Blink developed their cameras to be flexible and wireless, such that you could place them anywhere inside your humble abode while their recordings ended up in the virtual cloud. Nevertheless, can you hardwire these wireless cameras to your electric socket to give them a less temporary power source?
Sure, the batteries last a good two years. However, you should have a more dependable way to charge the camera other than the sun using solar panels, right? In regards to whether or not you can hardwire Blink cameras, keep on reading to find out.
Can Blink Cameras Be Hard-Wired?
Simply put, yes. Use the USB port on the back of the camera to get a power cord to connect to the Blink Camera you have, whether it’s a Generation 1 Indoor Blink Camera, a Generation 2 Indoor & Outdoor Blink Camera, or a Blink Camera XT1 or XT2.
Hardwiring involves putting in a permanent connection between your Blink camera and your home electrical connection. Like when it comes to hardwiring your doorbell to the wiring of your home so that it doesn’t get accidentally disconnected and go offline.
When it comes to DIY, plugging in your Blink camera via a USB power cord will do. If you want something truly hardwired, you might need an electrician’s help for that. Either that or you might need electrician skills yourself.
Why Do Blink Cameras Have USB Ports?
You can plug a Micro USB cable into the USB port on the back of your camera. From there, you can plug a power adapter or USB power plug (sold separately) into a power socket. This powers your camera instead of batteries. Use only 5V/1A USB power adapters for safety’s sake and compatibility’s sake
Your Blink camera package includes non-rechargeable Lithium batteries. The cameras work by using up batteries then having those disposable batteries replaced with new ones instead of having batteries you can recharge via USB port.
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Wired Mode for Heavy Users of Blink Cams
The USB port serves as your camera’s means of auxiliary power. They benefit those users who heavily depend on their Blink camera for daily surveillance with a high volume of motion clips each day. The USB can connect to the weatherproof cable, solar panel, or solar panel & floodlight combo.
The wired mode of Blink cameras keeps the batteries from draining too fast. This also prevents the need for frequent battery replacement.
Can You Use the Blink Cam USB Cable and the Batteries at the Same Time?
Yes. You can use the USB cable and the batteries simultaneously. However, you have to remember several things when doing so. First off, you can’t recharge the Lithium batteries of the Blink camera system. You can’t recharge the camera like a smartphone or laptop.
If you’ve installed batteries inside the camera then plugged the camera into the wall socket via the USB power cord, the batteries won’t get replenished or recharged. Even when powering the device by a power cord, the device will still drain some power from the batteries.
Only utilize 1.5v AA Lithium batteries for your Blink cam. Don’t use rechargeable batteries, alkaline batteries, or Lithium-Ion batteries for this unit.
What Happens to Your Blink Camera During Power Outages?
A plugged-in camera ensures that battery drainage remains minimal and you’re likelier to achieve the 2-year guaranteed lifespan even while heavily using the device. However, if the power goes out on a USB-powered camera with batteries, it will switch to battery power mode automatically.
Nevertheless, the camera won’t function without turning on the Wi-Fi router and Sync Module. They need to run on backup power along with the camera for the whole system to work.
Your Blink System Needs Your Camera, Sync Module, and Wi-Fi to Work
If your Wi-Fi works but your Sync Module is offline, your camera can still record and upload clips and detect motion. However, it could only do so temporarily or for a short period of time.
You need to get your Sync Module online again for it to work properly and at 100%. Also, when the power returns, your camera will claim your battery is fully charged only because of the USB power.
The batteries might in fact be depleted or low energy when the camera gets unplugged. Remove the batteries from your camera if your Blink system remains incomplete for a long time. Only turn it back on when everything—the camera, the Sync Module, and the Wi-Fi—are all functioning.
How Long Do The Batteries Last?
Generation 2 and XT2 cameras use up to 1.5v AA Lithium batteries up to 2 years of standard use and about 6 months or less with heavy use. Standard use involves 4,788 seconds of two-way talk, 43,200 seconds of motion-activated recording, or 5,882 seconds of live view.
It works 70 seconds per day for two years or 14 hours if you turn the camera on for a whole day. In contrast, Generation 1 (Indoor) and XT battery life can also last up to 2 years or 50 seconds per day. That translates to 10 hours if you turn the camera on for a whole day.
How Do You Charge the Blink Camera When Outdoors?
Use a weatherproof cable or solar panel to charge your outdoor Blink cameras. The USB port of your Blink Indoor & Outdoor Camera, Blink XT, and Blink XT2 feature a rubberized cover to protect it. Removing this keeps your camera from being weatherproof or protected from the elements.
Removing the weather protection voids the Blink warranty. Additionally, if you use third-party power sources, the Blink warranty can’t cover them in case your camera gets damaged by their unreliable performance.
As such, make sure your camera is kept indoors when connected to a USB power port unless you use the weatherproof cable and power cord extension.
More Things You Should Notice
You can place these Blink cameras anywhere in your home due to them being wireless. However, you can finagle a wired connection from them and hardwire them via USB charging and power since the cameras don’t work at 100% without a Wi-Fi connection and Sync Module connectivity anyway.
You might as well hardwire them to your power grid since the Wi-Fi and the module require energy themselves. Unless you have auxiliary power for your Internet connection and Sync Module, you can’t truly have wireless or battery-based Blink connectivity.
References:
- “Why is there a USB Port on the Camera?” BlinkforHome.com, Retrieved August 27, 2021
