A UPS for a Security System, Cameras & NVR
Last verified: September 2026
A power outage is exactly when you'd want the cameras still watching. A UPS on the recorder, network switch, and internet keeps them recording — and keeps you viewing from your phone. Want a hand? (330) 200-8042.
Camera Backup, at a Glance
An outage is exactly when you'd want your cameras still watching. Put the recorder (NVR or DVR), the network switch, and your modem and router on a UPS, and a wired system keeps recording — including PoE cameras that draw their power through the switch. Keeping the internet on the UPS also lets you view from your phone. Battery cameras ride out the blink on their own charge. There's a printable 29-page version up top.
Common Questions
1 Will my cameras keep recording in an outage?
If they're wired and the recorder and switch are on a UPS, yes — including PoE cameras that draw power through the switch. Battery cameras run on their own charge regardless.
2 What do I actually put on the UPS?
The recorder (NVR or DVR), the network switch the cameras use, and your modem and router so you can still view from your phone.
3 Do my PoE cameras need their own UPS?
No — they draw power through the recorder or switch, so powering that box keeps the cameras alive too. Just remember they add to its load when you size the UPS.
4 Can I still watch on my phone during an outage?
Yes, as long as the internet stays up — which is why the modem and router go on the UPS with the recorder.
5 What about my alarm panel?
It usually has its own small backup battery, but its internet connection may not — so keeping the internet gear on a UPS helps. Leave the panel itself to the alarm company.
6 How big a UPS do I need?
Total the recorder, the switch, and any PoE cameras it powers, plus the internet gear, and size with headroom. See our sizing guide.
Would You Rather I Just Help?
Want your cameras watching through outages? I'll set up backup power for your recorder, switch, and internet, and test that it all keeps recording — and that you can still view from your phone. $99 flat for an in-home visit, 30-day come-back-free.
Would you rather I just do this for you?
No shame in it — plenty of folks would rather hand it off, and that's what I'm here for. I'll come to your home, set it up right, and make sure it's working before I leave. Flat $99 per visit — no jargon, no upsell, and every visit is 30-day come-back-free.
Not a hardware job? I can often fix it remotely for $49 — a secure screen-share, up to 2 hours, that you watch the whole time and can end whenever (included free for $39/mo Support Plan members, and it counts toward the $99 if it turns out I need to come out).