Basic Components of a CCTV System
Systems for CCTV are intricate. A network of compatible commercial security cameras, plenty of storage, appropriate cabling, and even power is needed for a functioning CCTV system to provide complete property surveillance around-the-clock. Fortunately, surveillance doesn’t have to be challenging. See what supplies and elements you’ll need to set up your IP surveillance system in the following paragraphs.
Commercial Security Cameras
The security cameras themselves are, of course, the most crucial component of a commercial security camera system. Commercial security cameras record everything that occurs inside and outside a building, and they transmit that video to recorders, displays, and mobile devices. For various camera installation service requirements, security cameras are available in a range of hardware configurations.
Your specific requirements, your budget, and whether you’ll be installing the security cameras indoors or outdoors will determine which ones are best for your system. Is the 1080P resolution sufficient? Will they be able to see and take video in low light effectively? Do they have a wide enough field of vision, or would a PTZ camera be required? When deciding which security cameras to use for your project to install CCTV cameras, you should take all these factors into account.
Cabling and Wiring
Structured cabling going throughout the walls and linking your security cameras to the server or NVR will be a crucial part of the surveillance camera installation process for most commercial CCTV systems. Even while wireless security cameras are becoming more and more common, particularly for home use, wired security cameras continue to be the best option for demanding and long-term security applications.
IP Camera Installation Cabling
You will likely be looking at Cat5E or Cat6 connections when using IP cameras, as most CCTV systems do these days. These cables can carry the significant amounts of data needed by digital video and high resolutions at extremely rapid speeds, and frequently over long distances. This is an improvement over the coax wiring that typically powers analog security cameras; while coax cables are dependable, they cannot be used to install IP cameras. Most of the time, Cat5e and Cat6 cables can also be used to power security cameras, negating the need for additional wiring. When the security cameras are not connected to an NVR, this is known as Power-Over-Ethernet and requires a PoE switch. Although there may be less wiring required in the walls for wireless security cameras, wires are still needed to power the security camera separately.
Network Video Recorder (NVR)
Another vital component of any IP camera system is the Network Video Recorder, or NVR. If it is connected to the same IP network, the NVR can be deployed almost anywhere in your house or building. You can take pictures with the NVR and send them to your computer or another remote device for live and recorded viewing, as well as record and store video on a hard drive. Security camera feeds may typically be inputted through several channels on network video recorders, which also serve as a central hub for integrating feeds and keeping an all-encompassing eye on your surveillance feeds. NVRs and DVRs can be mounted on a wall, a shelf, a desk, or behind a false wall.
NVRs and DVRs are essentially distinguished by the fact that the former record video from IP cameras, whereas the latter primarily record analog-based video to a digital format. While many NVRs connect using Ethernet cables, such as a cat5e or cat6, standard DVR recorders use coaxial cables.
Hard Drives
Video surveillance footage can be easily recorded using an NVR, but you’ll need attached hard drives to store it. It may seem complicated and risky to choose the correct amount of storage for your security camera installation, but it doesn’t have to be, all you must do is figure out how much footage you need to keep based on the bitrate and quality your camera shoots at. This might result in a high number of terabytes of data when recording 4k security camera footage. You may generally get away with far less for archive demands that are less severe.
Where Do You Install Security Cameras?
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the most frequent access points for offenders are the front door, rear door, and first-floor windows. Providers of CCTV camera installations should be careful to cover all important entries, including front and rear doors, gates, and the pathways leading up to them. Since danger is most likely to happen on the first level, they should also keep an eye on those windows. After that, install cameras at the building’s corners to record the whole perimeter. Additionally dangerous sites that need to be watched over day and night are parking lots and garages.
It’s crucial to be aware of your field of vision and prevent forming blind spots. A brighter, clearer image is ensured by positioning cameras in well-lit places, so pay attention to illumination as well. You may also consider infrared cameras, which work similarly to night vision by detecting body heat.
To prevent tampering, commercial security cameras should be positioned high up – often 9 feet from the ground. You should also consider if you want intruders to be able to see your cameras.
Camera Angle and Positioning
It’s crucial to keep the camera’s distance from its subject in mind while installing a security camera system. The proper regions should always be sharply visible and in focus. Avoid mounting the cameras in glare-prone areas, which means they shouldn’t face direct sunlight because too much light impairs sight.
Unless it is a dome camera, security cameras should typically be mounted with the lens pointed downward. Make sure a camera is attached securely to a wall or other object to prevent camera shaking from distorting the image.
