How Much Battery Does Sentry Mode Use? (Explained)

Battery life can be one of the most challenging issues facing people who use Sentry Mode, and you may have noticed that Sentry Mode uses a battery very quickly.

Therefore, it’s important to keep track of your battery usage to know when it’s time to charge or replace your batteries.

This article will explain how much battery your Tesla car uses when in Sentry mode.

In sentry mode, according to Tesla, the battery is drained at a rate equal to one mile per hour. However, the rate at which the battery drains varies for different models. Sentry mode is a feature in Tesla automobiles that uses the vehicle’s external cameras to identify and record potential threats, utilizing additional features and battery.

How Much Battery Power Does Sentry Mode Use?

A Tesla can go one mile per hour of charging in sentry mode. The power helps the cameras stay on so they can keep an eye on their surroundings and look for threats.

The amount of battery discharge while your Tesla is in standby mode depends on its model, battery size, and duration.

Sentry mode uses a small amount of battery power when it is turned on. The camera will use more battery power when it’s active recording.

The camera will use less battery power when turned off in the sentry mode.

The amount of battery power varies depending on the make and model of the Tesla vehicle.

Sentry mode uses a fair amount of battery power, depending on how long you use it.

Therefore, the battery drain won’t be too bad if you only use it for a short period.

However, if you use it for an extended period, the battery will drain more quickly.

The good news is that you can always plug your Tesla into a charger to help offset the battery drain when not in use.

Due to the significant battery loss, Tesla includes a safeguard prohibiting total battery drain while the vehicle is unoccupied.

When the vehicle’s percentage reaches 20%, the sentry mode immediately deactivates, leaving the vehicle unprotected.

However, you will be notified through the mobile app whenever the sentry mode deactivates owing to low battery power.

I recommend using Sentry mode for as little time as possible. For example, if you’re only going to be at a location for a short period, then it makes sense to use Sentry mode while there.

On the other hand, if you know you’ll be in one place for an extended period—perhaps overnight or during your lunch break—then consider exiting Sentry mode before you leave and turning it on when you return.

Does Tesla Sentry Mode Drain Battery?

Sentry mode drains more battery than usual when activated because it uses additional power.

When Sentry Mode is turned on, more features are added to a Tesla, which uses more battery.

But how much the battery loses in sentry mode depends on how long the Tesla stays in this mode. 

Tesla’s website specifies that when sentry mode is active, your car’s danger lights, car alarm, and video recorder are activated.

Your vehicle’s touchscreen remains inactive to preserve power, but you can use it as a viewfinder to observe what’s happening around you.

If the sentry mode is on, your Tesla is always on standby and is never really not doing anything, even when it is parked.

That is because sentry mode utilizes the camera and sensors, which consume significant battery power to monitor the vehicle’s surroundings.

Additionally, the time that sentry mode is active also affects how much power it uses.

Knowing how to prevent battery drain and maintaining your Tesla in Sentry Mode is crucial.

In the table below are some Tesla battery-saving tips.

Tesla Battery-Saving Tips

Battery-Saving Tips	How-To
Park at a charging station.	Locate parking with long-term charging station access.
Adequate planning	If you know how long you’ll be gone, ensure your Tesla is fully charged.
Limit the use of 3rd-party apps.	Using third-party apps to monitor your Tesla will reduce the battery life.

How Long Does Sentry Battery Last?

Your Tesla’s sentry has an inbuilt battery that the system uses to prevent excessive battery consumption.

On average, you can use the sentry’s battery for about 12 hours straight.

But, of course, how quickly the sentry battery drains depends greatly on how busy the area around the car is and what kind of car it is.

The answer depends on a few factors, but you can generally expect Sentry Mode to use about 1-3% of your battery per hour.

Therefore, 1% of the battery charge is lost every two to three hours that Sentry Mode is on.

So, it loses 8% daily or more, and if Sentry Mode were always on for 12.5 days, the battery would be completely dead.

Your vehicle’s range is the biggest factor affecting how long your battery lasts in Sentry Mode.

For example, if you have a 100D will have a 100-mi driving range, and Sentry Mode will use about 1% of that per hour. 

However, the range is lower on other models because they have smaller batteries (60 kWh).

So, if you have a 60D with a 60-kWh battery pack, Sentry Mode would last an estimated 1.6 hours instead of 3 hours.

If you’re using Sentry Mode as a security feature when you’re away from your vehicle, it might make sense to leave it on while you sleep.

However, if Sentry Mode is on for more than 8 hours in a row, I recommend plugging in overnight to recharge.

How Long Can a Tesla Stay in Sentry Mode?

As per Tesla, if the sentry mode is used for around 11 days while the Tesla is not in use, you may encounter a dead battery when you attempt to retrieve your vehicle.

Tesla requires you to maintain a minimum battery level of 20 percent when using Sentry mode. 

If your battery falls below that point, your car will automatically exit sentry mode so it can take advantage of any residual energy in your battery pack.

Additionally, if your car is plugged into a charger and sentry mode is active, Tesla may temporarily exit sentry mode to charge if needed, re-entering after charging is complete.

Sentry mode can be enabled through the Tesla app and remain active even if you turn your car off.

The system will use approximately 1-3 percent of battery power per hour depending on conditions.

In most cases, Sentry mode can run for 24 hours on a full charge.

However, if you live in a particularly cold climate, you should disable the feature overnight to conserve battery power.

Sentry mode can be enabled when you leave your Tesla parked and locked.

The car will stay in sentry mode until you return and disable it or until the battery runs out of charge.

Once you arrive at your vehicle, use the app to disable Sentry mode by tapping Disarm Vehicle on the map screen.

Sentry mode on a Tesla uses the car’s external cameras to detect and record activity around the vehicle when it’s left unattended.

The system uses minimal battery power and can typically stay active for several hours on a full charge. 

Conclusion

In summary, sentry mode is a great feature in your Tesla car as it keeps your car safe, but it also drains the battery faster, which can be a problem if you are on a long trip, as you don’t want to be left with a dead car.

So when using your car in sentry mode, use the battery-saving tips.