Proper installation and maintenance are key to a successful security camera system. We’ve seen many avoidable errors, from power supply issues to incorrect equipment placement. This guide will teach you how to install, manage, and upgrade both analog and IP systems correctly, avoiding common pitfalls.
Do’s and Don’ts for All Types of Surveillance Systems
When installing and maintaining either a IP camera or Analog system, adhering to best practices is critical to ensuring optimal performance and the longevity of your purchase. Below is a comprehensive list of do’s and don’ts to guide you regardless of what type of security camera system you have.
Do:
1. Choose the right type of camera: Thoroughly assess your property to determine the optimal placement of cameras and coverage around it to avoid blind spots. Often, a one-size-fits-all approach to surveillance doesn’t work well and requires buying different types of security cameras based on mounting location and desired area you want to cover. For example, a wide-angle camera will not pick up facial detail more than 30 feet away; instead, it’ll require using a camera with a motorized zoom lens. For more tips on picking cameras for your system visit our Security Camera Buying Guide.
2. Install High-Quality Cables: Invest in quality cabling and connectors to ensure reliable signal transmission and reduce the impact of inevitable degradation.
3. Use Junction Boxes: Purchase junction boxes for your cameras for a cleaner installation and to protect the pigtail wiring.
4. Protect Your Recorder: Place your DVR or NVR flat on a shelf or desk in a clean, climate-controlled area to prevent overheating from heat and avoid dust buildup.
5. Use a Battery Backup with Surge Protection: Protect your low-voltage equipment from power surges by using a battery backup such as a Cyberpower with surge protection, especially in storm-prone regions.
6. Ensure Adequate Lighting: Position cameras in well-lit areas and use cameras with Starlight or night vision capabilities to capture footage at night. Camera models have varying degrees of night vision capabilities. Choose cameras based on the amount of night vision you need.
7. Test Your System Periodically: Regularly check camera video feeds and recorded video to ensure that the cameras and cabling are functioning correctly and troubleshoot as needed.
8. Maintain Clear Camera Lenses: Regularly clean camera lenses to ensure unobstructed and clear footage.
9. Use our Security Camera System guides: We create video tutorials and handwritten guides to help our customers become masters of their cameras and recorders. Check out our Knowledge Base for our other in-depth guides.
10. Reach out to Support When Needed: If you have questions about installing a camera from CCTV Camera World or encounter any issues, reach out to our support department for further assistance. Please have your device information ready, as we only provide support for certain products.
Don’t:
1. Avoid Hiding Cameras: While discretion is sometimes necessary, completely concealing cameras can reduce their deterrent effect and cause blind spots or issues with IR reflection.
2. Avoid Poor Camera Positioning and Aiming: Placing cameras too high, too low, or at improper angles can result in ineffective surveillance. Also, don’t aim them at the sun or reflections, as it will damage the video sensor in the camera.
3. Don’t Modify Cameras: Do not cut off or try to solder any connectors on the pigtail or paint the camera. Connections are factory soldered, and painting cameras can affect thermals, leading to premature failure. All camera modifications void the warranty.
4. Don’t Expect to See License Plates: License plates are difficult to capture accurately without using specialized license plate cameras.
5. Don’t Overlook Privacy Laws: Ensure your camera placements comply with local privacy regulations and double check audio recording laws for your state and locality if your cameras have microphones.
6. Don’t Ignore Cable Management: Leaving cables exposed can lead to damage from the elements or tampering from passersby; always secure and conceal wiring appropriately using a junction box.
7. Avoid Using Incompatible Power Supplies: Using incorrect power sources can damage equipment; always match power requirements accurately. Specific power information for each system type is found in the sections below.
8. Don’t Rely Solely on Wireless Connections: While convenient, wireless connections are less stable; consider wired connections for critical areas.
9. Don’t Change Settings You Don’t Understand: Changing settings that you don’t fully understand can lead to unintended consequences, such as being locked out of the DVR, disrupting recordings, incorrect timestamps, and loss of display on the monitor.
