Netgear Camera Battery Draining Fast? How to Extend Its Life
Wire-free cameras from Netgear's Arlo range offer incredible flexibility in placement, but this convenience depends on reliable battery performance. If you find yourself recharging your cameras more often than you'd like, there are several settings you can adjust to significantly prolong the time between charges. This guide will walk you through the most effective ways to optimise your camera for longer battery life.
## Understanding What Uses Power
First, it's important to understand what actions consume the most battery power in a wire-free camera:
- Recording and Live Streaming: The camera's radio and image processor are most active when capturing and transmitting video.
- Wi-Fi Connection: The camera uses power to maintain its connection to your base station or router. A weak signal causes the camera to use more power to stay connected.
- Night Vision: The infrared (IR) LEDs used for night vision consume a notable amount of power.
## Tip 1: Optimise Your Power Management Settings
Your camera's app provides a crucial setting that balances video quality and battery consumption.
- Open the app and navigate to your camera's Settings.
- Go to the Video Settings menu.
- Look for a "Power Management" or "Image Quality" setting.
- You will typically have three options:
- Best Video: This provides the sharpest image but uses the most power.
- Optimised: This offers a balance between good video quality and battery life.
- Best Battery Life: This slightly reduces video quality to maximise the time between charges.
For most situations, the Optimised setting is the best choice. If your camera is in a critical location where you need maximum detail, use Best Video. For lower-traffic areas, Best Battery Life is a great option.
## Tip 2: Reduce Unnecessary Recordings
The number one cause of rapid battery drain is frequent activation in a high-traffic area.
- Refine Activity Zones: Go into your camera's Motion Detection settings and draw precise Activity Zones. If your camera overlooks a busy pavement or road, draw the zone to only include your property. This will prevent the camera from waking up and recording every time a car drives by.
- Lower Motion Sensitivity: If the camera is being triggered by things like swaying trees or shadows, lower the motion sensitivity level. This will ensure it only activates for more significant events.
- Use Smart Alerts: If your camera supports AI detection (for people, vehicles, etc.), use it. This allows the camera to decide whether an event is worth recording, which can be more efficient than basic motion detection.
## Tip 3: Improve the Wi-Fi Connection
If your camera has a weak Wi-Fi signal to the base station or router, it has to work harder—and use more power—to transmit video.
- In the camera's settings, check the Wi-Fi signal strength.
- If the signal is weak (one or two bars), try moving the camera closer to the base station/router.
- Alternatively, move the base station/router to a more central location in your home to provide a better signal to all of your cameras.
## Tip 4: Consider Environmental Factors
- Cold Weather: Lithium-ion batteries do not perform as well in very cold temperatures. If you're in a cold climate, expect reduced battery life during the winter. Where possible, install cameras in locations sheltered from the worst of the elements.
- Night Vision: A camera in a very dark area that has night vision active all night will use more power than one in a well-lit area.
By making these adjustments, you can find the right balance of performance and efficiency, ensuring your cameras are running when you need them most without constant maintenance.