Outdoor Video Camera Durability

Video surveillance is protecting you, but are you protecting your video surveillance? Accidents can happen that affect your video surveillance system, both indoors and outdoors. By putting your surveillance technology outside, you are exposing it to the elements.

Of course, outdoor cameras are designed to be more resistant to the weather than their indoor counterparts, but you should still take precautions to keep them safe. Despite their general durability, there are still parts within outdoor cameras that remain susceptible to surges and transients.

Power surges can disturb signals and likely disable your equipment altogether. Moral of the story: your system needs surge protection.

Protecting Your Assets

Most household electronics are likely plugged into a power bar to avoid them getting fried in a thunderstorm. You do this to protect your technologies, like your television. You should apply this same principle to your surveillance system, especially considering it is a much more significant investment.

That being said, installing surge protection on your surveillance system is more complex than plugging a television into a power bar. Generally, surveillance systems would be connected to your building’s electrical service panel, either directly or indirectly.

Data lines, coax cables, and AC power are all just as vulnerable to transients and/or surges. If one of your cameras were to get struck by lightning, the surge could travel into your building and damage your indoor equipment. Not investing in surge protection could compromise your entire system.

Surge Protection Installation

Surge protection devices must be installed on every component connected to wiring which enters or exits the building.

Surge protection is required for all of the following surveillance system components:

Surveillance Cameras

• Network
• Analog

Head-End Equipment Rack

• NVR
• DVR
• Routers
• Switches

Surges of any type can damage surveillance equipment and any electrical device or equipment that connects to the building’s primary electrical service panel.

In addition to protecting the surveillance equipment, it is considered best practice to install surge protection directly on the electrical service panel. Don’t allow nature to take out your security, peace of mind, and safety for a long time.

A downed video surveillance system cannot do its job; which increases the risk of property loss, crime, liabilities, and more.

Talk to a Mechdyne expert today and protect your investments: