Battery Operated Security Cameras with SD Card? Advanced Guide

By using battery-operated security cameras with an SD card at home, you no longer pay for monthly subscription video storage services. And the battery-operated security cameras with SD cards would serve you best for places without main power or Internet connection.

Before checking battery-powered wireless outdoor security camera reviews, let’s discuss some important things.

Why Choose Battery-Operated Security Cameras with Memory Card

It is always an obvious choice of everyone according to their preferences that which security system they want, but here we will discuss a few benefits of the battery-operated security camera with a memory card.

1. Truly Wire-Free & Affordable

The top of benefit you get with battery-powered CCTV cameras with SD cards, you do not need to pay monthly subscriptions and need not buy the base station for video storage. You only need to pay once while buying these types of cameras and boom, that’s all the financial costs for these cameras.

The battery-powered security camera with a storage card gives you a 100% wire-free experience. It means you can simply place these cameras anywhere with no worry. Recordings will be safe on the card, so there is no need to worry about hackers that may hack the security system of your home.

Because of the wire-free experience, you can always change the location of the camera with no difficulty. You can remove it completely when guests are coming and you think they may feel uncomfortable with the cameras.

2. Secure & Reliable

Since CCTV cameras with memory card and battery can save recorded videos locally, the footage is kept away from possible snooping on the Internet and your personal privacy can be better secured.

Even if the battery-operated wireless security cameras with SD cards suffer from intermittent network bandwidth or network failure, they can still continue to store surveillance videos onto the onboard SD card.

3. Ideal for Critical Places & No-Internet Areas

The battery-powered CCTV camera with an SD card is very ideal for critical places, you can place them for recording or to detect any kind of motion out there. You may not be recording all the time with these cameras, you can switch the place and also switch the goal from these cameras from recording to motion detection.

These cameras have their recording storage, so they do not need any internet for recording. These kinds of cameras can record locally with no internet. With the special feature, once they got any motion, these cameras will start recording onwards. So record with confidence, even if there is no internet.

There is one downside of no-internet areas that you will not get a live push notification to your mobile whenever any motion is detected, so be aware of this.

Wire-Free SD Card Security Cameras Access to Your SD Card Footage

Generally speaking, you have two available ways to access the SD card footage of battery-operated CCTV security cameras with memory card recording.

Method 1: Downloaded the app of your CCTV camera with memory card and battery (recommend free and customized ones, like ZOSI App), and then you can log in to play back the saved videos on your smartphone.

This is certainly the easiest way for you to view the onsite footage of battery-operated CCTV cameras with SD card. But the Internet connection is required if you want to remotely access the motion-activated recording stored in the memory card.

Below is a video captured by the battery-powered security camera with SD card ZOSI C306.

Method 2: Take out the memory card of battery powered outdoor security cameras with SD card and directly insert it into the integrated card reader of your laptops (a card adapter is needed when your SD cards are not standard ones).

In case your laptops don’t have an internal card reader, a USB card reader is also a convenient alternative.

The Battery Operated Security Cameras with Memory Card (Slot): Best Picks in 2021

Whether you are searching for battery-operated security cameras with memory card for recording motion events or for places without Internet, these motion activated battery powered security cameras with SD card (slot) are the best picks you shouldn’t miss.

1. ZOSI C1 — Best Battery Operated CCTV Camera with SD Card Storage

As a rechargeable battery powered security camera with SD card recording, ZOSI C1 possesses rich features that you cannot find among other models at the same price, which also explains why it becomes the star product this year.

Easy remote viewing: When human movement is detected by its smart PIR motion sensor, you can receive instant alerts and watch live viewing on your smart phone to check out what is happening out there.

Playback history events: This wireless indoor & outdoor battery-operated security camera with a memory card slot allows you to play back the history videos on your phone from anywhere, so you won’t miss any important events.

Work without the Internet: Even if you cannot receive instant alerts or watch live feed without a network, ZOSI C1 can record important motion detection footage onboard, and you are free to review the videos anytime you want.

Why It Is Unique: With a built-in rechargeable battery and the optional ZOSI solar panel (sold separately), this battery-operated security camera with a memory card slot can get non-stop juice to work day and night.

Its starlight image sensor also enables you to see clearer images and videos with more visible details, like the human face features, license plate numbers, etc.

2. ZOSI C306 — Battery Powered Security Camera System with SD Card Storage

The battery-powered security camera with SD card recording ZOSI C306 is designed to work in places without a power source, such as your barns, farms, ranches, construction sites, remote sheds, cabins, campsites, vacation homes, hotels, rental properties, etc.

As with ZOSI C306, ZOSI C306 battery-operated CCTV camera with SD card slot also features flexible powering options (rechargeable battery powered & solar powered), 1080p Full HD, starlight night vision, smart PIR motion sensor, two-way audio, IP65 weatherproof, etc.

You can even record your own alert message to get notified with it when motion is detected. And you can also watch the live viewing or playback the videos anytime & anywhere via your smartphone to keep informed of what’s happening out there.

What to Consider While Buying the Battery-Operated Security Cameras with Memory Card (Slot)

We always recommend choosing a product according to your preferences and needs. So it can meet your expectations. Here are a few considerations while purchasing any battery-operated outdoor wireless security cameras.

1. Installation Concerns

Generally, there are two ways to mount wireless security cameras. One way is to mount with an adhesive or magnetic strip, and the other is with a few screws.

• Size and Weight of Unit: It is a concern connected with the fitting process. If your unit has a small size, it will be easy to mount it anywhere. It is also easy to detach a small-sized rechargeable security camera to recharge it.
• Weather Proofing: If you are planning to buy a battery-powered security camera to mount outside of your house, make sure it is weatherproof and can bear all types of weather. Good to check weather details before purchasing to ensure the device can work fine at the environment around your home.
• Power: Built-in batteries are the major power source of any battery-powered security camera. It means you need to charge it after a period of time to keep monitoring your house. You can also increase the battery life of the camera by maintaining a charge of 20% to 80%.

