How to Install Home CCTV Systems in Simple Steps

CCTV systems are state of the art security for your home, but a professionally installed CCTV camera and DVR system can be a bit pricey. Technology has brought the price of the components for CCTV systems down within the range of most homeowners, however, so if you can get past the fear of drilling holes in your walls, you can have a state of the art security system, complete with security camera wherever you want – at far less than the cost of a professionally installed system. These tips and steps can help you understand the scope of the project and decide whether installing your own CCTV surveillance camera system is doable for you.

Get the Right Equipment

Making sure you have the right equipment and the right components is half the battle. When it comes to sourcing CCTV systems, you can get excellent advice from an online supplier of CCTV camera systems if you know what you want to monitor. Do invest in industry standard RG59 Siamese cable for the cabling. It consists of a video cable and power cable run together, cutting down on your work and making the installation much easier.

Choose the Best Surveillance Camera Locations

A security camera is useless if it isn’t monitoring what you need monitored. It’s not enough to just decide where to place a camera, though. You need to consider viewing angle and distance when choosing cameras and locating equipment. One of the best ways to figure out where to place each security camera is with the help of CCTV design software which uses your floor plans to help you decide the best places to locate your CCTV cameras.

In most cases, the best location for a security camera is where the roof and the walls of the house meet. Your CCTV camera will be sheltered from the elements there – though you should certainly still invest in a camera designed for outdoor use – and you’ll probably find that the cable run for your CCTV systems components will be simpler than if you try to mount the camera elsewhere on the house.

Run your cables from the exterior equipment to the interior of your house. For most houses, the best place to run your wires into will be the attic. You can run your RG59 cables from the attic to the room where you will place your DVR and monitor.

If you’re comfortable with running cables and mounting hardware on or near your roof, and if you can follow instructions for hooking up the components of your CCTV system precisely, you can probably manage the installation of your own CCTV systems and components.

CCTV Systems for Retail Surveillance

Shrinkage is a significant drain on any retail operation. Between losses due to shoplifting and losses due to employee theft, most retail stores lose as much as 5 percent of their prospective income to shrinkage and theft. CCTV systems for security can make a significant dent in that percentage, increasing your retail profits and helping you manage your store more effectively. If you’re considering installing a security camera system, consider these important factors before you make your purchase.

Surveillance Points

Each surveillance camera represents a set of “eyes” on your operation. Before you start shopping, survey your property for points where a security camera is likely to make a difference. The most effective CCTV systems include cameras that allow one person to view the entire store at all times. Position cameras at places that can’t be easily seen from checkout registers, customer service desks and other places where you typically station staff.

Point of Sale

A point of sale surveillance camera is useful for a number of different reasons. It’s the best way to catch employee POS theft, where employees pocket cash instead of putting it into the register, undercharge customers and pocket the difference or take money from the register. In addition, point of sale surveillance allows you to monitor cashier performance and customer interaction and can provide evidence to exonerate employees against customer complaints.

Storage Rooms

Most employers don’t want to think that their trusted employees could be deliberately and systematically stealing from them, but a great deal of shrinkage happens before merchandise ever hits the selling floor. A CCTV camera in the back rooms can capture employee theft of goods that never make it to the shelves.

Outside Security Camera Surveillance

CCTV systems can provide security beyond loss prevention. Most retail establishments position a security camera at each point of entry and exit from the store to capture images of customers and staff entering and leaving. A parking lot security camera can also provide a measure of security for your staff and customers’ parked vehicles by letting your security staff keep an eye out for thieves and vandals who target cars in the lot.

Providing adequate surveillance is an essential security factor for your retail store. High quality CCTV systems can make it far easier for your security staff to keep a close eye on your premises and property. Reducing shrinkage through better surveillance will increase your bottom line and make your business more profitable.