June 5, 2026
The Quote Is Not the Bill
When operations managers weigh up solar vs wired CCTV, the first number they compare is the equipment cost. Cameras, DVR, power supply, mounting hardware. For a basic wired system, this figure looks reasonable and is easy to budget for.
It is also only part of what a wired installation at a non-urban or remote site will actually cost.
The full cost of running cable to a security camera includes cabling material, trenching or conduit, an electrician to make the connection, and in many cases a grid connection from Eskom that carries its own fees and a waiting period measured in months. By the time all of these are accounted for, a system that looked affordable on paper has become a significant infrastructure project.
Wire-free solar cameras do not have most of these costs. Understanding the difference requires looking at each cost component in turn.
What a Wired System Actually Costs
The Equipment
A professional wired CCTV system for a small site typically includes cameras, a digital video recorder, power supplies, and the physical hardware for mounting. Installed costs for a basic four-camera wired system in South Africa run from R5,500 to R7,500 in straightforward urban environments, covering equipment and standard installation labour.
This baseline figure assumes short cable runs, easy wall access, and an existing power supply nearby. It is the best-case scenario. Most remote or site-based installations do not qualify for it.
The Cable
Wired cameras require a physical cable run from each camera to the recorder and power source. Cable costs range from R15 to R30 per metre for standard installation-grade material. A site where cameras need to cover a perimeter of 300 metres, with cable runs averaging 80 metres per camera for a four-camera setup, means over 300 metres of cable at a material cost of R4,500 to R9,000 before a single metre is installed.
Trenching
In any outdoor installation where cable cannot be surface-run, it must be buried to protect it from weather, vehicles, and theft. Trenching in soil is priced per hour and the rate in South Africa ranges from R1,100 to R1,800 per hour depending on ground conditions and equipment. A 300-metre trench at a conservative estimate of two metres per hour adds up to over 150 hours of machine time and a cost that can easily exceed R150,000 for a large perimeter before backfill, reinstatement, and conduit are factored in.
Even for smaller sites, 100 metres of trenching at a modest rate represents a five-figure cost that was nowhere in the original equipment quote.
The Electrician
A wired outdoor system requires a qualified electrician to make the final power connections safely and to certify the installation for insurance purposes. Qualified electricians in South Africa charge between R400 and R800 per hour, with call-out fees on top. A remote installation requiring a full day of work plus travel adds up quickly.
The Grid Connection
For sites without an existing Eskom supply point, a new grid connection is required. The Eskom application process involves an initial application, a cost estimate phase, and a budget quotation phase before any connection work begins. The practical lead time from application to live connection at a remote site is commonly six months or longer. During that period, the site has no wired security at all.
Connection fees, supply extension charges, and civil works required to bring the supply to the site are additional. Eskom's own fee schedules confirm that remote sites attract higher charges than urban ones due to the distances involved.
Ongoing Costs
A wired system's costs do not end at installation. Grid-connected systems are subject to Eskom tariff increases, which have averaged well above inflation for more than a decade. Systems with exposed cable in areas affected by copper theft require periodic inspection and potential replacement. And every load shedding event tests whatever battery backup the system has, with systems that lack adequate backup simply going dark.
Maintenance callouts for a remote wired system also carry travel costs that do not apply to urban installations.
What a Solar Camera System Costs
A solar-powered camera unit integrates the camera, solar panel, battery, and cellular modem into a single self-contained package. The installation requirement is a mounting point and a clear view of the sky.
There is no cable run. There is no trenching. There is no electrician. There is no grid connection application. The unit can be mounted, configured, and transmitting live footage within hours of arrival on site.
The equipment cost for a professional solar camera unit is higher than a basic wired camera. That difference is the only additional cost. Every other line item in the wired installation comparison disappears.
For a remote site where the wired alternative would require 200 metres of buried cable, an Eskom connection application, an electrician, and six months of waiting, the solar system is not just cheaper. It is the only option that can be operational this week.
The Comparison in Practice
Consider a construction site security requirement for a perimeter with four camera positions, 150 metres from the nearest power supply:
Wired system:
- Equipment and standard installation: R6,000
- 200 metres of cable at R20/m: R4,000
- Trenching for outdoor cable runs: R15,000 to R30,000
- Electrician for connection and certification: R5,000 to R8,000
- Eskom supply extension or generator hire during connection wait: R10,000 to R20,000
- Total: R40,000 to R68,000, with a timeline of weeks to months
Solar camera system:
- Four self-contained solar units with cellular connectivity: equipment cost only
- Installation: mounting hardware and configuration, completable in a single day
- Total: equipment cost, operational within 24 hours
The gap between the two is not the result of one large cost. It is the accumulation of every line item that wired installations generate and solar installations do not.
The Site That Moves
One cost that does not appear in any installation quote is the cost of reinstallation when a site changes. Construction projects move through phases. Harvest seasons end. Temporary operations conclude.
A wired system that cost R50,000 to install cannot be relocated without most of that expenditure being repeated. The cable stays in the ground or is written off. The solar cameras unclip from their mounts, go into a transit case, and are reinstalled at the next site in the same day.
For businesses that operate across multiple sites or run temporary operations, this mobility is not a convenience. It is a significant reduction in the total cost of security over the life of the system.
Digisky supplies and installs solar-powered security camera systems across South Africa. Our off-grid units are fully self-contained with 24/7 coverage, cellular connectivity, and no dependency on grid power or buried cable. Systems are operational within hours of installation and relocate with your site. Contact us to discuss your requirements.