or passing cars.
- Video Quality: While it has a smaller impact, setting the video quality to "Standard" instead of "Best" can save a little power over time.
3. Check and Improve Signal Strength
Ensure your camera has a strong connection. In the Blink app, go to your camera's settings and check the "Camera to Sync Module" and "Camera to Wi-Fi" signal strengths.
- If the signal is weak (one or two bars), try moving your Sync Module or Wi-Fi router closer to the camera.
- Remove any potential obstructions like thick walls, metal objects, or other electronic devices that could be causing interference.
4. Position Your Camera Strategically
Avoid pointing your camera at areas with constant motion.
- Angle the camera away from busy streets, footpaths, or flags and trees that move in the wind.
- Use Activity Zones to block out these high-traffic areas from the detection field, so the camera only pays attention to the zones that matter, like your walkway or porch.
Still Having Issues?
If you've implemented all the tips above and are still experiencing rapid battery drain, there could be a fault with the device itself. The next best step is to contact Blink Support for further assistance. Have the camera's serial number ready and be prepared to explain the issue and the troubleshooting steps you've already taken.