Wiring
There are basically two ways to wire a video surveillance system, either by using Coaxial cable or using Network Cable.
Coax and Power Wire
Co-axial cable and power wire
Each cameras require one video cable (co-axial cable) and one pair
of power wires (18AWG)
You can run a RG56 or RG59 Coax with power wires separately. However the preferred method is to use Siamese cable which is Coax and power in the same outer sleeve. A split-jacket style will peel apart and help to make your installations dress-up neater. You can even purchase pre-made power and video cables.
Coax Tools and Connectors
The best connectors to use on Coaxial video cables are professional waterproof BNC Connectors. They require a special compression crimp tool, both of which are pictured above. Try to refrain from using 2-piece or twist-on connectors as they are problematic.
Connecting DVRs and Cameras To Monitors and TVs
A Female BNC-Male RCA adapter is the best way to hook your camera down-lead to a monitor, so that you can focus your cameras. Make a fifteen foot cable with a BNC connector on each end and use the BNC-RCA adapter to connect your camera to the input of your TV Monitor.
It is also how you can attach your DVR to the Video In of your TV. Most DVRs have BNC video inputs and outputs. If your DVR has a HDMI Output you will want to use it instead. If your DVR is in installed in your living room entertainment cabinet, you will want to run either a network cable with a video balun or a coaxial cable with a BNC connectors on the ends, and then use a BNC-RCA adapter to attach to the video Input on your bedroom TV. When you hear a bump in the night all you will have to do is turn on your TV and select the proper video input, in order to see what is happening around your home.
Power Supplies and Adapters
Camera Powering
Either 12V DC or 24V AC
Security Cameras are either 12V DC, 24V AC or Dual Powered,
meaning that they accept either 24V AC or 12V DC. Infrared Cameras
require more power amperage than non-IR cameras. A non-standard 12V
DC camera requires around 400mA and an infrared camera requires
1500MA. 2000mA is recommended to compensate for cabling.
Splicing Pigtails Onto Camera Power Wires
At the camera end of the power cable you will need a pigtail (a power plug with a pair of wires extending from it.) Simply splice the wires onto the power wires and insert the plug from the pigtail into the camera's power plug. Almost every camera has a two foot cable extending from it, which has a female BNC video connector and a power plug.
Using the Gel Filled B Connects
The best way to splice the pigtails onto the power wires is by using gel-filled B-Connects, otherwise known as Dolphin Connects. They have a cheese-grater like surface inside, that when squeezed by a pair of pliers, grip the two conductors securely. Always make sure that the power supply is turned-off when working with power wires. Only strip off around 1/4" of the insulation from the end of the wires, so that none of the bare wire is hanging-out of the B Connects. Insert both of the (+) positive power conductors (wires) into the same B-Connect. Splice the positive (+) or white striped wire from the pigtail,) and connect it to the red or (+) conductor of the power wire. Do the same with the (-) negative or black power wires. Do not leave any non-insulated areas of the wire exposed.
Using Network Cable to Transmit Video and Power Cameras
Using one network cable to power-up and receive video from a cameras is known as CCTP or Closed Circuit Twisted Pair technology. You can either use Video/Power Baluns or run the power separately and use Video Baluns. Video/Power Baluns come in pairs and are connected using CAT 5 or CAT 6 cable. At the DVR end of the network cable the Balun's BNC connector will connect to the camera input of the DVR. The power transformer or pigtail from the power box will insert into the power plug of the Video/Power Balun. Using the other Video/Power Balun from the pair, you will connect the BNC connector onto the camera's BNC connector and the power plug connects to the power plug of the camera. CAT 5 simply means that the four pairs of wires inside the network cable jacket has five twists per foot. The more twists there are the farther the transmission capabilities. By using network cable instead of coax, you can transmit video up to two thousand feet without needing a video amplifier.
Network Modular Jacks and
Face Panels
The neatest way to wire your system
You can either make your own RJ45 Connections using RJ45 (8-Pin)
connectors and RJ45 Crimpers, or use premade network cables, and
attach your cameras to the modular jacks in the face panels.
Keystone RJ45 Modular Jacks come in two varieties. The "No tool
required type" and the two-tone style that requires a punch-down
tool. Face panels either hold 1,2,4 or 6 Modular Jcks.
Network Cable Tools
The RJ45 Network Crimper is used to crimp RJ45 (8-Pin) connectors on CAT 5 or CAT 6 Cable. The Impact Punch-down tool is used to attach the eight individual wires on the RJ45 (two-tone) modular jacks. You don't skin the wire, you just ouch it down.
Making a CAT 5 Connector:
Strip the CAT 5 at about 1″ from the end of the wire. Use the string in the jacket, split the jacket another couple of inches and cut-off the original one inch, ensuring that you did not nick any of the wires with your original cut. Straighten-out the twists in the wires. Try to leave the orange and brown pairs together for 1/16 of an inch, as keeping the twists intact helps network transmission.With the tab down and the end of the cable facing away from you, arrange the wires of the CAT 5 in a straight line in the following order:
- White Orange
- Orange
- White Green
- Blue
- White Blue
- Green
- White Brown
- Brown
Once you have the wires straight, and arranged in order, trim the wires by making a 90° straight cut; so that all of the wires are the same length and in the right order. They should all be about 1/2" long, when you slide them into the back of the RJ45 connector. Keeping pressure on the connector crimp the RJ45 with the RJ45 crimpers. Give a slight tug to ensure that the connector is secure.
Regardless of how many times I make CAT 5 connectors, I always cross a wire or have an open pair. My Cable LAN tester save me a lot of time by proving-out my connectors.
Testers
If you are going to do much network cabling, including your phone system , you will want to pick-up a UTP,
Quickly and easily check for cable continuity, mis-wiring,
opens shorts, straight - through or cross pinning cable.
CAT5 UTP/STP or Coaxial RG59(BNC) Cable Tester
Ground Testing
DC 9V battery operated
You almost have to have a Multimeter to check for voltage.
For the Pro
This hand held Camera / VGA / PTZ Tester was designed for CCTV troubleshooting. It has a 5.6" wide digital panel, LED back light, 12V DC 500mA camera output powering . Numerical Video Level Meter for checking video signal, CVBS and XVGA (1024x768) Video Inputs, 8 hour Lithium Battery life (16 hrs with optional spare battery) PTZ Control.
Have a question?
Give me a call Mike 407-970-3007