IP CAMERA SYSTEM PLANNING

[rickm15752 0]

Hi everyone,

I'm doing some remodeling in my home and have an opportunity to run lots of wire. I would like to install an IP camera system. I haven't purchased any hardware yet but have Cat 5e and 18/2 wire ready to go.

 

I would like to have surveillance of the outside perimeter of the home. I can run all the wire I need.

I would like dome cameras placed under the eaves or on the wall to get good quality identification images. So, I'll be placing the cameras just high enough to discourage vandalism or theft.

 

I'm wondering where to terminate my camera wiring. I can home run the cameras (Cat5e and 18/2) to a location in my garage or a location in my office. I plan on having lots of camera runs and I'm not sure how many right now. I think running many possibilities now will save lots of work later.

 

If all camera runs go to a central point in the garage, I would like to send the data into my office where I plan to have a DVR. What kind of hardware and wire (1 Cat5e or multiple Cat 5's) would I need in the garage to ultimately send the data to the office? Some type of ethernet switch in the garage I would imagine? Also, considering POE or a central camera power supply in the garage.

 

Any suggestions as to wiring layout would be appreciated.

 

I have multiple Cat5e and Coax to all bedrooms, livingroom and family room for the usual, such as phone, computer and TV. I have a home security system already.

 

Right now, all my Cat5e for computer network goes to my office. All my Cat5e for telephone, and Coax for tv, runs go to a structured panel box in the garage. I have a few Cat5e runs between this box and my computer network Cat5e in my office.

 

I've searched many of the posts here and can't seem to find this info. If someone knows of a post or two that has covered this already, please provide the link.

Thanks.

Rick

Edited February 12, 2011 by Guest

[Birdman Adam 0]

Domes under eaves are great for good shots - high enough so that even tall people like me (6'4") can't mess with the camera without a bat. If you get a dome, make sure its waterproof, usually this is classified as -'vandal-proof'. The case is metal, and the dome is polycarbonate, very strong!!

Good example:

 

I would home-run cameras to structured wiring closet/area. PSU and recorder can go there as well. Probably have a dedicated switch (10/100 - most cams aren't 1000, maybe like 12 ports?) for all the cameras and recorder to go into, with uplink going to the router/modem in your office. Any device on the LAN (and outside if you port-forward) can view the recorder.

 

Run obviously cat5e to all camera locations, plus at least one 18/2 to each. This way you can power stronger infrared lights if need be. Don't you love climbing around in attics?

[Soundy 1]

Thing is, there really is no ONE answer... there are lots of different ways to do this, mostly depending on what's going to make the most sense to YOU, since you're the one who has to install it and maintain it.

 

If it were me, I'd probably have all my phone, network, cable, everything into one comms closet (or similar central location). For the network, I'd look into a single PoE-capable switch for everything - that would allow me to plug in a PoE-powered device anywhere I want, not just where the cameras go. The Cat5e runs, I'd terminate in a patchbay, which then gives unlimited options for running phone, network, or whatever, to any jack in the house.

 

Depending on how much you want to put into the whole thing, there are some really nice structured-wiring products from the likes of Leviton and Honeywell (among others) that give you installation boxes and components with standardized mounting points, so you can easily mix and match components to suit your needs. You can even tie in alarm, environmental, intercom, home automation, and other types of systems from there.

 

That's how I would do it, anyway, given the chance to do it all from scratch... you may not want to redo your existing phone and network setup, in which case it may be preferable to bring your camera runs to a convenient spot, put a PoE switch there, then bring a single run (or maybe two) back your "control center". In this case, I'd probably go with something like a Cisco SFE1000P switch - we use a lot of these, they're fantastic - it's got eight 10/100 PoE ports, and two gigabit/fiber ports, so with that, you could pull two gigabit lines back to your office for plenty of capacity.

[cglaeser 0]

I would like dome cameras placed under the eaves

 

My personal preference for a home is domes. Because you can't see where they are pointing, the eye is less likely to notice them. My neighbors are unaware that I have cameras unless I point them out. Also, it's more difficult to tamper with a dome. My neighbor owns a used car lot, and the burglars used a long 2x4 to re-aim all the bullet cameras and then continue with the burglary out of site.

 

Best,

Christopher

[rory 0]

My personal preference for a home is domes. Because you can't see where they are pointing, the eye is less likely to notice them. My neighbors are unaware that I have cameras unless I point them out. Also, it's more difficult to tamper with a dome. My neighbor owns a used car lot, and the burglars used a long 2x4 to re-aim all the bullet cameras and then continue with the burglary out of site.

 

Best,

Christopher

That said, I use Turret IR domes mostly now especially for homes, as they are the cheapest and still give a good image without IR reflection - only 12VDC though. With Turrets you can however see where they are pointed. Personally? I use bullets at my own place, simple to install and adjust, they can move the cameras? Sure, but another will capture them. Plus in all the times crooks have come through my yard (more than I can count) they never even noticed the bullets, or at least never bothered to try to move them. At a local club, bullets here and there, more domes now, a drunk came in one night they were closed and moved the camera .. ofcourse his face was clear as day as he was within 1 foot of the camera when he did it, same with a security guard one night on a crime binge .. move the camera with a broom stick (barely) .. but wait 3 other bullets caught him doing it! Ive seen domes also cracked, blocked, or totally ignored - wait so we got someone on camera that must be the criminals right? Wrong .. court says otherwise, just because they were in the yard, doesnt mean they broke in. Then again even with that bullet and the drunks face, couldnt press charges, got a face but no "body" to charge. Lots of different variables to consider.

 

But generally we use them for clients so less likely to have to go back and adjust them in the very rare occasion of them actually being moved, even if just the local kids move them for fun or a heavy wind knocks a tree limb down on them. Turrets are cheap and easy to adjust also, much easier than the standard vandal dome, and typically cheaper. Not saying they are for everyone though, just saying its something to consider, whether the crook can see which way they are pointing or not.

 

We get ALOT more IR with the bullets though.