How to Set Up Security Cameras: Top 7 Things to Know Before Installation

Have you ever wonder：what should you start with when setting up security cameras?

How many factors you shall pay attention to when it comes to the performance and protection of the surveillance cameras during the installation?

Read on to check out and follow 7 things below to get security cameras setups done in a safe and easy way.

Location of the Camera

For surveillance cameras, the location is directly related to the imaging effect.

Therefore, many users take the monitoring effect as the primary reference for setting up the security camera. However, one thing is very important that cannot be ignored: in terms of mounting position, surveillance cameras also has its own requirements.

First, in the installation position, in order to enable the camera to avoid interference from the surrounding environment and to achieve better monitoring effect and increased surveillance coverage.

For indoor installation, we should ensure that the height of the equipment is not less than 2.5 meters.

And in the outdoor environment, we should also place the monitoring equipment at a height of more than 3 meters from the ground. Otherwise, whether considering from the self-protection of camera or equipment monitoring, the cameras may not be able to obtain its best monitoring effect.

Angle of the Camera

First, you should pay attention to the angle of the lens when setting up cameras. If the cameras are without WDR (wide dynamic range), you may need to avoid direct light source and do not install the camera against the light based on the principle of backlight compensation.

Of course, it is better to use cameras with WDR function to avoid this problem. ZOSI cameras are commonly with WDR, which enable to see and capture clearer image even under different lighting. So even in a relatively worse lighting set, ZOSI cameras with WDR can compensate the light to obtain a vivid and vibrant image.

Second, the surveillance device shall be fixed firmly during installation to prevent the lens’s shaking. For the wall, you can use the percussion drill to hit a hole, plug the plug, and then use the confess thread to fix the bracket to the wall.

As for the ceiling, you may put the wooden block on the top and let the confess thread screw through the ceiling into the wooden block. Nowadays, there are also many cameras that are easy to install whether on wall or on ceiling.

Check out ZOSI 4K PoE IP Camera with 4-axis mounting bracket, you can easily secure the camera on wall or on ceiling and adjust the angle.

Mounting brackets of the camera should also be noted. In order to secure the cameras, especially in an outdoor scenario, you should better choose the special bracket for outdoor cameras. Otherwise, the camera may easily change its position whenever a gust of wind or a heavy rain comes.

The Height of the Security Camera

The height of the surveillance camera should not be too low—to prevent malicious damage from others, nor too high—it is not convenient for future maintenance.

It is recommended that the installation height be 3 or 4 meters, so you can get it simply by stepping on a ladder.

Furthermore, if the camera is to be installed on a high pole, it is necessary to use some tools such as ladders. Meanwhile, you should watch out carefully when climbing ladders in case that falling from high altitude. For higher positions, fasten the seat belts firstly and then carry out the installation.

Electricity Safety

The security camera needs to be powered separately.

Therefore, when performing strong electrical wiring, you should give priority to safety. It can be tested with a multimeter and a voltage tester to ensure that the power is turned off and then set up the electrical wiring.

What’s more, you should make sure the camera is at least waterproof to withstand the natural weathers. Weatherproof cameras like ZOSI Outdoor Wireless IP Camera with IP67 rating allows placing the cameras in the harshest outdoor environment, no matter the torrential rain or the freezing blizzard won’t be a match for it.

Besides, you can install a small waterproof case under the surveillance camera and place the power supply and connectors in the waterproof case to avoid a electric leakage.

Moreover, it is vital to pay attention to areas that is vulnerable to lightning. Set up protection from lightning strikes: video lightning protection modules and power modules can be used for lightning protection.

There are two kinds of power supply modes: DC power supply and PoE (Power over Ethernet) power supply.

Compared with DC power supply, PoE only needs to be connected to the PoE switch or the PoE NVR for power supply which are simpler and more convenient for setups.

PoE cameras like ZOSI PoE Security Camera can be a better option that help you free from messy cablings. With only a single ethernet cable connecting each IP camera to the NVR for both power and video transmission, PoE cameras ensure safe and quick power and video transmission at the same time.

Lighting Environment

Nowadays, many cameras have adopt WDR to enhance the imaging capabilities in backlight conditions.

However, this does not mean that the camera can continue to work in a strong light environment. Because under the glare of the strong light, the direct glare easily causes the camera to locate the accurate image normally, which eventually causes the color filter on the sensor wafer to discolor, causing the camera to appear streak in the monitoring image.

In order to avoid reflections and shadows when surveillance cameras performing at night, lighting equipment is usually required, and infrared lamps can be used instead of ordinary light bulbs.

However, in many low-light scenarios, you should better choose surveillance cameras with infrared lighting to see and capture clear image at night time.

Therefore, if possible, we should place the lens in the same direction to the light, to avoid direct stimulation of the strong lights to the camera lens for a long time. In order to monitor the night, you shall choose IPC with good night vision. The distance of night vision is mainly determined by the number of infrared LEDs.

We have picked out ZOSI 5MP super HD security camera for you. This 5 Megapixel Super HD camera with 36 pcs infrared LEDs, and starlight color night vision ensures a better clear view in dark with IR range up to 100ft.

Cabling

For IP cameras, its route erection options are obviously more abundant than traditional security cameras. However, no matter which transmission method is used, interference is one of the problems we have to deal with.

Especially for the video signal transmitted by cable, the same direction transmission of the signal line and the high-power wire is undoubtedly a taboo in the wiring process, and it is not allowed to put the two in the same transmission line tube for convenience.

Even if you are unable to separate the two given that they are restricted by the environment, you must ensure a separation distance of at least 0.5 meter. Only in this way can better avoid the influence of strong magnetic interference on video transmission.

For devices using wireless signal transmission, although there are fewer restrictions on the line.

However, the camera itself should also avoid the surrounding sources of strong magnetic interference. At the same time, the camera is insulated from the ground.

In addition, you may also ensure to avoid the influence and obstacles of the line on PTZ. Adopting oxygen-free copper 0.5 wire diameter national-standard network cable, gold-plated crystal head, the threading pipe is generally made of PVC; if it is buried or require explosion-proof, use galvanized steel pipe.

Installation of the Auxiliary Equipments

In addition to some of the aspects mentioned above, some of the camera’s auxiliary equipment installation specifications are also part of your work during the installation.

For example, to make the installation position of the camera PTZ, rack and other equipment meet the design requirements, the installation should be stable, and easy to operate and maintain. The distance between back and side of the rack to the wall should be in line with the maintenance requirements.

For the links with complex lines, you should also mark down the purposes and characteristics of each line for future maintenance and grooming. The above mentioned are the key points we need to focus on when setting up a simple network monitoring system.

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The above 7 aspects are all lifeblood link that affects the actual performance of camera that cannot be ignored. Only when you grasp the important but easily overlooked factors mentioned above can you make the best of security camera system.