Getting the Cams - Wired VS Lithium Solared

Jonni Myrick
4 days ago
3 min read

You’ve decided to secure your perimeter. You’ve got the locations picked out: the driveway, the blind spot by the garage, the back patio. But now you’re staring at the two main contenders in the ring: Hardwired (PoE/BNC) and Lithium Solar (Wireless).

Most guides will talk about video resolution or app features. But after installing hundreds of these, I can tell you the real killer isn't the resolution—it's the rain.

Here is the breakdown of Wired vs. Lithium Solar, specifically looking at the silent killer: water ingress.

Wired Cameras: The Fortress Approach

Wired cameras (often Power over Ethernet or PoE) are the gold standard for reliability. They record 24/7, don't need battery swaps, and the video quality is usually superior.

The "Waterproof" Reality:

You might think, "It's an outdoor camera, of course it's waterproof." True, the camera body is usually sealed tight (IP66 or IP67). But the weak point isn't the camera—it's the connections.

The Achilles Heel: The "Pigtail"

Every wired camera has a "pigtail" cable coming out of it with an RJ45 (ethernet) or BNC connector. This connector is not waterproof on its own.

The Horror Story: You mount the camera, plug in the cable, and leave the connection exposed to the air. Six months later, the camera dies. You open it up to find the copper pins have turned to green dust.
Capillary Action: If water gets into that connector, it doesn't just stay there. It can actually travel up inside the wire jacket and into the camera body, frying the motherboard from the inside out.

The Fix: Drip Loops and Junction Boxes

To make a wired system actually waterproof, you need two things:

A Junction Box: Never leave the pigtail connection exposed. Stuff it inside a waterproof round junction box mounted behind the camera.
The Drip Loop: This is the #1 mistake DIYers make. If your cable runs straight down into the camera, rain runs down the wire like a slide directly into the port. You must leave a "U" shape in the wire so water runs down to the bottom of the loop and drips off away from the seal.

Lithium Solar: The Agile Ranger

Solar-powered cameras are incredible for trees, fence posts, and detached garages where running a cable is impossible. They use a lithium-ion battery topped up by a small solar panel.

The "Waterproof" Reality:

These cameras have fewer holes than wired ones, but the holes they do have are more vulnerable because they are opened and closed by you.

The Achilles Heel: The Charging Port & Battery Door

Solar cameras rely on rubber flaps (gaskets) to seal the USB charging port and the battery compartment.

The Flap Failure: If you plug in a solar panel, you are permanently opening that protective flap. If the solar panel plug doesn't have a custom-molded gasket that fits perfectly into that specific camera's port, you have a leak.
The "Cold" Truth: Lithium batteries hate freezing water. If moisture gets into the battery compartment and then freezes, the expanding ice can crack the casing or separate the seals, destroying the battery.

The Fix: Dedicated Solar Plugs & Silicon

Buy the Brand's Panel: Don't mix and match generic solar panels. The manufacturer's panel usually has a plug designed to seal their specific camera port watertight.
Silicone is Your Friend: If you are unsure about the seal, a small bead of outdoor silicone sealant around the edge of the solar plug can save the camera.

The Verdict: Which should you choose?

Choose Wired (PoE) if:

You can drill holes and mount a junction box. The waterproofing relies on installation quality. If you do the drip loop and use a junction box, a wired camera will outlast a solar one by 5-10 years. It is the choice for "install it and never touch it again."

Choose Lithium Solar if:

You need a camera in 15 minutes or on a surface you can't drill through (like a brick rental or a distant tree). Just be hyper-aware of the USB port. That connection point is the single most common point of failure. Ensure the solar panel cable has a tight, weather-resistant "boot" that covers the port completely.