If you do not want to detach the camera again and again just for charging it, you can install any small size solar panel near the camera.

2. Camera Specs and Features

Security cameras are the heart of the security system of your house. What if any incident happened in front of your house, you checked the recordings but you can’t see anything clearly?

• Image Quality: Budget cameras often have an average image quality. Try to find models that record in 720p or 1080p. Secondly, your model should have a wide viewing angle of around 100 degrees or more.
• Night Vision: One of the major concerns while buying any security device. Is it be able to monitor your house at night?

3. Extra Features

If you are a tech lover, then you must love to have extra and advanced features in almost every electronic device. Extra features may increase the price of the model, but its total worth of it.

• Two-Way Communication: What if someone is at your door but you are not in the house? Two-way communication technology helps you to communicate with the person who is at your front door remotely.
• PIR Motion Sensing: Motion sensors help cameras to detect any motion in any particular area. After detecting motion, it will start recording and send you a push notification so you can take action on time.
• Smart Phone Integration: If your security devices are integrated with your smartphone, it will help you monitor your home remotely.

Further, if your model is compatible with the voice assistant, it will be a plus point for you. In this way, you can control your wire-free security camera with the help of your voice.

The Battery Powered SD Card Security Cameras Common Questions

To make you gain a clearer idea of indoor & outdoor CCTV cameras with memory cards and batteries, let’s take a look at the common questions you may have.

Q1: How to Protect Battery-Operated Security Cameras with Memory Card from Theft

Actually, the visible presence of your battery-operated outdoor security cameras with memory card would be the most powerful deterrent. Smart thieves usually would think twice before taking the risk of being caught stealing your cameras.

Placing battery-operated CCTV cameras with SD card inappropriate height and unnoticeable locations is also a practical tip to protect your camera from thefts and vandalism. (Learn how to hide your security cameras.)

If you don’t want to lose the videos housed in the battery-operated wireless outdoor security cameras with memory card in case the camera is stolen, back up the footage regularly to your computer or on the cloud storage.

Q2:Do CCTV Cameras Work Without Electricity?

Every electric device requires power to operate properly. But the source of power can be different for each device. It can be home-wired electricity, any battery, or solar power.

So, the CCTV cameras will stop working whenever there is no electricity. Some wired cameras also come with backup batteries. The backup battery will supply the power to the camera when the power is cut down for a short time.

Above, we reviewed battery-powered security cameras which will give you wire-free home security. With these battery-operated security cameras, there is no need to worry about wired electricity.

These cameras are also rechargeable, so whenever the battery is getting down, you can recharge them back. It will be a plus point if you install a small solar panel near the camera.

Q3: How Long Can Battery-Powered Outdoor Security Cameras with 32GB/64GB SD Card Record

Indeed, there is no exact answer about how long the battery-powered CCTV security cameras with 32GB/64GB SD card can record.

It depends on the bitrate, FPS (frames per second), resolution you record at and the number of motion events in places where you install the CCTV camera with memory card and battery.

To allow for a longer record time, the bitrate can be adjusted lower (sacrificing the image and video quality) and you can place the battery-powered outdoor security cameras with SD card away from the crowded entrances.

As mentioned above, even the SD card storage space is full, your battery-operated security cameras with memory card can continue recording onsite and the old files will be automatically overwritten.

Pro Tip: Learn how to calculate the storage space of your battery-operated CCTV camera with SD card recording.

Q4: How long do battery-powered security cameras last?

The battery-operated security cameras can last around one to three years with one full charge. You need to recharge the battery after that if your camera support recharging otherwise; you need to replace the battery. Don’t worry, these batteries are easier to change.

If you have installed a solar panel near the camera, then there is no need to recharge the camera.

NOTE: battery lifespan depends on multiple factors like the manufacturer, camera type, camera features, and usage.

The Battery-Powered Security Cameras with SD Card Knowledge Base

Below are some important concepts about battery-operated CCTV security cameras with built-in memory card for your information.

1. SD Card vs Cloud Storage vs Base Station

SD Card: The advantages of onboard micro SD card storage have been clarified in the first part above. Simply put, it is inexpensive, secure and reliable.

Cloud Storage: The recorded videos can be kept safe, away from any thefts or man-made damages. It is also easy and convenient to save footage into cloud storage. If you have the budget to pay the monthly subscription fees, it can be a good backup plan in case of an emergency.

Base Station: Some security providers have released an independent WiFi-based storage station as an alternative of the above storage manners. Though it comes as a good local storage backup, you will need to shell out extra money for it.

Pro Tip: Read this post to learn more about security camera footage storage.

2. What Is the Difference Between SD & SDHC & SDXC?

SD Card stands for Secure Digital Card, whose capacities range from 128MB to 2GB. SD cards will work in all host devices that support SD, SDHC, or SDXC.

SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) cards can store between 4GB and 32GB, but can only be used in devices compatible with the SDHC format.

SDXC (Secure Digital Extended Capacity) cards are the latest SD cards available and their storage sizes range between 64GB and 2TB.

3. What Is the Class Rating of an SD Card?

The class rating is the minimum write speed of an SD card and there are four different speed classes—10, 6, 4, and 2. Class 10 is the fastest while class 2 is the slowest. Eg: class2 refers to a guaranteed minimum write speed of 2MB/s or higher.

For the wireless battery-operated security cameras with memory card slots ZOSI C1 and ZOSI C306, it is recommended to choose a micro SD card of Class 4 or higher level.