Dahua Solar and 4G CCTV: Off-Grid Security for Farms, Sites and Remote Assets

Dahua's solar and 4G cameras bring CCTV to places with no mains power and no internet: farms, fish ponds, building sites, pipelines and outdoor events. Its off-grid solution (January 2022) pairs a solar panel, MPPT controller and lithium battery with a 4G IP or PTZ camera, and its 4G solar camera (March 2023) packs the whole system into one unit. Here's how off-grid CCTV works, what Dahua offers and what to check before you buy.

How off-grid CCTV works

• A solar panel charges a lithium battery during the day.
• The camera runs from the battery around the clock, using power-saving modes to stretch it through the night and dull weather.
• A 4G SIM sends alerts and live video to your phone, and footage is stored on the camera so recording continues if the signal drops.

Dahua off-grid outdoor solution (January 2022)

• Monocrystalline solar panel with an MPPT controller, which gets more charge out of the panel than a basic controller.
• High-capacity lithium battery and lightning protection on key parts.
• Choose a 4G IP camera or a 4G PTZ.
• Rated IP66 (system) and IP67 (camera), down to -40°C.
• Battery status, alerts and video in the DMSS app, with optional NVR recording.

Dahua 4G solar power camera (March 2023)

• A 5W solar panel and 10,000mAh battery, which Dahua says lasts up to 10 days with an hour of remote viewing a day.
• 4G with a SIM card and 8GB of built-in storage that overwrites automatically.
• PIR detection that starts recording quickly, and sleeps again within seconds if no person is detected.
• Smart lighting: infrared by default, switching to a warm light for colour video when someone is detected.
• Two-way audio and low-battery warnings.

Since then Dahua has added 4G and solar models to its WITHS wireless range. See our WITHS article.

Who it helps

• Farms: gateways, machinery stores, fuel tanks and livestock.
• Construction sites: plant, materials and site cabins, moved as the job moves.
• Fishing lakes, allotments and remote compounds.
• Pipelines, pumping stations and utility assets.
• Events and temporary sites.

What to check before you buy

• 4G signal at the exact mounting spot: test with a phone on the same network.
• Sunlight: a clear, south-facing panel. UK winter days are short, so size the panel and battery with that in mind.
• Data allowance to suit how often you'll watch live.
• Mounting height, so the unit is hard to reach or steal.

Dahua solar and 4G products we stock

• DH-SD49425DB-HNY-GQ-EAU 4MP 25x 4G PTZ
• DH-IPC-HFW4230MP-4G 2MP 4G bullet
• PFM372-L45-4S14P 12.8V 45Ah solar lithium battery
• DH-PFM378-B125-CB-V3 solar panel pole bracket

Off-grid systems need the panel, battery and camera matched, so ask us to help size yours. Browse the full Dahua range.

Our take

Solar 4G CCTV is now a practical, everyday option rather than a specialist one. The things that make or break it are the same as ever: a good 4G signal, enough panel and battery for a British winter, and a mounting position that's hard to tamper with.

Planning CCTV for a remote site? Call 01902 902251. We ship nationally to England, Scotland and Wales.

Quick questions

Do solar CCTV cameras work in winter?
Yes, with limits. Panel size, battery capacity and orientation matter most in short UK winter days.

Do I need Wi-Fi for a 4G camera?
No. It uses a mobile SIM card for its connection.

Where is footage stored?
On the camera's built-in storage or memory card, and optionally on an NVR.

What is an MPPT controller?
A solar charge controller that adjusts to get the most power from the panel as light levels change.

Sources: Dahua MENA press releases, 5 January 2022 and 20 March 2023.