Power Requirements for Dahua DVR, Cameras, and HDD. Are My Calculations Correct?

[Mansourr]

Hello,
I’d like to calculate the total power consumption and current draw of my CCTV system.

I have a Dahua DVR with 8 cameras. According to the official Dahua specifications, the DVR consumes <7 W (without the HDD), and each camera consumes up to a max of 3 W with IR on.

So based on that, my calculation is:

• Cameras: 3 W × 8 = 24 W
• DVR: 7 W
• Total = 31 W

For current draw at 12 V:

• DVR: 7 W / 12 V ≈ 0.58 A
• Each camera: 3 W / 12 V ≈ 0.25 A

My questions are:

1. How much power (W) and current (A) does the HDD consume?
2. Are these calculations correct, or am I missing something? Some people told me that each camera draws 1 A when IR is on, which seems too high compared to the specs.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Underhill]

I’d imagine you’re trying to budget a BBU?
I personally would rather know for sure then go by specs. You can spend $12 and know what your day vs night draw is.

https://www.amazon.com/Electricity-Electrical-Consumption-Backlight-Protection/dp/B09BQNYMMM/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=313SL482TKFNE&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.kQX6UPIX7PXFhyxMUT5la6J0zIDNJJRd4yWlenj1rPac0k0BeMTVgW_xPRj-zl13gSdW8jmLAbi5-7-hiKRpV0tQRyGmBJUdjcRwS9Lv2lzMPR0vl7u3gOm8RGB9wtIrgCS6yVBqCsQA4f3BGUBm7qin0iAhAKW5WoWwRIKeeg9G0mMGV3DoL3FqEqNKWYUksZr8LIM_gpW97Ffw2q-tcw.stTVK5eMfZ0iz_dm90i0CrpmUS2pDLHJWjoZMWoNZ5Q&dib_tag=se&keywords=kill+a+watt+meter&qid=1763300816&sprefix=kill+a+watt%2Caps%2C188&sr=8-3

 

[adamg]

Hello,
I’d like to calculate the total power consumption and current draw of my CCTV system.

I have a Dahua DVR with 8 cameras. According to the official Dahua specifications, the DVR consumes <7 W (without the HDD), and each camera consumes up to a max of 3 W with IR on.

So based on that, my calculation is:

• Cameras: 3 W × 8 = 24 W
• DVR: 7 W
• Total = 31 W

For current draw at 12 V:

• DVR: 7 W / 12 V ≈ 0.58 A
• Each camera: 3 W / 12 V ≈ 0.25 A

My questions are:

1. How much power (W) and current (A) does the HDD consume?
2. Are these calculations correct, or am I missing something? Some people told me that each camera draws 1 A when IR is on, which seems too high compared to the specs.

Thanks in advance!

A HDD is somewhere in the 5-10W range.

 

[Underhill]

It’d be pretty cool if you had a upc that could communicate with a nvr and drop a second drive, an ssd, and only use that while running on bbu at a third the draw of primary hdd.