Poundland dummy CCTV camera.

Product

Poundland dummy CCTV camera (battery-powered fake camera with red flashing LED)

Quick summary

• Very cheap dummy CCTV intended to look like a mounted security camera. Includes a cardboard mounting template.
• Main gimmick: a red LED that flashes at roughly 1 Hz (about once per second) and is driven directly from the battery (no resistor).
• Internals are based on a push-light mechanism (push to click on/off) with a simple springed assembly, soft plastic screw bosses and a battery holder in the bottom.
• The LED draws roughly 10 mA.

Main features

• Red flashing LED visible in the “lens” area.
• Fake plastic lens/housing that can look convincing when unlit.
• Battery compartment (small cells) with a push-on/push-off switch.
• Cardboard mounting template included for easy installation.

Pros

• Very inexpensive (Poundland).
• Decent-looking fake lens and housing — can pass for a CCTV camera if it is dark/unlit.
• Simple to install and mount; comes with a template.
• The LED has an unusual, pleasing blink speed.

Cons

• The flashing red LED is unrealistic for modern CCTV (most real cameras have no visible flashing light or have a steady power/data indicator), so the blinking can make it look fake.
• LED current (~10 mA) will drain batteries fairly quickly if left on; you must remember to switch it off or remove batteries.
• Cheap internal construction (soft plastic around screws, simple push-light guts) — not robust for repeated disassembly.
• If batteries are installed and the LED is visible under the fake lens, the flashing draws attention to its fakery.

User experience and recommendations

• Best used without batteries: leaving it dark/ominous is more convincing than a flashing red light.
• If you want to simulate activity, you can conceal the LED under the fake lens; however, any visible flashing still risks looking fake.
• Easy to mount using the supplied template; overall look is good enough for casual deterrence or decoration.

Comparisons & context

• Modern CCTV cameras rarely have visible flashing red LEDs; they usually have no visible lights or a steady/data indicator, so a blinking red LED is not authentic.
• Anecdotal/nostalgic note: older store dome cameras often had prominent lights and moving parts or used fake lenses. Earlier low-power blinking techniques (e.g., using LM3909-style circuits) could blink LEDs with very low power — that is not how this product operates.

Technical/unique points

• Product is essentially a push light repurposed as a dummy camera.
• Battery holder located in the bottom.
• Push-on/push-off switch mechanism.
• Red LED blinks about 1 Hz (one second on/off).
• LED wired directly across ~3 V (no resistor).
• LED current draw ≈ 10 mA (batteries will go flat quickly if left on).
• Screw bosses are soft; assembly uses springs — not robust for repeated disassembly.
• Fake lens can either hide the LED (more convincing when dark) or show it (makes it look fake).
• Cardboard mounting template included.
• Visually convincing when dark/unlit.
• Recommended to leave batteries out for better realism.
• Nostalgic similarity to older, showy store “security” domes and mechanical panning fake cameras.

Verdict / recommendation

If you want a very cheap decorative or deterrent dummy camera and plan to keep it unlit, this is a decent buy — it looks convincing when dark and is simple to mount. If you expect a realistic active-looking CCTV (with a realistic power/data indicator or no visible blinking), the flashing red LED undermines credibility and drains batteries quickly. Best practice: buy it for looks, do not insert batteries (or disable the LED) for a more convincing dummy camera.