Installation in new construction - what about inspections?

[taitrt 0]

I have an 8 camera system that I previously had installed in my old house. I installed it post-construction over the course of about a week and a lot of hard man hours. It uses standard BNC/power cables for the cameras.

 

I'm currently having a house built and would like to be able to install the wiring for the cameras during the rough in for electrical. I've talked to my contractor and he has told me that he does not do low voltage work, but gave me the name of a guy who does. I feel like it would be significantly cheaper for me to do it myself, and with no drywall up I think it would be very simple.

 

My question: What kind of code do I need to adhere to when running the cable? I know for running 120 a big thing that they look at during inspection is that each side of the cable is terminated (for obvious reasons). If I just have security camera wire hanging out of a box, am I going to fail electrical inspection? When is low voltage generally installed? Would I be better off spending the extra ~$400 and putting in cat5 with baluns instead?

 

Thanks!

[jakesoundels 0]

I think it depends where you live. Our agency, In Pennsylvania, moved into a new building, we gutted it and rewired the whole joint. A city low voltage permit was obtained and we needed to hire a 3rd party inspector to look everything over. He primarily made sure all low volt wires were terminated into boxes and not laying on the ceiling tile. This was for commercial though so you might want to check your local city,county requiements. If the general contractor had to pull permits for his work you might want to see if low volt is needed - probably is since they are are a good source of revenue for municaplities The only problem with that is, at least in our city, the installer had to be "licensed" with the city to do the low volt install.

 

Oh and if I had the opportunity to redo my home's camera wire I would go Cat 5 with baluns. In your case, with the open walls, run 2 Cat5 for each cam because you never know what you may need it for. Also comes in handy for IP down the road. For me, I never thought I would need MP cams at home. Well, we just installed them at work and now I'm coming around to wanting them for the house. Fortunately I used Cat5 for power so I'm good to go.

[jeromephone 6]

I would for sure put in two drops where you are going to use one. I would go to cat 6 as the new standards that are coming out will be to increase the POE capability. Even though cameras are currently only running 100 meg who knows what the next generation will be or even what kind of equipment. I would run a couple of drops to the kitchen your fridge is or will soon be a network device.

[GrouchoBoucho 0]

If I just have security camera wire hanging out of a box, am I going to fail electrical inspection? When is low voltage generally installed?

were you planning on having phone, catv, and/or alarm installed as well? cctv would be done at the same time as all that, and usually on the same permit. you could ask the contractor doing those if you can piggyback the cctv wiring on his permit - he may just have a broad permit that covers all low-voltage anyway, without being specific.

 

Would I be better off spending the extra ~$400 and putting in cat5 with baluns instead?

where do you get that it would cost $400 extra to go that route? cat5 is cheaper than rg59 most places; good baluns can be had for <$10 pair; and you don't need to run separate power.

 

I would go to cat 6 as the new standards that are coming out will be to increase the POE capability. Even though cameras are currently only running 100 meg who knows what the next generation will be or even what kind of equipment.

cat5e is perfectly suitable up to gigabit ethernet. cat6 is still at least a 50% cost premium and gives you no benefit for this sort of install.

 

In your case, with the open walls, run 2 Cat5 for each cam because you never know what you may need it for. Also comes in handy for IP down the road. For me, I never thought I would need MP cams at home. Well, we just installed them at work and now I'm coming around to wanting them for the house. Fortunately I used Cat5 for power so I'm good to go.

this. even with a single run, cat5e for your analog camera means an easy upgrade to ip cams later. everything is going ip - cameras, phones, appliances, home automation systems are all interconnected.

[taitrt 0]

Would I be better off spending the extra ~$400 and putting in cat5 with baluns instead?

where do you get that it would cost $400 extra to go that route? cat5 is cheaper than rg59 most places; good baluns can be had for <$10 pair; and you don't need to run separate power.

 

The extra cost comes from the fact that I already own 8 100ft BNC/power cables.