NE301 Battery Life Info
Overview
NE301 is an ultra-low power edge AI Camera designed by CamThink for long-term outdoor edge computing scenarios. This document provides detailed information about NE301's power consumption characteristics, battery life capabilities, and performance across typical application scenarios.
Key Features
- Ultra-Low Standby Power: 6.1μA standby current for significantly extended battery life
- Ultra-Low Operating Power: 70mA operating current (WiFi mode), industry-leading performance
- Dual Communication Modes: WiFi and 4G Cat-1 support
- Intelligent Power Management: Automatic sleep mechanism for maximum battery life
- Precise Battery Life Prediction: Online calculation tool for scenario-specific runtime estimation
Target Applications
- Remote environmental monitoring (forests, agriculture, weather stations)
- Smart security surveillance (remote areas, temporary construction sites)
- Wildlife observation (long-term unattended operation)
- Industrial equipment inspection (wireless sensor nodes)
- Smart agriculture (soil and weather data collection)
1. Power Consumption Analysis
NE301 employs deeply optimized power management design to achieve ultra-long battery life while maintaining performance. The following power data is based on optimal low-power configuration (customization available to meet specific requirements).
1.1 WiFi Mode Power Consumption
WiFi mode is the most power-efficient communication method for NE301, suitable for scenarios with WiFi coverage.
Power Parameters:
- Operating Current: 70.0 mA
- Operating Duration: 11.0 seconds
- Energy per Capture: 0.214 mAh
- Standby Current: 6.1 μA
Daily Power Consumption and Battery Life:
| Capture Frequency | Capture Power (mAh) | Standby Power (mAh) | Total Power (mAh) | Battery Life (Days) | Battery Life (Years) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1x/day | 0.21 | 0.15 | 0.36 | 4861 | 13.32 |
| 3x/day | 0.64 | 0.15 | 0.79 | 2215 | 6.07 |
| 5x/day | 1.07 | 0.15 | 1.22 | 1434 | 3.93 |
| 10x/day | 2.14 | 0.15 | 2.29 | 764 | 2.09 |
Power Trend Chart:
Key Highlights:
- Only 0.214 mAh energy per capture, industry-leading performance
- Daily power consumption of just 2.29 mAh at 10 captures per day
- Low-frequency collection (1x/day) achieves 13+ years battery life
1.2 Cat-1 Mode Power Consumption
4G Cat-1 mode provides wide-area coverage, suitable for remote areas and environments without WiFi. NE301 offers two module versions:
Module Comparison:
| Module Version | Operating Current | Operating Duration | Energy per Capture | Standby Current | Coverage Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL912 (Global) | 110 mA | 14.0 sec | 0.428 mAh | 6.1 μA | Asia/Europe/Oceania |
| NA915 (N. America) | 119 mA | 13.4 sec | 0.443 mAh | 6.1 μA | North America |
Daily Power Consumption and Battery Life Comparison:
| Module Version | Capture Frequency | Daily Power (mAh) | Battery Life (Years) |
|---|---|---|---|
| GL912 (Global) | 1x/day | 0.57 | 8.41 |
| GL912 (Global) | 3x/day | 1.43 | 3.35 |
| GL912 (Global) | 5x/day | 2.29 | 2.09 |
| GL912 (Global) | 10x/day | 4.42 | 1.08 |
| NA915 (N. America) | 1x/day | 0.59 | 8.13 |
| NA915 (N. America) | 3x/day | 1.48 | 3.24 |
| NA915 (N. America) | 5x/day | 2.36 | 2.03 |
| NA915 (N. America) | 10x/day | 4.58 | 1.05 |
Legend: Blue bars = GL912 (Global) | Orange bars = NA915 (North America)
Key Highlights:
- Low-frequency collection (1x/day) achieves 8+ years battery life
- Global version (GL912) offers 3-4% longer battery life than North American version (NA915)
1.3 Communication Mode Comparison
Daily Power Consumption Comparison (10x/day scenario):
| Communication Mode | Operating Current | Operating Duration | Daily Power (mAh) | Battery Life (Years) | Coverage Area | Communication Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WiFi | 70 mA | 11.0 sec | 2.29 | 2.09 | WiFi coverage areas | None |
| GL912 | 110 mA | 14.0 sec | 4.42 | 1.08 | Asia/Europe/Oceania | 4G data |
| NA915 | 119 mA | 13.4 sec | 4.58 | 1.05 | North America | 4G data |
Key Findings and Selection Recommendations:
- WiFi Coverage Available: ✅ Prioritize WiFi
- Lowest power consumption, longest battery life (1.9-2.0x longer than Cat-1)
- No communication costs
- Cat-1 power consumption is 93-100% higher than WiFi
- No WiFi Coverage: Choose Cat-1 module
- Asia/Europe/Oceania: Select GL912 (Global)
- North America: Select NA915 (North America)
- Suitable for wide-area coverage in remote areas
1.4 Power Consumption Breakdown
NE301's daily power consumption consists of two components:
Capture Power (Dynamic): Device wake-up, image capture, AI inference, data upload
Daily Capture Power = (Operating Current × Operating Duration × Capture Count) / 3600
Standby Power (Static): System maintenance during sleep state
Daily Standby Power = (Deep Sleep Power × 24 hours) / 1000
= 6.1 μA × 24 hours / 1000
= 0.146 mAh
≈ 0.15 mAh
Power Consumption Distribution:
| Scenario | Capture Power Share | Standby Power Share | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WiFi 1x/day | 58.3% | 41.7% | Standby power significant |
| WiFi 5x/day | 87.7% | 12.3% | Capture power dominates |
| WiFi 10x/day | 93.4% | 6.6% | Capture power dominates |
