Practical experience with outside "security" cameras, PoE and any recommendations?

[topt]

I am considering installing 4/5 cameras outside. 3 would be PoE connected to an NVR with PoE powered ports - ideally I want to avoid having to buy a separate port switch. Potentially 2 of them will be next to each other and therefore may be run off a splitter which is apparently feasible. One or possibly 2 may have to be wireless as running the cable properly is not overly feasible. The NVR will be connected to my home network routers running on OpenWRT.

 

I am not interested in any subscription based cloud system.

 

I have been reading a fair bit online but it most of what I have read is very US focused especially cable company best practices.

 

Some specific questions -

PoE - a couple of said companies talked about not laying ethernet cable within some feet of electrical wiring unless using shielded but then preferably they recommend not using shielded for other reasons......Again if I do this the main run would be next to a conduit with wiring supplying an outside light........

For those with outside cameras did you have earth protection at all and how did you do that?

Bury cable - anybody know where to buy? (some systems already seem to be bundled with 18m or so of cable but no idea of the quality).

 

NVR - from reading  certain brands of camera only seem to work with that brand's NVR. Ideally I would like to have a system where the NVR stays constant but possibly I may add different cameras so again any experience of this.

 

Cameras - I do not need sirens and voice communication - land is not big enough to require it. Face comprehension at ideally 10m at night would be good and any recs. for how good a camera one would need for that. Working on the basis if it it can do that at night it should be good for daylight........Not decided if I want continuous recording or just movement based.

Any bad experiences with cameras in the extremes of Thailand weather?

 

Budget - not sure but definitely not high end.

 

Any do"s, dont"s or gotchas that you can suggest?

 

 

[OneMoreFarang]

I used Reolink PoE cameras

 

The guy from this YouTube channel compared many cameras, describes principles, etc.

I can highly recommend watching some of his videos.

The Hook Up - YouTube

 

You don't need earthing for the cameras.

 

I bought my cameras here:

https://reolinkdirect.aliexpress.com/store/4445019

 

[topt]

6 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I can highly recommend watching some of his videos.

Thanks. Yes I saw your rec in a thread from last year I think it was - poster wanted an equivalent to Arlo or similar.

[OneMoreFarang]

Just now, topt said:

Thanks. Yes I saw your rec in a thread from last year I think it was - poster wanted an equivalent to Arlo or similar.

One of those videos:

 

 

[topt]

17 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

One of those videos:

Was looking briefly at his site the other night and did not see that one. Very relevant. Thanks

[carlyai]

40 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I used Reolink PoE cameras

 

The guy from this YouTube channel compared many cameras, describes principles, etc.

I can highly recommend watching some of his videos.

The Hook Up - YouTube

 

You don't need earthing for the cameras.

 

I bought my cameras here:

https://reolinkdirect.aliexpress.com/store/4445019

 

I think he meant the earth as a shield against RF interference.

[OneMoreFarang]

2 minutes ago, carlyai said:

I think he meant the earth as a shield against RF interference.

No need

[topt]

One article but not the one I was looking for -

https://reolink.com/blog/protect-outdoor-security-camera-from-lightning/

 

This was the one I was looking for  https://www.truecable.com/blogs/cable-academy/into-the-great-outdoors-running-ethernet-cable-outside

 

start with this part of way down the page

Do I need shielded Ethernet cable for outdoors?

[OneMoreFarang]

43 minutes ago, topt said:

Do I need shielded Ethernet cable for outdoors?

NO!

[sometimewoodworker]

17 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

used Reolink PoE cameras

+1 on those.

I have 6 outside PoE cameras 2 indoor wired or wireless cameras the Reolink 16 port NVR all powered through a big ish UPS that is probably good for almost a day of power cut

 

for out doors I have 4 fixed RLC-842A cameras, a RLC-823A camera for the gate area and a TrackMix for the outside kitchen. Inside I have 2 X E1 Pro’s.

 

I am thinking of adding a second TrackMix or RLC-823A to cover most of the garden and possibly another E1 pro so the workshop has full coverage and maybe an E1 pro for the paint room

 

we have 3 rooms with no coverage, our bedroom, computer room and outside paint room 

 All of these have been running 24/7/365 for about 2 years AFIR 

[topt]

2 hours ago, sometimewoodworker said:

I have 6 outside PoE cameras

 

Thanks. Any learning points with installing PoE that would be useful to know. What kind of cable and is it in conduit where applicable?

