Written and reviewed by Subrahmanya S Hegde — Senior Engineer, 30 years with APC UPS systems.

CCTV is only useful if it stays on during a power cut – exactly when you most need it. A UPS keeps your cameras and DVR/NVR recording. Here is how to size one.

APC Back-UPS for CCTV — A UPS keeps your CCTV recording through power cuts.

Add up your load

A typical CCTV setup draws modest power: a DVR/NVR (about 20-40W) plus cameras (about 3-5W each). An 8-camera system usually totals 60-150W. Note your equipment’s wattage from the labels.

Size the UPS

Apply the usual rule – divide total watts by about 0.6 to get minimum VA, then add headroom. A 600-1000VA Back-UPS comfortably covers most home and small-shop CCTV setups.

Setup	Typical load	Suggested UPS
4 cameras + DVR	40-80W	600VA
8 cameras + DVR	80-150W	800-1000VA
16 cameras + NVR + monitor	200W+	1.1KVA+ / external battery

Runtime

For CCTV you often want longer backup than for a PC. The lighter the load relative to the UPS rating, the longer it runs – so slightly oversizing helps. For hours of recording, choose a higher-VA unit or one supporting external batteries.

Shop what this guide covers

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All APC UPS systemsThe full genuine APC range, with GST invoice and pan-India delivery.

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