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Tapo C425 - Continuous Recording must be available

  This repeated request has been merged into the main thread Continuous Recording/Always On Feature for Battery Powered Cameras. Please vote on the main thread.

 
0
Votes

Tapo C425 - Continuous Recording must be available

  This repeated request has been merged into the main thread Continuous Recording/Always On Feature for Battery Powered Cameras. Please vote on the main thread.
Tapo C425 - Continuous Recording must be available
Tapo C425 - Continuous Recording must be available
2025-07-03 08:38:36 - last edited 2025-07-04 06:32:15
Tags: #ONVIF/RTSP #Motion Detection
Model: Tapo C425  
Hardware Version: V1
Firmware Version:

I’ve been using the Tapo C420 camera and would like to provide some feedback along with a feature request.

Currently, the camera only supports motion-triggered recording, which unfortunately leads to significant battery drain—contrary to expectations. Ironically, the feature that is supposed to save power seems to consume more, especially in environments with frequent activity. This undermines the advertised "180-day battery life," which, according to the fine print, is based on only 20 motion detections per day.

Adding a continuous recording option—even if limited to when the camera is connected to a power source or solar panel—would greatly improve usability and give customers more control.

Additionally, I believe that including a small disclaimer like "180-day battery life tested under 20 motion detections per day" in fine print in the product description can be misleading and comes across as a marketing trick. In my opinion, this diminishes the trust and perceived quality of your brand, which I otherwise hold in high regard.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I hope you take this feedback into account for future improvements.

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Re:Tapo C425 - Continuous Recording must be available
2025-07-04 06:31:18 - last edited 2025-07-04 06:32:00

  @Mehmet99 

 

I'm interested in your views on the contradictions associated with this feature. Could you share your thoughts? Continuous recording leads to rapid battery consumption. If the current quick drain from frequent detections already doesn’t meet your expectations, how do you feel about the possibility of even greater battery drain if the camera supports continuous recording?

 

It's important to mention that using a solar panel to power the camera seems like a viable solution for maintaining its power supply. However, in situations where continuous operation is required, the solar panel is unlikely to meet the camera's energy needs. Solar panels typically have low and inconsistent output efficiency, they can't generate power in weak sunlight or at night. When the device experiences high power consumption with low or zero energy input, the camera will quickly run out of battery and shut down.

 

For this feature request, you can join the following existing posts that have the same idea. Vote for the post and join the discussion.

▶ Tapo P110M Matter 1.3 Release Energy Monitoring through Matter ▶ Smart HomeBase Tapo H500 - Even More Powerful Smart Hub ▶ First Smart Switch Module! Tapo S112 Smart Switch Module with Roller and Switch Dual Modes ▶ Tapo Camera Image Style & Image Brightness Try out a different image style for your camera!
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Re:Tapo C425 - Continuous Recording must be available
2025-07-04 07:19:27

Thank you for your response and for encouraging further discussion.

I'd like to clarify my experience with the Tapo C425, especially regarding its battery performance when used with a solar panel in a high-activity environment.

Despite using a solar panel and placing it in a location that receives 8–9 hours of direct sunlight per day, the camera's battery doesn’t last even a full day due to the frequent motion detection. The camera is installed in a very active area, where vehicles and people constantly pass by. I have tried disabling motion detection temporarily, and in that case, the battery successfully reaches 100% charge with the solar panel, so the panel is clearly working well.

However, when motion detection is enabled—which is the core feature of a security camera—the battery depletes rapidly, even with continuous solar input. This is frustrating, especially considering the product claims a battery life of “180 days,” albeit under the condition of 20 motion detections per day. I chose this product expecting higher quality and reliability, and I paid more for it with that assumption.

So, my question is:
Given a setup where the solar panel receives 8–9 hours of direct sunlight per day, is the Tapo C425 truly suitable for use in outdoor, high-activity areas?

I appreciate your time and look forward to your honest insights.

#3
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Re:Tapo C425 - Continuous Recording must be available
2025-07-11 01:44:03

  @Mehmet99 

 

A battery-powered camera operates differently from a constant-power device (AC-powered). To save energy, it stays in sleep mode most of the time and only activates when the PIR sensor detects movement, at which point it begins detection and recording. The process of waking the camera also consumes power, although it is not much compared to detection and recording, the battery still gets drained continuously and slowly if the camera wakes up frequently. So, for the battery-powered cameras, we do not recommend using them to monitor high-activity areas.

 

This article may help you understand more about this type of camera, take a look! How to Install and Configure Battery-Powered Cameras for Optimal Detection Performance

▶ Tapo P110M Matter 1.3 Release Energy Monitoring through Matter ▶ Smart HomeBase Tapo H500 - Even More Powerful Smart Hub ▶ First Smart Switch Module! Tapo S112 Smart Switch Module with Roller and Switch Dual Modes ▶ Tapo Camera Image Style & Image Brightness Try out a different image style for your camera!
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Views: 606

Replies: 3

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ONVIF/RTSP Motion Detection
Related Request
 Continuous Recording/Always On Feature for Battery Powered Cameras
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