ECN Electrical Forum - Discussion Forums for Electricians, Inspectors and Related Professionals
ECN Shout Chat
ShoutChat
Recent Posts
Increasing demand factors in residential
by gfretwell - 03/28/24 12:43 AM
Portable generator question
by Steve Miller - 03/19/24 08:50 PM
Do we need grounding?
by NORCAL - 03/19/24 05:11 PM
240V only in a home and NEC?
by dsk - 03/19/24 06:33 AM
Cordless Tools: The Obvious Question
by renosteinke - 03/14/24 08:05 PM
New in the Gallery:
This is a new one
This is a new one
by timmp, September 24
Few pics I found
Few pics I found
by timmp, August 15
Who's Online Now
1 members (gfretwell), 32 guests, and 14 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
#175313 02/26/08 09:58 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 615
J
Jps1006 Offline OP
Member
Do any of you guys have a good, cost effective recommendation for security cameras? I am moving my office and would like to put a camera on the outside of the building to monitor the rear yard where the equipment will be. I was thinking the cheapest way to go would be to get one of those motion activated cameras and feed it to my pc.

Any thoughts and/or model numbers?

Stay up to Code with the Latest NEC:


>> 2023 NEC & Related Reference & Exam Prep
2023 NEC & Related Reference & Study Guides

Pass Your Exam the FIRST TIME with the Latest NEC & Exam Prep

>> 2020 NEC & Related Reference & Study Guides
 

Jps1006 #175331 02/27/08 12:14 AM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 886
H
Member
IP cameras are expensive compared to other cameras. The advantage is they have a built-in web server so all you have to do is type an IP address into your browser (or create a shortcut on your desktop) and you will be connected. Good for one camera. The "motion activated" part, multiple cameras and recording gets more complicated and more money with additional software.

-Hal

Last edited by hbiss; 02/27/08 12:16 AM.
hbiss #175333 02/27/08 12:46 AM
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 9,923
Likes: 32
G
Member
The motion part is easy. It is done totally in software. The program looks at the picture from frame to frame and records when it sees a significant number of pixels change.
I have an old W9x card and the software I got for about $50 that does all this stuff from GranTec. It has 4 RCA ports for composite video inputs from the cameras. I have 2 cabled with RG6 and one RF connected.
The real money is in getting good cameras in the first place if you want "evidence grade" pictures of the bad guys. My cameras are all pretty cheap but I can tell the difference between possums and raccoons when it trips.


Greg Fretwell
gfretwell #175361 02/27/08 11:42 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 615
J
Jps1006 Offline OP
Member
Thanks guys. Hal, what kind of cameras do I want? What would I call it, and ethernet camera. I'd like the kind I feed with a Cat5 so I only have to route the cable to a patch panel and from there it gets me into the office. Any models or brands?

Jps1006 #175379 02/28/08 03:49 PM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 886
H
Member
Just what you said it was, a network camera or IP camera. Panasonic, Axis are a couple off the top of my head.

-Hal

hbiss #175395 02/28/08 10:16 PM
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 794
Likes: 3
W
Member
Videology is another place that has IP cameras.
Disclosure: I used to work there, but the boss let me go... But I won't hold that against them in this case. I don't have a vested interest there anyway now..

wa2ise #175430 02/29/08 08:52 PM
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 444
S
Member
We are in the process of installing our first IP camera system in a clothing factory. Customer supplied all the equipment. They chose "Axis" brand, 3 ptz domes, and 2 outdoor. Never heard of this brand, and it seems like a cheap quality camera. Easy install though. Just hook up a cat5 and find a local source for 110V to plug in the transformer to power the camera. The IT guy takes care of the rest. Easy money job. Wish all my installs were like this.

I haven't installed any yet, but the the Sony Ipela line of IP cameras are nice.


Sandro #176096 03/20/08 12:08 PM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,213
S
Member
You may be able to use inexpensive USB cameras, depending on how far you intend to mount them from your PC.

SteveFehr #176107 03/20/08 03:14 PM
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 717
M
Member
I keep plugging a vendor here called ADI. It is only because they have always been of great value to my business, I do not have any other financial links to them or stock in the company. They have what you need, and will help you figure out what you need to do this right.

macmikeman #176112 03/20/08 06:15 PM
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32
W
Junior Member
I was talking to a security guy and he said that Costco or Sam's had some kits that he considered really nice. I think he said one set up was for $500 with four cameras and a dvd recorder and plenty of cable. He said they also had another set up for $1000 that I believe the difference was in the quality of the dvd recorder or something. Anyway just thought I'd pass that along.


Link Copied to Clipboard
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5