How to Install a Digital CCTV System

When finished with this article you will have a solid idea of how to install and program a digital and/or analog CCTV system for your home. I'm writing this article with a digital 8 camera system in mind, obviously you can adjust according to your specific needs. I've included a list of recommended brands/models for a mid-high range set-up.

Step1

Security DVR Box W/ LockThe first step in setting up a well-designed CCTV system is to figure out where you will view your footage. You have a few options here, you could use your television as a monitor or you could set-up a totally separate LCD monitor for reviewing footage. I prefer to set-up a safe guarded, separate system for recording and viewing. You will plug your 24 Volt AC power supply in at the back-end as well, so make sure you have room for the DVR, power supply box and a LCD monitor. Now depending on your space and situation, you could mount your power supply to the wall, just make sure it's within 2-3 feet from your DVR. Once you have a safe place picked out for your back-end, you need to decided where your cameras will be mounted. When scouting for the best possible camera location keep these things in mind. Make sure to cover all entrances into your home, this includes garage doors and basement entrances. Another idea to keep in mind are possible vandals; be sure to place your cameras out of the reach of A-holes. Mark each camera location with a permanent magic marker, a small "X" will suffice.

1. Step2
   
   Siamese Cables Could Make Your Runs Easier
   Now it's time to run our 18-2 power and our RG59 coax. Only you can decide what route is best in your particular situation, for example. If you have an attic that is easily accessible, run your cable through there. If you have a basement then run your cables below the floor. The attic option is far more efficient and makes drilling holes through exterior walls much easier. When running your cable always start at the back end of the system, that way everything ends up in the same place. To begin with, pull out about 2 feet of each cable, power and coax, and tape the first 4-6 inches of each together with electrical tape. Also, label this set of cables according to the camera coverage with a permanent marker, do this for every run you make. This will help you a great deal in the future when retracing cables for maintenance issues. Run the cables to your first camera location, marked with a "X". Once you have reached your "X" it's time to drill a hole large enough for the cables to poke through the wall, use a 1/2 inch or smaller drill bit. Pull about 10-14 inches of extra cable out through your newly made hole and go back to your back end. Once your back at the spools of cable, pull another 2 feet of extra cable, making sure you can reach your power supply and DVR with the leftover length, and cut them off. Making sure to label this end of the cable is extremely important as well. Now you have your first set of cables in place and labeled. Go ahead and run the remaining seven sets of cable. ENJOY!
2. Step3
   
   Pelco EH35 Outdoor Enclosure
   Once you've finally finished running all of your cable, I know it was brutal, it's time to mount the camera enclosures. Go to each camera location and mount your enclosures accordingly. Making sure to leave enough room for left-right, up-down movement. I throughly recommend drilling pilot holes when mounting your enclosure arm, especially on hard surfaces. Once you have the enclosure mounted to an exterior wall, away from any possible vandals, feed the cables through the appropriate holes in the back of the enclosure. Continue on and mount the rest of the enclosures.
3. Step4
   
   Back Panel of the SDC-415
   Time to prep our Samsung SDC-415 cameras. Pull a camera out of the box and grab yourself a Tamron 3.5-8mm lens too. Pop the protective covers off both the camera and the lens, and screw the two together. Wrap the lens cable loosly around the lens and plug into the back of the camera. Go ahead and do the same to the other seven cameras, now your cameras are nearly prepped. Turn the camera so the back is facing you. Make sure the "Lens" switch is pushed to "video" and not "DC". Again, finish the other seven cameras and take a break. The rest of this install will require patience.
4. Step5
   
   BNC Connector
   It's time to mount the cameras in the enclosures. Take your camera/lens set-up to your first location. Slide out the camera rig and mount the bottom of the camera to the slide via the screw included in the enclosure packaging. Slide the camera back into the enclosure. Now, while your at the first camera, lets add the ends to our cables. First, peel or cut the electrical tape away from the two cables. Take your power cable and split about 4 inches of it down the middle. Now you just have to strip back each wire approximately a 1/2 an inch. Take your hot power wire and slide it into the (+) lead on the back of your camera, using a macro screwdriver to fasten it in place. Do the same for the ground wire. Once your power cable is finished, move on to the coax. This will require patience in order to get it right, and your going to need your crimp-on BNC connector and your pair of BNC crimps. Take the barrel piece of your BNC connector and slide it on to the cable, wide side at the top. Take your wire cutters and cut back about 3/4 inch of the outer casing, leaving only the center copper wire and protector. Then use your wire cutters to cut back about 1/2 an inch of the copper wire casing, leaving the bare copper wire. Snip the copper wire at an angle and slide your BNC over the exposed copper. Then it's as easy and pulling the barrel up the RG59 cable, over the end of the BNC connector and use your crimps to crimp it together. Do not connect this to the camera just yet.
   
   *If your having a hard time making a good connection or just can't get the hang of making a BNC end, check the video link at the bottom of the post*
   
   You know the drill, go ahead and mount the other seven cameras. Make sure to connect power and add you BNC end at each stop.
5. Step6
   
   Samsung SHR-2082 DVR
   Let's go to the back-end of the system. Take the DVR out of it's packaging and position it where it belongs in your git-up. This step is very repetitive, but absolutely necessary. It's time to add our BNC connectors to all eight coax cables. Then it's time to splice our power wire and feed it into the power supply. When your connecting your power wire, make sure to keep (+) and ground wires uniform with their corresponding camera. Obviously, make sure your power supply isn't actually plugged in. All done? Let's move on!
6. Step7
   
   GV-LCD3 Color LCD Portable Monitor
   Time to focus our cameras. Let's make sure our power is all connected both at the back-end and the camera. Go ahead and plug your power supply into the wall. Grab a left over piece of RG59, 3-6 feet will do, and throw BNC ends on both sides. This handy little cable will plug into our GV-LCD3 Color LCD Portable Monitor and then into the back of our cameras so we can focus them. So, BNC cable plugged into the top of the portable monitor and into the back of our first camera. Using the tiny thumb screws on the lens, begin to focus the camera to your liking. If it looks a little dark, go ahead and adjust the (BLC or Back Light Compensation) on the back of the camera. When focusing the camera be patient, it takes time to get it perfect. Once you have it perfect tighten the thumb screws carefully and pop the BNC cable off the back of your camera. Set your portable monitor down for a second and plug your designated BNC connector into the camera. Close and lock the enclose, making sure any excess wire is either zip ties to the frame or tucked away in the wall. One camera finished, seven more to go. Remember, this is critical in protecting your home and valuables, so really take your time and get a perfect picture.
7. Step8
   
   So, you have eight cameras mounted, powered, focused and connected. You have 8 BNC connectors and a DVR at the back-end waiting to be attended to. Plug your BNC cables into the back of the DVR, starting at one ending at eight. Then take an extra piece of coaxial cable and throw BNC ends on it. Make sure this extra piece of cable is long enough to go from the DVR to the LCD monitor you plan on using for viewing footage. Once that cable is made, plug one end into the "out" on the DVR. The other end needs our BNC-to-RCA adapter, then plug the RCA into your LCD monitor. Plug your DVR and LCD monitor into the wall and power both of them up.
8. Step9
   
   Finally Finished.
   Your nearly finished. It's only a matter of minutes before you see what real work you've accomplished. Your DVR will probably prompt you for a few general settings like, when to record, time zone, etc. etc.. Most of the DVR's a pretty straight-forward, so this is quite easy. That's it. Make sure your LCD monitor is tuned to the proper AV channel. Voila! A total sense of accomplishment, security and safety. Well worth the cash, sweat and sheer agony of running wire you invested!