Arkilae

Hello, new here, as you can see and I need some help with a CCTV DIY job. If this is in the wrong section I apologize. First off I have zero experience with installing CCTV systems, the client I am working for is asking me to do the job because he does not want to pay an exorbitant amount as he did before for his first CCTV system. Chiefly he is looking at DIY kits from the likes of Costco etc. for his small business. He has tasked me with this job because I am his usual tech guy for his computer systems and I said I could do it, possibly a mistake but this is part of my job, I work for him. I also had to solve some software related issues with the previous CCTV system because the guys who he contracted for the job left him without some features working such as remote viewing and some video feed problems. Obviously if we decide on a DIY kit it will come with instructions and most of the equipment but as with all things not all the information you need or the equipment can be provided if you run in to problems or small issues. On to some questions. 1. Since I will be installing this in a small business location, the ceiling panels are going to be tiled. Is there any thing I should know about these panels and what it is like to work with them while installing a camera and wiring? 2. He wants an eight camera system for his 1400 SQFT location one in the back, one in the front (those two being out doors) and the rest inside. The location is about 60-70 feet deep, would 80 feet of cabling cover it? 3. Is there any thing I should know about the electrical cables for the cameras? I have researched that most of these systems have a small power supply unit, which is a box which you connect the cameras power cables in to, and then to a wall socket, is there any thing else? What I am looking for is advice in both installing the cameras and find the right system. I am still reading and still learning about this as I go, and in the end I hope to provide a job well done and pick up some experience and education on security systems as I do this work. Obviously if we decide on a DIY kit it will come with instructions and most of the equipment but as with all things not all the information you need or the equipment can be provided if you run in to problems or small issues. My biggest concern would be the PSU simply because from what I can tell there is an electrical outlet running from the PSU to a nearby wall socket, however there is a fifth power cable running from the PSU along with the BNC cables and the power cables up in to the ceiling and we can't seem to find out where that leads to so it may be connected to the fuse box. Thank you all again.

$1000 custom? How many cameras? Look I can assure you he got ripped off on his last CCTV job, he doesn't want that to happen again, if you're quoting $500 for what is essentially a simple camera that does nothing then sit there and record then you have a different type of business that you're trying to protect or cater towards. For this we need general overview as deterrents, and a camera that will allow us to identify people coming in and out of the store as a means to protect. I found some of the components used for the previous job on Newegg for $40 (PSU) and the cameras ($50) I note the previous job they did not instruct him also on how to maintain the system nor gave him a spec sheet or quote. Take that as it is, I however would prefer to do a better job and from the prices I'm seeing on some of the kits or individual cameras/dvrs/psu/cabling this could be done for less than what he paid for the previous job with better quality cameras and a DVR. I do have a few more questions now though. 1. If we were to get a nice DIY kit and the DVR supported a recording resolution of both D1/4CIF and CIF would it be possible to use that DVR and a separate higher end camera for use in identifying individuals entering the store? This probably depends on the DVR but from the ones I've looked at they all say they can record at D1 between 7.5 FPS to 15FPS. For example we have seven cameras recording in CIF and the eighth recording using the D1 camera and recording at the same resolution to the DVR. 2. Would a power supply unit that comes with the DIY kit be sufficient for powering the high end camera? 3. You guys have offered a lot of advice but can you offer me suggestions regarding companies to buy from? Rather than just shooting in the dark with somewhat dodgy Chinese and Korean manufacturers like LTS and Q-See. Thank you all again for your help.

Definitely the bottom one currently the image above that one is better than the live recording of his current set up.

Thank you both for your replies. Let me first say it was quite a bit for a small setup that consisted of only four cameras and none of the cameras unless you are about five feet away will give you a clear image of the person in front of it. They also has I said failed to get the remote viewing working and one of the cameras had a bad feed. I can't give specifics but he did pay in excess of 1,000. Since you both agree that I should stay away from a DIY kit what would be your suggestions then regarding finding something around the range of 500-700$ that would be a better system.