Did you earth any of the cameras and any issues with Thai weather - I notice the TrackMix you mention is only IP65 for example?

 

[OneMoreFarang]

8 minutes ago, topt said:

 

Thanks. Any learning points with installing PoE that would be useful to know. What kind of cable and is it in conduit where applicable?

Did you earth any of the cameras and any issues with Thai weather - I notice the TrackMix you mention is only IP65 for example?

 

PoE uses mostly 48V. Why would you need earth for that?

Standard LAN cable should do the job. At least my camaras came with a water protected LAN connector.

 

[topt]

40 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Why would you need earth for that?

I don't know hence asking especially as in the reolink link I posted above it states -

Quote

Thus, when installing a security camera system outside your home, you should use a proper grounding system and avoid mounting your camera to a metal structure. These lightning surge protection tips will help minimize the risk of a strike.

 

And why I repeated the question to someone who has an install with outside cameras. Having been the recipient of lightning strike damage in the past it is a concern.

[OneMoreFarang]

2 hours ago, topt said:

I don't know hence asking especially as in the reolink link I posted above it states -

 

And why I repeated the question to someone who has an install with outside cameras. Having been the recipient of lightning strike damage in the past it is a concern.

 

At least the cameras which I have (Reolink PoE) don't have anything to connect earth.

If the cameras are exposed somewhere high, then maybe you should make sure there is some lightning protection. But I guess (not sure) you would need lightning protection on such a place even without camera. 

[GreasyFingers]

8 hours ago, sometimewoodworker said:

+1 on those.

I have 6 outside PoE cameras 2 indoor wired or wireless cameras the Reolink 16 port NVR all powered through a big ish UPS that is probably good for almost a day of power cut

 

for out doors I have 4 fixed RLC-842A cameras, a RLC-823A camera for the gate area and a TrackMix for the outside kitchen. Inside I have 2 X E1 Pro’s.

 

I am thinking of adding a second TrackMix or RLC-823A to cover most of the garden and possibly another E1 pro so the workshop has full coverage and maybe an E1 pro for the paint room

 

we have 3 rooms with no coverage, our bedroom, computer room and outside paint room 

 All of these have been running 24/7/365 for about 2 years AFIR 

Do you live in a bad neighbourhood?

[topt]

4 hours ago, GreasyFingers said:

Do you live in a bad neighbourhood?

There is always one unfortunately......

[sometimewoodworker]

On 12/21/2024 at 6:44 PM, GreasyFingers said:

Do you live in a bad neighbourhood?

Not at all, however the saying “it’s better to have and not need, than to need and not have” is one I have based my life on, we also have a couple of dogs and 4 cats so we can communicate wherever we are, SWMBO liked watching them from 6,000 miles away, when we were in the north of Scotland.

 

On 12/21/2024 at 12:48 PM, topt said:

 

Thanks. Any learning points with installing PoE that would be useful to know. What kind of cable and is it in conduit where applicable?

Did you earth any of the cameras and any issues with Thai weather - I notice the TrackMix you mention is only IP65 for example?

 

The most expensive cable is the one that is 5cm too short! 
the external cameras have either an enclosed Ethernet cable (4 of them) an exterior cable outdoor cable that is strung beside our our power conduit or an integral wire supported external cable. Any junction has 3M amalgamating tape encapsulation and so is 100% water proof 

 

On 12/21/2024 at 12:48 PM, topt said:

I notice the TrackMix you mention is only IP65 for example?

Quote

IP65 = Water resistant. “Protected against water jets from any angle”

 

Quote

IP67 = Water resistant plus. “Protected against the events of temporary submersion (10 minutes)”*Do NOT submerge IP67 LED lights for extended periods, these are not waterproof.

 

What do you think! 
I don’t pressure wash them. But I do have the TrackMix behind a support for a lean-to roof

Don't install them under a waterfall!

On 12/21/2024 at 5:35 PM, OneMoreFarang said:

If the cameras are exposed somewhere high, then maybe you should make sure there is some lightning protection. But I guess (not sure) you would need lightning protection on such a place even without camera. 

A near strike will fry the camera with or without lightning protection.

A direct strike will probably melt the camera

The TrackMix has no earthing requirements.