How To Install A CCTV System

Thinking about installing a CCTV system yourself? If you’re looking to save money and are reasonably technical then it can be done.

However, if not it’s almost certainly better to get a professional to do it.

Check out our short guide below to help you with your choice.

Planning

The most important step in installing any CCTV system is the planning stage. You need to ask yourself several questions such as:

• Why do I need CCTV? – There could be a host of reasons such as crime prevention or general security monitoring.
• What do I want out of it? If you just want crime prevention for example, monitoring and storage may not be as important to you if you want to use your footage to press for prosecutions.
• What sort of cameras will best suit my needs? From bullet cameras and IP cameras to pan/tilt and zoom cameras and dome cameras, there are a host of options to choose from.
• What storage/viewing options do I require?
• What is my budget? There are lots of CCTV systems on the market, so getting one that fits your needs and is within your budget is crucial.
• Where are my cameras going to be fitted for maximum effectiveness?

Physical Installation

Once you have the perfect CCTV system, it is time to install it. There are basically two dimensions of this, the wiring and the camera mounting.

A CCTV system is only as good as its weakest component so don’t be tempted on trying to save money on the wiring. Keep cable lengths below 400 for and get the best that you can afford to buy. Siamese cables are very popular thanks to the fact they look neater because you only need one line for each camera and always remember to leave a couple of extra loops of cable at both ends, this will assist you greatly should you need to move the camera slightly at some point in the future

Mounting the cameras is relatively straightforward as most cameras come with brackets and the correct mountings to ensure that they are fitted correctly. Once you have mounted them, simply position them in the position you want.

Connecting a Monitoring And Storage Device

The final stage is the easiest, especially if it’s cold outside! You will almost certainly get full installation instructions with your storage and monitoring devices and like any pieces of electrical equipment it is important that you follow these to the letter. Connecting your cameras to the storage and monitoring devices is reasonably straightforward if you have a good technical background.

Conclusion

Fitting CCTV can be done yourself if you have the right equipment and are technically minded. However, as CCTV systems are only as good as their installation, it is often much cheaper and cost effective in the long run to have your CCTV fitted by a professional installer.

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