Security Camera Installation Secret #1 – Use a BIG Ladder

There is more to buying and installing CCTV security cameras and a compatible DVR system for your business than at first meets the eye, or the lens.

To begin, most people don’t realise specialised tools are required in order to correctly install and test many of the components.

What you think you might save doing a self-installation will soon be eaten up purchasing connectors, crimping and stripping tools, cable snakes, portable test monitors, ladders, or maybe even renting a cherry picker or a scaffold platform.

Once the installation is complete, what are you going to do with all that stuff?

Some camera mounts and housings even require special screwdrivers, sockets, and hex keys, not to mention skill to use these tools properly without cutting a finger or poking yourself in the eye.

For most business owners the ladder is the biggest concern. Not only do you have to climb one, you have to be able to balance on one leg twenty feet above a concrete slab while you drill holes and attach screws often barely within reach.

Metal ladders and power lines can also generate shocking consequences.

It is only after you’re up there for two hours sweating bullets and extending your reach as far as it will go that you finally ask, WHY didn’t I call a Pro?

Choosing the right ladder is only the beginning of self-installation challenges. If you need a security system that works properly at night to protect your business, you need to not only know how to choose the right IR cameras, but also how to set them up to work efficiently.

Balancing the right camera to the correct infrared light source respective of distance, angle, atmospheric conditions can be challenging. How many times are you prepared to climb up and down a ladder in the dark to set it up and test? Yes, everyone knows that’s what new employees are for, but do you have proper insurance coverage and can you afford increased premiums after an accident?

Cabling is also often a serious challenge for all but the most experienced security camera system installers. Gauge of cable (that’s how thick it is) is dependant not only on the type of equipment being wired, but also the length of run between components. You might think, no problem, I’ll install wireless cameras, but the challenge is that wireless systems can be considerably more expensive and are relatively easy to hack, plus … batteries have to be changed regularly, which means once again, up and down the ladder.

The cost of batteries alone, and the time it takes
to replace them is prohibitive over the long run.

Most wireless cameras also have to be within line of site to the receiver, so if you plan on going through walls, the cameras are not likely to work.

Another common mistake self-installers make is to purchase and install the incorrect amount and type of cameras. They purchase too few, too many, or the wrong style. The secret is to design a system that uses the least amount of equipment while still covering all the critical areas. Install too few cameras and experienced criminals in more sophisticated areas like Vancouver, Surrey or Richmond easily evade the field of view. Install too many cameras and your costs go through the roof in not only capital expenditure, but also maintenance.

Experienced designers and installers know the cost effective sweet spot.

Cameras and lenses have to be chosen respective of the results you require.

A wide-angle lens for example won’t provide details of the criminal’s face or activity. Consequently, it’s critically important to match the lens to the camera and then know exactly how close or far away to mount it, and at what height.

If it’s an outdoor installation you also have to be aware of how the sun moves across the sky at different times of the year. Weather too has to be taken into account and will dictate the type of camera and protective enclosure you purchase.

Cameras are definitely not one-size-fits-all even though many unscrupulous suppliers would like you to think so. Yes, some security camera retailers have money back guarantees, but there you go again back up a wobbly ladder.

Does your business even own a ladder, ideally a wide-based wooden one?

BTW, you’ll probably need two ladders, one for you to climb and hold the camera, and a second for the new employee doing the drilling and screwing, unless of course you both want to cozy-up on the same ladder. If so, hopefully one of you has very long legs and at least one really long arm. (Just kidding – one person per ladder is the only way to fly regardless of the freakish length of your or your employee’s left arm.)

Another downside of using too many cameras is the number of inputs you will need on your DVR to plug them all into. Keep in mind too that the more inputs you use, the faster the hard drive on your DVR fills up, which means you either automatically record over and lose information you might need to get a conviction, or you purchase a larger hard drive or a network of hard drives to handle your gazillions of cameras. Not very cost effective, especially considering you’re doing a self-installation to save money.

I’ve just skimmed the surface here regarding the challenges of designing and installing a business security system in the Lower Mainland of BC. Your best bet by far is to engage a respected company from the very beginning before you waste your time and money.

At the end of the day the only thing that counts is whether your security cameras and DVR perform as expected and clearly record images of criminals stripping you of your profits.

Remember, the goal is to stop criminals and get a conviction, not climb ladders.