My battery backup solution

Will you be able make two or three and sell it to us?

I know this is an old topic, but I would love to see the end results after you did the weatherproofing. This is exactly the kind of solution I was looking for. This would help the camera make it through short brownouts that occur frequently around here. Most of my cameras are plugged into UPSs, but the exterior ones are kind of tough to do that!

Here’s the current solution. Wrapped the baby UPS with 20 ft long Waterproofing Repair Tape, Rubber Silicone Seal Plumbers Self Fusing Rubberized Leak Tape 950 PSI By SolutioNerd Amazon.com
From Amazon. Takes less than a foot of the tape to wrap one up. You have to make a cut at each of the USB ports. If that’s too much exposure, I would put the cable end in and then dab around it with silicone. Mine are under the eaves of the house, so I didn’t bother.

They are working out great. My last unplugged test was right at 3 1/2 hours running an active camera.

![image|375x500](upload://mYbDMLSQL3mzW43IkVZKHbM87A1.jpeg)
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The image didn’t come through. Also rest assured the silicone tape works under the harshest of conditions. We used it on the SR-71 Blackbird, mach 3+ at 15+ miles high and the RF-4C during the days of the Iron Curtain.

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jastrubberg,
Does the board keep the battery charged too, or do you have to recharge the 18650 battery outside of the enclosure?
In other words is it a true pass-through device like the Talentcell device that secondary_2g posted?
That Talentcell device looks like a good solution, but it is kind of expensive at $34. You can get a Cyberpower ST425 UPS for $38 shipped (which I know is bulky, but a proven solution).
Thanks!

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This is a true pass through solution. The wall socket charges the battery, the battery runs the camera. The battery stays charged as long as there is utility power to the plug.

The reward for good work is…more work.

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I think the solution is a good idea for its purpose in deterring thieves. Or at least recording them in the act. After you heat seal and silicon your battery packs, you could always paint them to match the trim color of your house. Then they will be less obvious.

Probably would help those who have HOA compliance issues as well. Luckily, I don’t live in an HOA neighborhood.

I was just about ready to pull the trigger on Amazon for 2 of those boards (and the battery holders, tape, 18650 batteries) when I noticed that the earliest I could get the boards (the key component) was October 2. I really like your solution, if I could find the tape in white that would be nice too. Thanks for all the tips, and if you know an alternate Amazon or EBAY vendor that can ship those special boards sooner that would be great too. Thanks Jastrubberg!

Update:
I went ahead and put in the Amazon order even though the special boards will not be in till Mid-October. I ordered QTY 4, knowing my soldering skills are sketchy. I ordered the boards, battery holders, 18650 batteries, and that special tape. I figured I could use that tape for emergency repairs around the house too. Thanks again JAstrubberg for your great solution. I will report back when I have a working prototype.

jastrubberg,
The boards finally arrived today.
The battery holders, 18650 batteries, and special tape arrived a while back.
Tomorrow I will look for my soldering apparatus, and report back if successful.
Thanks!
I did buy one of those Talentcell portable batteries off Amazon, and it works for the one I had near an outlet, but for the final two cameras, that solution is too big/bulky.

jastrubberg:
I finally got time to do the soldering today. You are right it was easy, but I think I ran into a problem.
I first tested the apparatus to charge my old flip phone. I felt like if it ruined it no big deal.
It charged fine off the battery, or while plugged into an outlet.

I then felt good, so I plugged in a Wyze V2 (non-pan) camera using ALL Wyze cables and the A/C adapter for the V2 camera. I first powered it up on the battery and it worked fine. I then plugged in the power, and it kept on working. I then pulled the cable out of the Wyze A/C adapter to simulate a power outage, and the camera rebooted. It took over a minute to connect back onto the battery. This is what I have most around my house is temporary power blips, so if this is how it works, it is no good to me.
I tried another 18650 battery too, and checked them with a multi-tester, and they looked good.
The board has a push button on it, but I have no idea what it does, there were no instructions with the 4 pack of boards I bought.

Do you have any ideas where I went wrong?

Is this how it is supposed to work?
If so, I will lose at least a minute of footage while it goes on battery power.
I am glad I did not tape it up yet.
Thanks very much!

