CCTV Systems
By John W. Colley

Grill The CCTV Expert
December, 2002 Issue

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Our company is interested in adding CCTV to our product offerings. Do you need any special licensing to sell and install CCTV?

CCTV is a low voltage product. In the state or states, that you are doing business may require licensing so the answer is yes. CCTV product category is 48vdc or less. The category was originally required for telephone work versus electrical work. Alarm and CCTV use that category now and has for many years. Many states require licensing using Electrical Contractor category, L-5 contractor license, to apply for a building permit license, L-6 journeyman license, and Apprentice program to perform installation work following the National Electrical Code Book. The best advice on licensing is to check with your state licensing bureau office to inquire what your state requires for low voltage installations.

Should we use regular coaxial cable or mini coaxial cable for CCTV installations?

Coaxial cable has improved tremendously over the last five years. I would recommend having a few vendors provide cable specifications and samples of mini coaxial cable. Mini coaxial is usually acceptable for short installs. The longer installs consider using the product by the specifications to assess the signal strength of the products being offered. Other issues include are pulling strength based on the physical size of mini coaxial cable and adding connectors to the cables. If you are going to use the smaller diameter cable, you may consider using a separate pull string take the pulling force off the cable and transfer it to the string. When you review the feature and benefits of using a mini coaxial cable with your suppliers, discuss these issues with them.

Should we use video tape recorders or a digital recorder on our CCTV projects?

Each piece of equipment has benefits to the customer that need to be discussed with your client. The videotape cassette recorder has been used in the CCTV industry for twenty years. The product has been made as simple as possible for the client to use. Using cassettes as storage devise, the customer understands how to remove and store the information. The pricing is most competitive thus, a low cost of entry.

Digital Video Recording (DVR) is changing daily. In excess of 100 manufactures, offer digital recording with many customer options and benefits. Most products have a learning curve associated with first time buyer. Ease of use is dependant on which DVR you choose. Storage of recorded information has many options. Pricing of the DVR is dependant of the feature benefits chosen and has a price range of $2000 to $10's of thousand. A CCTV provider should carry both types of recording and know the benefits and pricing of each to discuss with the client.

When considering a multiple camera project what should we look for at the customer site to provide an optimum picture for the client?

Each camera location will need to be considered individually to consider the environment that each camera will be installed and the lighting condition of the area to be viewed. Outside cameras will need heaters and blowers thermostatically controlled dependant on each camera areas environment. A heater may not be needed in Arizona but a blower will be required due to heat. In the Northeast, both options are required.

The lighting in the area is usually provided by the client. Lighting is a very important consideration in the quality of the installation. Lighting is most important in the production of images that the camera will produce. The type of light, the amount of light and the amount of reflected light is most important. Light reflectance may be a factor that will make or break a customers acceptance of the project.

How do I factor in light reflectance when quoting the job?

The best way to gauge light reflectance and the effects on the cameras used is to do a day and night camera survey of the area to be monitored with the actual cameras to be proposed. Once you have found the right combination of camera and lens for that application, it should be a baseline for future quotes for that type of light and reflectance.

What is light reflectance?

Light reflectance is the amount of light that your camera will be watching. Compare a black asphalt pavement (5-8% reflectance) and snow (90-95% reflectance), which has quite a range of light difference using the same camera viewing the same area. If you are in snow country, you need to factor in the snow for a number of months each year or readjust the cameras for winter and summer use.

Our customers application calls for multiple cameras. One camera requires the camera to be installed outside and at the end of a parking lot. The underground cable will be at least 400 hundred feet in a conduit under the parking area. Our installation area has many electrical storms. Should we consider any special devices to protect the camera power, communication control signals and camera dome?

Consider using fiber optics as part of your recommendation to your customer's CCTV solution. Fiber installations have been become very stable and reliable. The telephone, cable, broadband and network industries have provided the volume of business to allow the fiber accessory products with more options, very reliable and to be completive on price.

Fiber has no electrical components or properties. Thus, protecting the camera from electrical surges up the coax. Of course, the fiber will not protect your camera from direct lighting hits. Protecting the power side of the camera with transient protectors is a very good idea. Several Fiber Optic Manufactures offer multiple functions with a limited number of fibers. Combing the video signal, control functions and intercoms are offered by the fuber manufactures multiplexing devices.

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John W. Colley is president of Integrated Security Systems, Ltd. and has been in the security industry for over 25 years, beginning his experience in the CCTV segment of security and gaining knowledge through field experience, manufacturer training and designing systems to meet customer needs. Colley started his security integration firm 18 years ago, providing design, engineering, installation and service to commercial accounts using integrated systems. Send your CCTV/Surveillance questions to jwc@securityiss.com.