When it comes to home security cameras, there are two major varieties to choose from: wired and wireless.
There’s a lot of misunderstanding about the differences between these two sorts of cameras. We’ll explain the differences in this post so you can figure out what will work best for you, whether you’re searching for a few cameras or a whole home security system.
One of the extra hassles that come with wired home security cameras is the wiring process and that’s what we’ll cover in this article.
We have provided a guide that will help you easily go the wiring of your home security camera either indoor or outdoor.
First, understand that wireless refers to how a camera communicates rather than how it is powered.
Wireless cameras use Wi-Fi to transmit their footage, whereas wired cameras use wires. Wireless cameras can be powered by batteries or AC electricity (such as a standard household socket). A wireless camera becomes a wire-free camera when it is powered by batteries.
The Make-up of Wired Home Security Cameras
A DVR (digital video recorder) security system, often known as a wired home security camera system, is a recording device with cameras.
The number of cameras starts at four and can increase to sixteen. They record continuously, can be seen remotely via the internet, and are hooked to both the internet and power.
Traditional DVR systems and modern NVR (network video recorder) systems are the two types of wired home security camera systems.
NVR systems employ Ethernet cables to both power the cameras and record video, whereas DVR systems use coaxial cables to power the cameras and record video. An Ethernet cable can connect both DVRs and NVRs to the internet.
While connected cameras can connect to the internet, they are safer because they can operate solely locally. Wired cameras are the way to go if privacy and network security are top priorities.
If your Wi-Fi signal is sporadic or poor, wired cameras are a viable option. They’re also an excellent choice if you have a large property with a lot of ground to cover.
Wireless transmissions can only travel 300 feet without being blocked by a wall or other obstruction. A wired system will give you a more consistent signal.
Furthermore, because the video quality will not be affected by bandwidth changes, the video quality will always be stable.
A wired camera system’s equipment may be less expensive than a comparable wireless system, but setup fees are usually higher.
That’s because, unless you’re comfortable pulling cables through walls and along ceilings to connect to the central recording device, expert installation is almost certainly required.
Wired systems’ apps and software are frequently less complex and user-friendly than wireless cameras from companies like Ring, Nest, and Arlo.
Furthermore, while many wireless cameras function with virtual assistants like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, connected cameras do not.
You may also need to set up a computer display to watch your recordings, and most DVRs have a limited storage capacity, recording only seven to 14 days before erasing the recordings.
There are specific cameras that will offer you the best view of every part of the action; check them out: 15 Best Wireless Home Security Cameras Of 2022
How To Wire Home Security Cameras Indoors
Installing security camera cables within your home, such as in the attic, soffit, siding, and other areas is far less difficult than doing so outdoors. The following steps will help:
#1. Before snaking security camera cabling, design the central surveillance hub: The route of wiring is determined by the location of your NVR/DVR — the central surveillance hub — in your home. You may avoid a messy wiring disaster by strategically placing your NVR/DVR in your home. The location should be convenient to access so that you can easily hardwire your security camera from any room in your home. NVR/DVRs work well in attics and near your Internet router.
#2. When running security camera wires, turn off the power to safeguard your own safety and avoid harming your gadgets.
#3. Drill a hole in the location where the outlet will be (for wireless and analog security cameras), and feel within the wall with a straightened metal coat hanger for any unforeseen blockages. Drilling is unquestionably one of the best and most straightforward methods for running security camera wires through walls, soffit, vinyl siding, and other obstacles. If your security camera uses a Cat 5/6 Ethernet connection, you may simply drill a hole in the wall to connect the camera to your home network or NVR. You can use a PoE injector if the distance between your camera and router/NVR is too great.
#4. Make the gap/hole larger than the total number of wires you expect to run. Allow a few feet of additional wire inside for termination and, if necessary, future restructuring. You can find out which security camera works with a particular cable by labeling the ends of the cords.
#5. Drill a hole in the top or bottom wall plate in the same wall cavity where you wish to install your security cameras, such as an attic, soffit, basement, or crawlspace.
#6. To fish your security camera wires, use a fish tape to attach the wires.
#7. Connect the security camera wires or cables to the desired location. Remember to safeguard the cords with a security camera wire protection cover or conduit.
Check Out the Review of Ring Home Security System Review | 2022
How To Keep The Wiring Safe By Hiding Wires Indoors
If you don’t want the security camera wires to spoil your current home design, consider the following strategies to conceal them inside.
You can disguise the security camera cable with wire guards while drilling a hole to run the IP camera wiring, such as wiring cameras through the ceiling.
Connect the cable to the guard and attach it to the interior wall of your home or to the back of your furniture.
As a result, there are no visible wires. You can also use a paintbrush to paint the wires. The wires can be stapled to the corner and then painted over with the same color as the walls.
