Home Security Camera question

[CMV]

If this were my project, what I would do is figure out what DVR and cameras I would buy TODAY. Even if you're not actually buying for another year or so - worst case same thing is cheaper a year from now. But consider what whole system looks like at end of the addition, where the DVR will sit, how many cameras & about where each would be mounted. Then run cables to support that as you go.

Even if I thought I wanted 4 cameras today, I'd get an 8 channel DVR. Can still run with just 4, but later you decide 6 would be better, there's room to add. Or if you thought you wanted 8, get 16 channel, etc. Mine is 4 channel with 4 cameras. If I could add a 5th I would, but since I can't, just put them where most useful. When I bought it, I thought 4 was plenty (and probably is), but didn't consider it since i didn't know and later wished I had bought and 8 channel system with 4 cameras so I could add one here or there in future.

 

[CMV]

Oh....really put some thought into camera placement. Don't do like I did Here are examples of my novice thinking when I installed it so you can learn from my mistakes:

I thought this would be a good angle and coverage for package thieves or people messing with cars in driveway. Pretty much good coverage of front side of house.



Seemed like a good idea, but reality is camera is too far away to be useful. Obviously phone screen shot and on a bigger monitor the picture can be more detailed, but would I really get a good shot of a package thief at front door? What if someone was messing with my truck - would that picture be useful?

Next bright idea was only 1 camera to cover whole back yard (small, i'm on a 1/4 acre lot). But I wanted that gap in neigbor's fences since when our house was burglarized that's the path they took to/from the house so wanted to make sure it was covered. So to get the area coverage, I mounted camera high - it's right above 2nd story windows for height reference & yard slopes down away from it.



Best case I would have a shot of top of someone's head - my description to police would be whether or not they are bald Not knowing what I was doing, seemed like a good idea. But obviously it may as well not even be there for what it shows and the amount of detail it can capture from there. And it's way too high/far for the IR night illumination to do much of anything - so night shots are even more useless. Not the camera's or system's fault - just poor installation of an otherwise ok product.

 

[TwiceStroked]

CW, Vari-Focal 3-12 mm, I use both Fixed & Vari.
8-15' above grade.
I used speco b4 and found cheap fleabay to function just as good.
Think like a thief for placement.

 

[TwiceStroked]

They also make ir illuminators to help with Ur night vision. Just don't mt them facing the camera.
I am not by any means an expert on CCTV, just my experiences.
Mike

 

[buckeyefarmer]

My brother put in ir floodlights that make his night view look like daytime.

 

[CMV]

My brother put in ir floodlights that make his night view look like daytime.

That would work really well!

 

[plowhog]

Do you just stick them out of the wall and that's that? Or are their boxes, like junction our outlet boxes used for electrical that can be used?

Eddie, I am mid-way through building my house. I hired a low voltage specialist to do all the internet and camera cabling. I am competent to do all of that myself but glad I hired a professional. To answer your question, anything at a camera location, interior or exterior, has a 2-gang box fastened to a stud. With 4-6 feet of cable hanging out but rolled up and stuffed into the box. That gives you a future option to mount the camera to the box, or put a cover (like a switchplate cover) that has an RJ45 (internet) connector. I would pull CAT6.

You should also consider bringing all of the CAT6 wiring to a central location, regardless of where the cameras are. That central location also needs power, ideally a home run to the panel if you can do that. This is where your electronic equipment will be, either the host DVR, internet switch, etc. Be sure to plan (possibly) for a computer and large monitor in that location as well, if that is appropriate. You will want a single location to go to, view the cameras, download any video you want onto a thumb drive, etc. If your main "media" location is in the future part of your build, you can run a single CAT6 from this location to the new construction to tie it all together.

Regarding POE, that is really nice because you don't need to run a power wire to the camera. I would use the industrial grade internet switches such as from Netgear. Some models offer "managed" switches and offer POE right out of the switch with no separate injector required. Not having to do a POE injector for each camera is much more efficient. (See link.) btw there are other model switches with more POE ports and more power if you need that.

Netgear ProSafe Plus Switch 8 port Gigabit Ethernet Switch with 4 port PoE - Office Depot

Regarding outdoor cameras, dome cameras are attractive but most DIY people don't have the skill to maximize their utility. "Bullet" cameras are pretty simple to install. Anything that you have that is exterior will require you to consider two cameras per location. For example, if you want to watch the front of your house a driveway, one camera could do that. But it probably won't be able to capture a license plate since it has a very wide field of view. If you had one camera for "panoramic view" of the front, and a second camera (with a different lens) that had a real tight focus on your driveway, then you could "watch everything" and capture license plates. Add in night vision, wide dynamic range, varifocal, etc. and there is an overwhelming amount of choices in cameras for a DIY guy like you or me. When you get ready to buy cameras, consult an on-line utility program that will calculate the focal need of the lens. You can measure the width and distance you want in the field of view, and the utility program will tell you what focal lens to get on the camera you purchase. There are also varifocal lenses that are adjustable.

Also, if appropriate, you might consider an external box and CAT6 for a future wireless broadcast signal. On the outside of the house, you could put an internet access point, or nanostation, or whatever and then you could have wireless internet throughout your property. Yes you probably won't be web surfing on your tractor, but when I'm working in the shop I am frequently using a wireless connect to look up part numbers for filters, or research things.

Good luck with your project-- your idea to pull every wire that you can think of NOW is a very good idea ....

 

[plowhog]

work with the Cat6 cables that I will have installed.

One more thing. I would buy the proper crimp tool and install your own ends on the CAT6 cable. It's a little tedious at first but you will quickly get the hang of it.

Test EVERY cable after you make it. A cheap tester that works great is this one:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/DataSha...r-with-Case-and-Patch-Cords-PA70025/205972192

btw, in your media room beware to never make a CAT6 internet cable that is shorter than 3 feet. I know from miserable results that if you make short patch cables just to get from one device to another that is sitting right on top of it, do NOT make a cable shorter than 3 feet. They don't work right, and generate confusing and random problems that are hard to pin down. I know this from experience.

 

[chesternator]

I bought cheap wireless cameras for grandmas front porch. Great in daylight (color) fuzzy B&W at night. Grandma didn't like them. If someone sees I've got cameras they'll come in to get ME . She has a point. Depends why you want video. For online remember that a hacker can see what you'll be seeing.

Why would they be more tempted to come in because you have cameras? I think it's quite the opposite effect. Just having cameras is a deterrent even if they dont work. Most criminals are looking for something easy and dont want to get caught. If you have cameras I would be concerned that you are protecting yourself and may have something more deadly on the other side of the door. You want them to be visible so that maybe they move along and you dont even need the footage.

 

[Masempine]

She is 94. Her worry was that once they were on video, their only choice was to break in and destroy the video equipment or the person who had seen their faces.