| Cat-1 10x/day | 96.8% | 3.2% | Capture power absolutely dominant |
Key Insights:
- In low-frequency collection scenarios (1-5x/day), standby power represents a significant portion
- In high-frequency collection scenarios (10x/day), capture power dominates
- NE301's 6.1μA standby current is industry-leading
2. Technical Specifications and Battery Life Calculation
2.1 Battery Specifications
Standard Battery: 4 AA alkaline batteries (non-rechargeable)
| Parameter | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal Capacity | 2500 mAh | High-quality AA batteries |
| Effective Capacity | 1750 mAh | After 30% loss deduction |
| Operating Voltage | 4.8-6.0V | New batteries ~6.0V |
| Loss Deduction | 30% | Low temperature, self-discharge, conversion efficiency |
Notes:
- NE301 uses disposable AA alkaline batteries; rechargeable batteries are not recommended
- High-quality alkaline batteries are recommended to ensure battery life stability
2.2 Operating Environment
| Parameter | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Operating Temp | -20°C ~ 60°C | Industrial |
| Relative Humidity | 10% ~ 90% | Non-condensing |
| IP Rating | IP67 | Dust/waterproof |
Temperature Impact on Battery Life (Alkaline AA batteries):
| Temperature Range | Relative Battery Performance | Typical Reduction |
|---|---|---|
| 20-25°C (Room temp) | 100% (Baseline) | - |
| 0-10°C (Cold) | 70-80% | ↓20-30% |
| -10-0°C (Severe cold) | 40-60% | ↓40-60% |
| 30-40°C (Hot) | 90-95% | ↓5-10% |
| >50°C (Extreme heat) | 70-80% | ↓20-30% |
2.3 Battery Life Calculation Tool
CamThink provides an online battery life calculator to help users quickly estimate battery life under different configurations.
Features:
- Support for two communication modes (WiFi / Cat-1)
- Support for Cat-1 module version selection (Global / North America)
- Customizable capture frequency (1-50 times/day)
- Real-time calculation of battery life and power breakdown
NE301 Battery Calculator will be on board soon!
Calculation Formula:
Daily Power = Capture Power + Standby Power
Battery Life (Days) = 1750 mAh / Daily Power
Battery Life (Years) = Battery Life (Days) / 365
2.4 Typical Scenario Battery Life Estimation
Based on recommended effective capacity of 1750 mAh, common scenario battery life estimation:
| Scenario | Configuration | Daily Power | Estimated Battery Life | Application Scenario |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low-frequency | WiFi, 1x/day | 0.36 mAh | ~13.3 years | Long-term environmental monitoring |
| Medium-frequency | WiFi, 5x/day | 1.22 mAh | ~3.9 years | Regular data collection |
| High-frequency monitoring | Cat-1 (GL912), 10x/day | 4.42 mAh | ~1.1 years | Remote area monitoring |
| High-frequency collection | Cat-1 (NA915), 10x/day | 4.58 mAh | ~1.0 years | High-frequency data upload |
Key Insights:
- Low-frequency collection (1-5x/day) achieves 3-13 years battery life
- WiFi mode offers longest battery life; Cat-1 mode provides wider coverage
- High-frequency collection (10x/day) still achieves over 1 year battery life
2.5 Data Source
Test Conditions:
- Test Environment: 25°C room temperature
- WiFi Signal: Standard signal strength (-60 dBm)
- Cat-1 Signal: Good signal coverage
- Fill Light: OFF (disabled)
Data Source:
- All data from CamThink laboratory test reports (February 2026)
- Actual power consumption may vary due to environmental temperature, signal strength, and other factors
3. Application Case Studies
3.1 Remote Environmental Monitoring Case
Project Background: Mountain environmental monitoring station, uploading data every 4 hours
Deployment Solution:
- NE301 + weather sensors + 4 AA batteries
- WiFi mode, 6x/day
Actual Performance (18 months operation):
- Daily Power: 1.44 mAh (capture 1.29 mAh + standby 0.15 mAh)
- Estimated Battery Life: ~3.3 years
- Battery Voltage: 5.8V (healthy status)
Key Results:
- Low-frequency collection achieves over 3 years battery life
- WiFi coverage good, stable data upload
- Suitable for long-term unattended scenarios
3.2 Smart Security Surveillance Case
Project Background: Temporary construction site security surveillance, uploading images every 2 hours
Deployment Solution:
- NE301 + camera + 4 AA batteries
- Cat-1 (GL912), 12x/day
Actual Performance (12 months operation):
- Daily Power: 5.29 mAh (capture 5.14 mAh + standby 0.15 mAh)
- Estimated Battery Life: ~0.9 years
- 4G signal stable, high upload success rate
Key Results:
- Medium-frequency monitoring achieves nearly 1 year battery life
- Cat-1 module power consumption well-controlled
- 4G Cat-1 provides stable wide-area coverage
3.3 High-Frequency Data Collection Case
Project Background: Greenhouse crop growth monitoring, collecting images every hour
Deployment Solution:
- NE301 + HD camera + environmental sensors
- WiFi mode, 24x/day
Actual Performance (6 months operation):
- Daily Power: 5.28 mAh (capture 5.13 mAh + standby 0.15 mAh)
- Estimated Battery Life: ~0.9 years
- AI model inference performing well
Key Results:
- High-frequency collection still achieves nearly 1 year battery life
- Excellent power performance under WiFi environment
- Stable AI inference meeting business requirements
Document Version: v2.1
Last Updated: 2026-03-23