For do it yourselfers and untrained installers there are some general ideas that can be used when installing surveillance cameras. This advice will help to ensure you get the maximum coverage and protection of your cctv equipment.
Protect Your Surveillance Camera From Vandals & The Elements
We’ve discussed this in the past, but it is good knowledge to always have on hand because it’s simple but effective advice. The key thing to always remember is to keep your cameras out of reach. By making sure to position your security cameras out of reach, you are dramatically decreasing the chances of someone tampering with or vandalizing your security camera. Additionally by mounting your security cameras up high you are allowing for a wider viewing angle! A couple good examples of high places to mount your security cameras are in the top corner of a room or on the ceiling.
As for protecting against the elements, the best place to mount your surveillance camera is usually under an overhang or soffit (if you happen to have one). Even if your cameras are weather proof and have protective housings, this is an extra preventative that can block snow or rain from distorting your image. Additionally it can help prolong the life of your surveillance camera.
Surveillance Camera Positioning
When it comes to positioning your surveillance cameras, there are 2 main things you will want to consider. The first thing to consider is the viewing area and how best to cover it. Just remember that this will depend on your camera lens and how high your camera is mounted. The smaller the lens focal length, then the wider the viewing angle. The larger the focal length, the narrower the viewing angle. By knowing your focal length and the height that the surveillance camera will be mounted, you can use a lens calculator to get an exact measurement of what your viewing angle will be. Lens calculators can be found online or sometimes they are provided by companies that sell surveillance systems.
The second thing to consider when positioning your surveillance cameras is to know how to eliminate blind spots. The simplest and best way to do this is to position and align your surveillance system so that each and every camera is covering another. Basically this means you use your surveillance cameras to not only cover your facility, but to cover the other cameras in the system as well. This will not only ensure that you eliminate blind spots, but it will also allow you to capture any tampering or vandalism on or near your cameras.
Ultimately this is rather simplistic advice, but it is advice that is often overlooked and later regretted. So do yourself a favor and take the time to install your cctv cameras the right way; so as to avoid headaches down the road.
Christian M Gillman has worked in the surveillance industry for over 7 years. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter, learn more about surveillance, and find great products at http://www.cu1.com
– CU1 – Your CCTV Products and Surveillance Equipment Source