Need advice on camera placement

[pilot04 0]

Hi, I'm looking to install two dome cameras in the front of my house. I'd love to cover the driveway and also the front door/pathways leading to the house.

 

1. Of the six locations in the picture, where would be best placements of the camera?

2. How about lighting, where would I install new floodlights to help with night viewing?

 

I've read on this site that I should install the floodlights beneath the camera. I've never installed any CCTV and plan to use cat5e with baluns as that seems most future proof.

 

Thanks!

Edited October 22, 2011 by Guest

[bike_rider 0]

No picture showing.

[nDAlk90 0]

I would put more then two cameras on such a wide house but you can do what ever you like.

 

I would recommend a camera at (LOCATION 1) and the the second at (LOCATION 5) amusing that is the path leading to the door. Installing lighting ABOVE the camera not below, if you install below you will get a washed out image.

[pilot04 0]

Initially having two cameras is mainly due to budget constraints rather than getting the costo lorex type of packages. Thanks for confirming my initial thoughts on location #1 for the driveway. The front door is in between location 4 & 5 so will try it at #5.

 

If I install the dome under the soffit, would the floodlight go towards the leading edge on the fascia? How about to the right of the dome a foot or so to the side if in front on the soffit is not a good location?

[nDAlk90 0]

You can put the motion light anywhere you like as long as the camera can not see the fixture. If the camera sees the fixture or the light is below the camera you will get a blinded image.

 

If I install the dome under the soffit, would the floodlight go towards the leading edge on the fascia? How about to the right of the dome a foot or so to the side if in front on the soffit is not a good location?

[pilot04 0]

Gotcha and thanks xellbuy. I'll do the trial and error and try at #3 location first for the floodlight pointing straigt out the front yard. If that doesn't turn out well, I'll move to above the dome in spot #1. Now the wait for the cameras and dvr to come arrive once I put in my order.

[bike_rider 0]

Back up a bit. What do you want to see? Do you want ot see what is happening or who is doing it? If you have a wide field of view, you see lots and identify nobody. The best setups often involve a combination of cameras.

 

For example, wide angle at #2 to cover the driveway, left limit is the (camera view) left edge of the driveway - right limit the edge of the smaller tree near the walkway.

Narrow #5 zoomed into the intersection of the walk ways. - if you can light this spot. #4 as a back up BUT if you put #4 as a narrow to cover the approach if you mount it at roof line all you will see is baseball caps. A camera at a door works best at chest level.

Wide angle #4, left limit the edge of that closer tree, right limit the edge of the house.

That's a good start.

Don't neglect your back yard. Where is your utility panel? Where is the gate to the backyard? Choke points like that are good for a narrow field of view camera.

 

Yes, cat5e is a good call.

[pilot04 0]

Thanks for the tips on wide/narrow and recommended placements. I want to be able to somewhat recognize people's faces. I'm getting two CNB VCM-24VF since it looks to be fairly popular on this board. Not sure if camera is wide or not so will have to read up on the datasheet for the cameras.

 

The back yard is covered as the neighbors have big dogs that roam the adjacent properties.

[Soundy 1]

Thanks for the tips on wide/narrow and recommended placements. I want to be able to somewhat recognize people's faces. I'm getting two CNB VCM-24VF since it looks to be fairly popular on this board. Not sure if camera is wide or not so will have to read up on the datasheet for the cameras.

 

The back yard is covered as the neighbors have big dogs that roam the adjacent properties.

VCM-24VF comes with a 2.8-10.5mm varifocal lens - it will give you anywhere from about 25 degrees out to about 82 degrees horizontal FOV.

[pilot04 0]

Nice, I assume that will cover the narrow and wide scenarios with that range with the stock lens.

 

What is the more common installation? Flush mounted or use the base that the VCM-24VF comes with. Will have to cut a circle in a box when camera arrives to see how the flush or base looks before I make a big hole in the soffit

[Soundy 1]

Nice, I assume that will cover the narrow and wide scenarios with that range with the stock lens.

The "3.5-8mm" samples here will give you an idea (yours will actually go a little wider and a little tighter): viewtopic.php?f=5&t=24549

 

What is the more common installation? Flush mounted or use the base that the VCM-24VF comes with. Will have to cut a circle in a box when camera arrives to see how the flush or base looks before I make a big hole in the soffit

Neither is really "more common" - it all depends on what makes the most sense for a specific installation. FYI, the cutout for flush mounting is a 3-1/4" hole saw. Don't go any bigger or there won't be anything left for the screw holes to cover.

[pilot04 0]

I think the range should be fine for my setup based on the "3.5-8mm" sample images. I'll wait till camera come to see how it actually looks with the base under the soffit. Probably won't try to flush mount it unless I have to.

[ljarrald 0]

also, when it's surface mounted, its slightly lower too which is an advantage.

[Sky1 0]

Why not far tree facing house, intruders tend to keep a look out at the road.

[pilot04 0]

Prefer to not to deal with running wire out the tree and trying to mount that camera somehow on the tree. I'll test the camera in several locations as I still need to install some flood lights.