Why Is My Nest Camera Battery Life So Short?
One of the best features of the newer Nest Cams and Doorbells is the freedom of battery power. However, this freedom comes with the trade-off of having to recharge them. If you are finding that the time between charges is much shorter than you expected, there are several factors you can investigate and settings you can tweak.
This guide will explain the common causes of short battery life and how you can optimise your camera's performance to last longer on a single charge.
## 1. High Activity Is the Biggest Drain
The most significant factor determining battery life is how often your camera is "awake." The camera uses the most power when it is detecting motion, recording video, and using Wi-Fi to stream that video.
- High-Traffic Areas: If your camera is pointed at a busy street, a public footpath, or a garden with trees that sway in the wind, it will be constantly activating. This is the fastest way to drain the battery.
- Frequent Live Viewing: Streaming the live feed from your camera uses a lot of power. If you are checking the live view very frequently, expect the battery life to be shorter.
Solution: Use the Activity Zones feature in the Nest app to tell your camera to ignore motion in busy areas. Also, try to be mindful of how often you are streaming the live feed.
## 2. Check Your Video and Event Settings
The default settings on your camera are a balance between quality and battery life. You can adjust these to prioritise battery longevity.
In your camera's settings within the Nest app, look for:
- Video Quality: Change this from "Max" to "High." The video will still be clear, but it will use less power and bandwidth.
- Max Event Length: Shorten the maximum duration for each recorded clip.
- Wake-up Sensitivity: Some models allow you to lower the sensitivity, so it takes more significant motion to wake the camera.
## 3. The Impact of Wi-Fi and Temperature
Your camera's environment plays a crucial role in its battery performance.
- Wi-Fi Signal Strength: If the camera has a weak connection to your Wi-Fi router, it needs to use more power to maintain a stable link. A weak signal will consistently lead to shorter battery life. Check the signal in the app's device health section and consider moving your router or using a Wi-Fi extender if it is poor.
- Cold Weather: Lithium-ion batteries do not perform well in the cold. If the temperature drops close to freezing, you will notice a significant decrease in your battery's lifespan. This is a limitation of the current battery technology. If possible, install the camera in a more sheltered location.
## 4. Night Vision Usage
To see in the dark, your camera uses infrared (IR) LEDs. These small lights consume power. If your camera is in a location that is dark for many hours of the day, it will be using the night vision feature more, which will contribute to faster battery drain compared to a camera in a well-lit area.
By understanding these factors and fine-tuning your settings, you can find the right balance between robust security and reasonable battery life for your Nest camera.