How To Install Home Security Cameras: Easy DIY
A home is a place where we find the most comfort and safety. To consider a more secure household, some would prefer to install security cameras inside and outside their homes to ensure the safety of the people living there. But what deters some is the labor and effort it costs to install them efficiently! A good thing to know is that, in the market today, various choices of great indoor and outdoor security cameras are made available for homeowners to install by themselves. Read on to know some tips on how to install home security cameras.
Installation Tips on How to Install Home Security Cameras
Before we break down on the steps on how to install home security cameras, here are some useful installation tips:
- Test your surveillance camera equipment first. Before finally deciding to install a security camera equipment, please check and operate the camera to ensure it functions effectively. Performing a dry run in a specific area where the camera will be installed is recommended for this tip. Consider questions like, “Can you see all that you need to see?”, “Is the main signal connected strong enough?”, “Are there tree branches, leaves, or any obstacles blocking the intended view?”.
- Use hardware tools fit for your camera equipment. This is one useful thing to remember, especially when you are a newbie beginner on how to install home security cameras. It is best to note that you should not install camera equipment with tools not suitable for it. As much as possible, avoid rigging the camera equipment and be careful in handling it so as not to strain its electrical components, lens, and other parts.
- Regularly clean your outdoor cameras. Outdoor security cameras are mostly prone to dirt accumulation, especially on the lens part. To make it easy for you, do not install them in an area or a position wherein it might be impossible to clean and maintain.
- Installing Wired and Wireless Security Camera System. Compared to a wireless camera, setting up a wired camera system is a bit more elaborate, but you’ll have a better system with this type. Either way, you can choose based on your budget and convenience since both are still reliable.
Tools Needed
Here are the tools needed for installing home security cameras:
- Ethernet cable
- Baluns (converts analog to digital – use baluns if you are operating an analog system)
- Electric power drill with drive, regular and spade bits
- Masking tape, electric tape, or any tape available
- Mouse, monitor, keyboard
- Screws and anchors
- A power adapter or receiver
- A companion to help (because you might need dire assistance)
Note: You can use more tools based on the situation to make installing easier, but the above mentioned are basically what you’ll primordially need.
Easy Steps on How to Install Home Security Cameras
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Step 1: Decide where you want your cameras.
Remember that when installing security cameras, you need to consider the convenience of installing and maintaining it, aside from the fact that you will install it where you’ll need it. A limiting factor in establishing your camera, for example, is how you would connect a wire from one place to another. That is one critical thing that you have to think of so that the surveillance camera will be put to good use.
It is also best to mount your camera high to get a more expansive view. In this way, you can make ways to cover as much broader areas as you can, for a lesser number of cameras and lower costs. Also, when mounting it high, make sure your camera does not point to any light source as it might affect the clarity of images and videos captured.
Another known tip on deciding where to place your cameras is to never put them in private rooms, bathrooms, neighbors’ properties, or in any place where people need a fair and reasonable spot for privacy.
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Step 2: Install your security cameras on a wall
Put marks on where you would drill holes to screw your camera on concrete or a blank wall, on a ceiling, or in other areas you’ve figured out for the camera mounting. After putting marks, drill the holes to where you intend the camera placed. After these, install your camera in the desired position and adjust it at the right angle. When positioning your camera, make sure it provides the needed motion detection based on your desired surveillance area.
Make the most of marking and mounting holes to make your first-time video security installation much efficient and easy.
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Step 3: Arrange wires and cables
Seemingly, this might be the most complicated step on how to install home security cameras. You should plan the camera wire route, especially in places where cameras are in multiple spots, mainly in hallways, in a garage, in the attic or basement, or over ceilings.
Drill more holes where the wires will pass through. Think into consideration the nearest route if you are doing the installation in a multiple-story house. Go through and push and pull all required ends of the camera cables on the areas you have drilled. In this way, you can hide the wires to prevent them from tearing out. If you prefer, you can choose a specific area or a room where you will place all cable wires.
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Step 4: Connect the cameras and turn the power on
After a slightly complicated wiring process, the next step is to connect your camera system and double-check if it can get enough power supply successfully. The parts that require more power supply are the view recorder and the monitor. You can connect them to specific sockets or on the same power source as the cameras.
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Step 5: Set up and finalize settings in your installed security camera
Completing and setting up is the last (but not the least!) procedure on how to install home security cameras, featuring do-it-yourself efforts. We know you would want to access video surveillance on your smartphones, computers, and other gadgets alike. There are available software systems for accessing your camera whenever and wherever you are. Some have features to suit your needs, such as setting up on the app/client, including live view, motion detection, video recording, photo capturing, zoom in/out, etc.
A final reminder, before you can say that your installation job is a success, it is highly recommended for you to double-check each camera’s views. Check whether the cameras are moving and recording. Also, check how far each camera covers based on your desired and specified area.
Conclusion
As you learn all these steps yourself, it is still best to consult more sources on webpages and books, so that your efforts in installing will not go to waste. Reading manuals on how to install home security cameras and finding an assistant to analyze it with you is a great option, especially when you are doing it all by yourself. Here's how to learn more about security cameras.
