Is Your Simplisafe Camera Battery Running Out of Steam Too Quickly?
The Simplisafe wireless camera is designed for convenience, but that convenience can quickly become a chore if you find yourself having to recharge the battery every few weeks instead of every few months. A battery that drains faster than expected is one of the most common issues users face, but the good news is that it's often something you can fix yourself.
This comprehensive guide will help you understand the common causes of rapid battery drain in your Simplisafe camera and provide you with practical, step-by-step solutions to maximise its battery life.
Common Symptoms of Poor Battery Performance
It's not just about frequent recharging. Poor battery performance can show up in several ways. Here's what to look out for:
- You're recharging the battery much more frequently than the advertised duration.
- The Simplisafe app sends you 'low battery' notifications far too often.
- The camera goes offline or becomes unresponsive without warning, only to work again after a recharge.
- The battery percentage in the app drops sharply, for example, from 80% to 20% in just a few days.
- The device feels unusually warm to the touch, which can indicate it's working too hard.
- The camera's live stream is laggy or slow to connect, even when the battery isn't critically low.
- You notice the camera is recording dozens of clips per day of non-important events.
How to Troubleshoot and Improve Simplisafe Battery Life
Let's dive into the practical steps you can take to diagnose and fix the battery drain issue. Start with step one and work your way through the list.
1. Check Your Wi-Fi Signal Strength
This is the most common and often overlooked cause of battery drain. Your camera needs a strong, stable connection to the Simplisafe base station and your Wi-Fi network.
- How it Drains Battery: If the signal is weak, the camera has to boost its internal antenna and constantly work harder to send and receive data. This continuous effort consumes a significant amount of power.
- How to Fix It: In the Simplisafe app, check the signal strength for the specific camera. If it's weak (one or two bars), try moving your Wi-Fi router closer to the camera. If that's not possible, consider installing a Wi-Fi extender or mesh system to provide a stronger signal to the camera's location.
2. Optimise Your Motion Detection Settings
If your camera is in a busy area, it could be triggering and recording far more often than necessary.
- How it Drains Battery: Every time the camera detects motion, it wakes up from a low-power state, records a clip, and uses Wi-Fi to send it to the cloud. This is the most power-intensive process it performs.
- How to Fix It:
- Reduce Motion Sensitivity: In the camera's settings, lower the motion sensitivity slider.
- Use Activity Zones: Define specific areas in the camera's view where you want it to look for motion (e.g., your walkway, not the public pavement). This prevents triggers from passing cars or swaying trees.
- Increase Retrigger Time: Adjust the setting that determines how long the camera waits after one motion event before it can trigger another.
3. Adjust Video Quality Settings
Higher quality video requires more data, which means more work for the camera's processor and Wi-Fi chip.
- How it Drains Battery: Streaming and recording in the highest resolution (e.g., 1080p) uses more power than a lower setting (e.g., 720p).
- How to Fix It: If your battery life is critical, try lowering the video quality setting in the app. The video will still be clear enough for security purposes, but it can make a noticeable difference to battery consumption.
4. Consider Environmental Factors
Extreme temperatures can have a significant impact on battery performance.
- How it Drains Battery: Lithium-ion batteries, like the one in your Simplisafe camera, are less efficient in very cold weather (below 0°C). The cold slows down the chemical reactions inside the battery, reducing its effective capacity.
- How to Fix It: If possible, try to install the camera in a location that offers some protection from the harshest elements, such as under the eaves of your roof.
By systematically working through these troubleshooting steps, you can identify the root cause of the battery drain and make the necessary adjustments. This will help you enjoy the full convenience of your Simplisafe security camera without the constant need for recharging.