Just for fun, I built another one, and it did the same thing (I bought 4 boards, and 4 battery holders).
I also tried a 3rd 18650 battery of another brand this time.
It boots off battery and survives being plugged into the power with no problem.
The moment I pull the A/C power, it reboots (all lights flash on the board), and then goes to battery. It takes about a minute to reboot via the battery, so it is not a true UPS for me.
99% of my power problems are these little blips, so if it is going to reboot when going on battery, I might as well let regular power restore in a second or two then reboot off regular A/C.
Any ideas, I really would love this solution to work!
Thanks!

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What I WAS thinking of doing till I found this. It charges itself and powers the camera at the same time. I also have auto failover internet when power goes out via tethered old 6s iPhone with Visible wireless SIM that is connected to my home synology router. The router handles auto failover between cable and the iPhone. Anyway… here is the link to the RAVPower wall plug charger with battery. Works like a USB UPS but power is lost for a second or 2 when 120v is lost.
https://www.amazon.com/RAVPower-Portable-External-Universal-Compatible/dp/B01MRZDQG9

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/417HeoGlweL._SX679_.jpg

Enjoy

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I really like those smaller solutions like the one you posted and the Anker PowerCore Fusion 5000, but when power is lost and you have to wait several seconds for this device to switch, then for the camera to reboot, that is not what I want.
I want pseudo-UPS-like solution in an ultra small package. It does not have to last but a minute or 2, because we mostly get flickering or brief brownouts during storms. I have a generator for long outages.

The Anker Powercore Fusion 5000 is a little more expensive than the Ravpower, but you can get different colors, and some say there is a delay in power restoration, other say no, so who knows:
https://www.amazon.com/Anker-PowerCore-Portable-Charger-Foldable/dp/B01K702S66/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=anker+passthrough+charging&qid=1573906150&s=electronics&sr=1-6

I have one of these Talentcell devices, and it works exactly like I want, but is too bulky (but smaller than a traditional UPS):

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UPDATE 11/19/2019
I purchased the Anker Powercore Fusion 5000 black version. When the the Anker is removed from power, the Wyze V2 camera reboots. This is NOT what I wanted. Yes, it is back up in about a minute, but you lose that footage. Most of what I get is flickering brownouts, and they occur in cycles too. I may get 20 in 30 minutes, then nothing for months. The Talentcell is the only one I have tested so far that actually does what I want, and it is just too big. I really wanted the solution provided by the original poster to work like the Talentcell does (no reboot of the Wyze cam when power is removed).
I’ll keep looking!

So I have been trying to find a solution and I have one of these ordered from amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075HB98J9/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

Some say it switches without delay, We will see. If it works I will be getting them for each of my cameras.

I will update once I know.

Albert,
Did you test this device to see if it works properly?
I really need to protect two of my cameras that are not on UPS backup.
Thanks

There is a delay of about 2 seconds in switching to battery so the came reboots. I am still looking for a better solution but this is better than nothing.

I wish that device had worked, because it is such an elegant solution. The battery holder is already soldered to that board, would have been great. Thanks for testing!

Ok I tried another version of the battery ups and this one works perfect, put batter in in and plugged it in and turned it on and it powers the device, unplug the power from the battery and it keeps power going to camera. Work just like a UPS. :slight_smile:

Just wish it had a battery indicator on them by I can live without it. Also this has a physical switch so if the battery dies before power is restored and the power comes back it powers back on the camera, my other on did not. so this is just what I needed. No if only I could find someone with a 3d printer that could make some housing for them.

I will be getting more of these and using them.

These are the ones I just got to try and work great.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YRNFLTZ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&th=1

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Here is a quick video demonstrating that it does keep the camera powered. when unplugged.

Also I have a 2200mah 18650 battery installed and it been running on backup now for over 4 hours, That takes care of my UPS needs as I hardly loos power for more than a few hours, Usually less than 1 hour of power loss.

Update: My battery lasted 5 hours and 45 min, and I am not sure what the issue is, but I might have jumped the gun as once I restored power, the camera did not come back up. and it doesn not look like it wants to charge the battery again. not sure whats going on. I will update once I have more info.

Hope this helps others. :slight_smile:

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You rock!