For outdoor security users in the UK, the biggest challenge for devices is often not the complex installation environment, but the "erratic" local weather—sunny in the morning, sudden heavy rain in the afternoon, strong winds in the evening, alternating low-temperature frost in winter and humid heat in summer, and even sudden snowfall in the Scottish Highlands, all of which can cause ordinary surveillance cameras to "fail".

Traditional surveillance devices relying on mains power and network cables are already difficult to cover rural farms, remote estates, or suburban campsites due to wiring problems; while solar 4G surveillance cameras solve the pain point of "no electricity and no network", whether their durability can withstand the "all-round test" of UK weather has become a core concern for users when purchasing.

To verify the weather resistance of solar 4G surveillance cameras, we selected 3 mainstream outdoor models (all marked "UK weather-adapted") and conducted a 2-month test in professional laboratories and real UK scenarios, focusing on 4 key dimensions:

1.Water Resistance Test (Coping with High-Frequency Rainfall in the UK)​

The UK’s average annual rainfall is 1150mm, and some parts of Scotland even exceed 3000mm. The water resistance of the device directly determines its service life. Referring to the international IP protection standard, we placed the 3 cameras in a simulated "continuous heavy rain" environment (rainfall 50mm/h for 72 hours), while simulating the extreme scenario of rain seeping through the gaps of the camera body.

The results showed that the two models marked with IP66 protection rating performed excellently, with no water seepage traces inside the body and no fogging on the lens; while the model with only IP65 rating had fog on the lens after 48 hours of testing, affecting image clarity—this also reminds UK users to prioritize products with IP66 or higher protection rating when purchasing.

2. Wind Resistance Stability Test (Coping with Strong Winds and Gusts in the UK)​

The UK often experiences strong winds of 40-60km/h in winter, and gusts in coastal areas (such as Cornwall) can even reach 100km/h. If the camera is not installed stably or the body is easily damaged, it is likely to be blown down or damaged. We simulated a gust environment of 80km/h at a coastal test site in Dorset, UK, and continuously monitored the installation firmness and body structure of the cameras.

The test found that the models with reinforced metal brackets and "streamlined body" design had no obvious shaking under strong winds, and the connecting screws between the bracket and the wall did not loosen; while the model with plastic brackets showed slight inclination after 3 hours of gusts, requiring re-reinforcement—it is recommended that users installing in windy areas such as the coast and highlands add additional metal reinforcement accessories.

3. Low-Temperature Battery Life Test (Coping with Winter Frost in the UK)

Night temperatures in the UK in winter often drop to -5℃ to -10℃, and some mountainous areas (such as the Lake District) even drop to -15℃. Low temperatures not only affect the charging efficiency of solar panels but also shorten the battery life. We placed the cameras in a constant temperature environment of -12℃, simulating the winter scenario of "short daylight hours during the day + low temperature at night" to test their battery life.

The results showed that the model equipped with low-temperature optimized lithium batteries could work continuously for 14 days with 4 hours of sunlight per day (the average sunlight duration in the UK winter); while the model using ordinary lithium batteries had a battery life of only 7 days and experienced "slow charging" at low temperatures—this is particularly important for farm and vacant property users who need 24-hour monitoring in winter.

4. UV and Humidity Resistance Test (Coping with Humid Heat in UK Summer)

Although the temperature in the UK summer is not high (average 15-25℃), the UV intensity is relatively high, and frequent rain leads to air humidity often exceeding 80%. Long-term exposure can easily cause the camera shell to age and the lens transmittance to decrease. We placed the cameras in a simulated "UV + high humidity" environment (UV intensity 80W/m², humidity 85% for 30 days).

Finally, the model with UV-resistant engineering plastic shell had no yellowing or cracking of the shell, and the lens transmittance remained above 95%; while the model with ordinary plastic shell had obvious yellowing of the shell, the lens transmittance dropped to 80%, and the image clarity decreased during the day—this reminds users to pay attention to the anti-aging performance of the shell material.

After two months of simulated and on-site tests, we found that not all solar 4G surveillance cameras marked "outdoor applicable" can truly adapt to the changeable weather in the UK. Based on the test results, the following purchase and use suggestions are provided for UK users:

1.Prioritize "UK Weather Optimized" models: Choose products clearly marked "UK Weather Adapted" or designed for European climates. These models usually have special optimizations in water resistance, low-temperature battery life, etc., such as the IP66 protection and low-temperature lithium batteries mentioned earlier;

2.Strengthen accessories according to the installation scenario: If installing in windy areas such as the coast and highlands, additional metal reinforcement brackets need to be purchased; if installing in low-temperature areas such as Scotland and the Lake District, a combined package of "solar panel + backup battery" can be selected to extend battery life;

3.Regular maintenance to improve durability: Clean the solar panel once every 3 months (remove dust and bird droppings to avoid affecting charging efficiency), and check whether the lens is foggy after rain in winter to ensure long-term stable operation of the device.

In the UK, "the weather is uncontrollable, but the stability of surveillance devices can be chosen". The emergence of solar 4G surveillance cameras provides a flexible solution for security in rural and remote areas, but only products that pass strict weather durability tests and adapt to local climate characteristics can truly become users' "reliable outdoor security partners".