[Common Challenges in CCTV Installation]
Hello folks, Great to see you in another article on CCTV video surveillance system. here i am talking about the very intimidating word CHALLENGEs in CCTV installation. And here in the field of CCTV surveillance no matter how good and experienced are you, you will face challenges while completing the Video surveillance projects. I am not going too deep on challenges that needs to be addressed while dealing with surveillance systems but one should consider below very common challenges in CCTV installation. many of you may have faced and overcome them once or twice while installing CCTV camera system.
Here are list of some What are common challenges in CCTV installation:
Damaged Cabling
CABLING Backbone of CCTV video surveillance system whether it is IP or Analog system. If you get done proper cabling you finished 80% of the project. In two scenario you have to deal with cabling-
- open cabling route which is exposed to the direct sunlight and Rain.
- Damage caused by Cuts and Breaks while handling the cable during installation/laying.
- Damaged caused by rodents, excessive pulling.
Remember damaged or improperly installed cabling can cause connectivity issues and delay the installation process. It is always advised to have proper planning before you start installing the Cable for CCTV system.
Focus on damage free cable laying with proper car and handling. Ensure cable is protected from rodents and away from power cables, electromagnetic interference. Use good quality conduit pipes to lay cables. Avoid exposed cabling. This comes under very common challenges in CCTV installation.
Improper Camera Placement
PLACEMENT idea behind having camera install is to get a look of every inch of area that is selected to secure. Camera placement is very crucial subject while designing the surveillance system. Below are the points that need to consider or may challenge you while designing a Video surveillance system for your need if the placement of the camera is improper.
- obstructed or blocked views.
- blocked infrared LED lights
To have undisturbed view you must find and finalize a location that is free of obstructions, no view blockage, no direct light in front of the camera, should insure that there is no object that is directly blocking the sight of the camera.
Below image shows how an object near to the camera or IR array disturb the image in night sight. What happen if the object is near the IR array?
Inadequate Lighting
CCTV camera performance is totally depends on Environmental conditions. Though through technology advancement done in CCTV we are able to capture very good quality video in low light conditions but such technology in camera adds a cost.
No matter how advance we get in improving video quality using technology, but proper light is essential to insure high video quality in any way. with good amount of light you will be able to capture video without incorporating any advance technology or post processing to improve video quality.
below image shows how improper light condition affect the video quality. this is the one challenge out of many challenges in CCTV installation.
Distance Limits
CCTV video surveillance system has a DISTANCE LIMIT. one of the major con to be considered. It is majorly applied to the cable connecting camera to the recorder. Conducting medium is mainly copper and it has its limitation to carry the power. we use COAXIAL cable for analog CCTV that carries a video signal and CAT6 cable to use with IP CCTV that carries the video in digital form. each cable type has its distance limitation-
- COAXIAL Cable- Up to 120Mtr.
- CAT6 Cable- Up to 300Mtr.
It becomes challenging to install a camera beyond this distance limit, because Exceeding the distance limits for cabling can result
- Data Loss (In case of IP camera)
- Video Loss (In case of AHD camera)
- Power Loss (PoE and 12V power supply)
This loss affects camera functionality and video continuity in long distance installation. We can over come this disadvantage using Fiber cable, media convertors and repeaters in IP camera systems.
Weatherproofing
CCTV camera is exposed to weather when installed in outdoor conditions. Environmental factors like rain, direct sunlight, storms etc. Mainly outdoor camera made in such a way the they withstand such conditions. e.g. Camera should be IP67 rated for use in Rain to avoid damage caused by water (Rain). Camera housing is used to prevent any damage due to direct sunlight and storms.
Outdoor camera connections are very much vulnerable to damage caused by weather. below image shows how to weatherproof the connections to avoid the damage from environmental factors we discussed.
For best weatherproofing practices, please check my in detailed article- What are the best practices for weatherproofing?
Insufficient Power Supply
Power supply the major component in CCTV surveillance system yet one of the degrading component in CCTV system. Power supply is likely to fail over the time. Major maintenance service calls are related to power supply.
Scenario 1- New Installation
Generally in normal operating conditions a single camera required 12V and 1A, So it is advisable to choose sufficient power supply to meet the camera power requirements. So for 4 camera system you must have 12V 5A power supply.
Always check camera specifications for current and voltage requirement before calculating the total requirement to match power supply current capacity. When used with wrong current and voltage may damage the camera.
Scenario 2- Old Installation
Major issue with the power supply is that its performance weakened over the time. environmental factors like dust, heat reduces the life of components used in power supply and cause voltage/current to fluctuate, significant drop in values. It is best practice to check current and voltage output periodically twice in a year to ensure proper performance of the power supply.
Keep Power supply away from dust.
Lack of Proper Documentation
Best guide for installation is the documentation like user’s manual and installation manuals provided by OEM. with handy manuals installation gets hassle free. Lack of documentation can posses Challenges in CCTV Installation.
Cybersecurity Risks
- Surveillance systems are highly vulnerable to cybersecurity attacks. Common mistakes done by installation engineer is keeping default username and passwords on IP camera, DVR and NVR. Or use less complex passwords such passwords are very easy to crack.
- I recommend all CCTV engineers to use at least 12-digit complex password while setting up or configuring any video surveillance system to protect the system for cyber attacks.
- In one of my article i have shared how to create a strong password for your CCTV surveillance system with an example. this practice will help you secure your system from cyberattacks and any potential cybersecurity risks.
These are the common challenges in CCTV installation, Addressing these challenges proactively can help ensure a smoother and more effective installation process. If you need more details on any of these points, feel free to ask in the “Comment” section.