10. Don’t Update Firmware from Unknown Sources: Using firmware not obtained from CCTV Camera World will void your product warranty and potentially ‘brick’ the device, rendering it useless.
Do’s and Don’ts for an IP PoE Security Camera System
While PoE cameras are relatively easy to set up and install thanks to Power over Ethernet (PoE) technology, they come with their own challenges that are important to understand to avoid accidentally damaging the cameras or network video recorder.
Do:
1. Use the Weather-Resistant Grommet: All of CCTV Camera World IP cameras come with weather-resistant grommets for Ethernet cabling. We recommend using them in locations where you cannot easily tuck the cable and connectors into the wall, eaves, or soffit.
2. Label and Organize Cables: Labeling your cables with numbers for the channel makes it a lot easier to troubleshoot if a camera stops working or if you need to replace a bad cable.
3. Use Solid Copper Ethernet for Pan Tilt Zoom PoE cameras: PTZ cameras typically have higher power requirements than fixed lens cameras and may require higher quality solid copper Ethernet cabling.
4. Take advantage of Smart Event Detection features: Most of our IP security cameras include a selection of intelligent video analytics that offer more accurate recording and push alerts compared to traditional pixel-based motion detection.
Don’t:
1. Don’t Overlook PoE Compatibility: If you’re using a PoE switch or injector to power a camera separate from your NVR, ensure it is PoE+ compatible. Using incompatible or passive PoE devices can immediately damage your camera.
2. Don’t Hold Cameras by Their Pigtails: The pigtails are vital connectors for power and data. Mishandling them can damage these connections, which cannot be repaired manually.
3. Don’t Ignore Ethernet Cable Limits: Avoid exceeding the recommended maximum cable length (typically 100 meters or 328 feet) for PoE connections, as longer distances can lead to power and data signal loss. Intermittent power loss can damage the PoE board inside the cameras. If you have to run beyond the 300ft limit, you can use solid copper CAT6 cable, and specialized PoE switches with extended PoE mode that we carry. You learn more about how to do long runs with PoE cameras.
4. Don’t Place Cameras and Recorders on Separate Networks: While creating a separate network or VLAN for your cameras is fine, ensure that both the recorder and cameras remain within the same subnet so they can connect to one another.
Do’s and Don’ts for Analog Camera Systems
Analog CCTV systems can be more complex to set up and maintain than IP PoE systems. However, with the following tips, you’ll be well-prepared to handle any potential issues that arise.
Do:
1. Use Cable from a Roll with Good Quality Connectors: While pre-made cables work for most budget low resolution installations, using thicker-gauge cable from a roll with hand-crimped connectors ensures better signal quality and improved longevity.
2. Test Connections: Always test your connections during installation to catch any issues early on before finishing.
3. Protect Cables from Interference: Route cables away from main electrical lines and appliance lines to minimize electrical interference that can disrupt video signals.
4. Maintain Power Supplies: Power supplies can lose efficiency over time, especially in hot environments. Place them in a cool area and check their condition annually to ensure optimal performance.
5. Monitor Video for Rolling Lines or Glitches: Rolling lines or video glitches indicate grounding issues or voltage injection on the video wire. Disconnect any affected cameras immediately to prevent potential damage to the DVR.
Don’t:
1. Don’t Ignore Grounding Issues: It’s worth repeating; grounding problems are common in coaxial systems, especially when using old equipment with new HD cameras. Older equipment and thin cables deteriorate over time and can cause transient electricity to travel back into the DVR and cause damage.
2. Don’t Mix Voltages: While this might sound like common sense, don’t connect 24V AC to 12V DC cameras. This all-too-common mistake will instantly zap the camera. Be sure to double check what voltage your cameras require.
3. Don’t Overlook Power Requirements: Using underpowered power supplies can lead to video signal issues or camera malfunctions at night. If a camera requires half an amp, it’s wise to provide a power supply with at least one amp to avoid issues.
4. Don’t Use Power Splitters: Low-quality camera kits often include a single power supply with a splitter instead of a professional power supply box. These splitters typically don’t distribute power evenly, leading to performance issues for your cameras, especially at night.