Another viable option for concealing CCTV cables is to use a plastic tube, which allows you to hide security camera wires from view while also protecting them from dust and other harm.
Also Read; The Best Smart Home Security Systems For 2022
How To Wire Home Security Cameras Outdoor
Step #1
Lay down the security camera wiring. To make the burial job easier, find a somewhat short and easy way to bury your conduits.
Step #2
Use wire guards, PVC, or metal conduits to shield the home security camera wires from tampering by humans and animals such as squirrels (see this post to discover how to get rid of them), birds, and other animals. If you don’t utilize conduits outdoors or bury security camera wiring, make sure to leave drip loops to keep water from running into the power outlets.
Step #3
You can simply fish a CAT5/6 cable outside to power your PoE security camera, as PoE cabling can deliver both data and electric power for your PoE security cameras. When it comes to wireless security cameras, all you have to do is run cables to the socket that supplies power. (The outlet should be watertight and resistant to the elements.)
Step #4
Draw a circle around the area where you want to cut the hole.
Step #5
Drill a hole in your house to run security camera wires. Once the hole in the wall has been cut, use a drill bit to create a hole so that cables may be fed through it. When boring large holes, remember to use a right-angle drill with hole saw bits.
Keep the holes on the studs centered. It’s much easier to drill a hole in the wall than it is to drill a hole in the floor. All you have to do is drill slowly and gently without putting too much pressure on the drill bit. When you feel the drill penetrating the wall, come to a halt.
Step #6
Bury the electrical and network wires. According to the National Electric Code, you must bury PVC conduit at least 18 inches and metal conduit at least 6 inches before running cables for your security cameras.
Step #7
After the holes have already been dug. The next step is to run wires. When you use a fish tape or a pull wire to connect the wires, it’s a breeze to fish them. Wrap the bare wire through the eye of the fish tape and twist the wire’s end around itself. Cover the end of the fish tape eye and wire with electrical tape. You’re now ready to start pulling wires.
Step #8
Disconnect the security camera wires. Pull evenly on all of the wires with one person standing to feed the wires. Make sure the cables aren’t twisted.
Pull the wires slowly, such as in 2 to 3-foot intervals, for the person drawing the wires on the other end. If you pull too hard, the wires will nick and your partner’s fingers will get caught.
How To Wire Home Security Cameras Outdoors
Firstly, determine the best route for running IP camera wires outside. Make the journey as short as possible to make the process of burial easy.
Prepare the pipes for wiring, such as metal conduit pipe, PVC, and so on.
Mark the locations where holes will need to be drilled. Next, bury the pipes. Remember, PVC conduit must be buried at least 18 inches, while metal pipes must be buried at least 6 inches, according to the National Electric Code as stated above.
The security camera cables must now be run. Pull your wires with fish tape.
Conclusion
As you can see, wiring your home security system is not as difficult but it requires some extra carefulness and caution.
If you still think, however, that the process is too complicated for you, you might want to consider hiring a professional or getting a wireless home security system that has fewer wires to handle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Corrosion, water, heat, and other elements that can cause damage over time must be avoided when installing security camera cables. They should also be protected from intruders and vandals who may attempt to cut the wires. Covering cables in sheaths or raceways, painting wires to match in with their surroundings, and routing cables within walls, ceilings, and baseboards are all examples of protective methods. To guarantee that your cables are adequately protected, CCTV installation firms should have a strong understanding of all cabling kinds and uses.
Both hardwired and wireless security systems have benefits and drawbacks. Although a hardwired system is the most dependable, there is a chance of cables being severed. Hardwired systems can require greater installation time. Wireless systems are more versatile and may be set up in less than 30 minutes without the assistance of an expert. They’re also movable; a wireless system can be moved from one location to another. Although the cellular signals utilized by wireless security systems are stronger than those used by cell phones, poor signal and electromagnetic interference are still possible.
Some wireless security systems can work even when the power is down. It depends on how the security system and the monitoring center communicate. If the alarm system is connected by the Internet or VoIP, it will lose connectivity if the Internet goes down. If you use cellular radio, your alarm system will be able to communicate even if the power goes out and you can’t have Internet access.
Hard drives and/or cloud-based storage are required for recording security camera footage. The DVR contains a hard disk if you have an analog security camera system. In the event of a hard drive failure during IP camera system installation, the NVR can employ hard drives for onsite recording and cloud-based recording.
No. A long-term contract is not required by every home security firm; monitoring agreements can be month-to-month. The user either buys the company’s equipment upfront or utilizes suitable equipment they already have for month-to-month monitoring.
References
- m.reolink.com/how-to-run-security-camera-wires/
- usnews.com/360-reviews/services/security-cameras/wired-vs-wireless
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