Power/wiring for CCTV camera

benson1980

Hi all,

I've bought a CCTV camera to install at the back of our house and would really appreciate some advice regarding how to hardwire it. It's the same make as the one I have out front, which was simple in that it just came with the terminals to connect the wiring that was already in place for our external light fitting. I was expecting the same again, but upon reflection the one out front also has a spotlight so I'm guessing that's why it's different...

What I'd like to/intended to was create a separate fused spur switch on the inside wall, chase standard cabling into the plaster again internally, to a drilled hole to feed the cable through the cavity wall to the camera mounted on the outside wall. What I have is a RJ45 cable (I don't need ethernet- the router is right on the other side of the wall so wifi is strong and the camera supports wifi), which I have guessing is what is referred to as a 'power over ethernet' cable. What also complicates matters (for me anyway) is the adaptor.

Is anyone able to advise best options? I'm happy doing basic electrics myself which I'm sure this can be, but my understanding of necessity of the transformers etc, plus whether I can simply proceed with plan A and cut the RJ45 wire and use a terminal block, or similar, to connect the right wires, is a little lacking. Neatness of install, and lack of visible cables on the outside that can simply be cut, is the priority.

beemarman

Why not power the camera using the Ethernet cable?  The camera supports POE and that's the option I would use instead of Wifi.

You would need a POE injector or a POE Ethernet hub to power the camera. 

FreeBear

beemarman said:

Why not power the camera using the Ethernet cable?  The camera supports POE and that's the option I would use instead of Wifi.

You would need a POE injector or a POE Ethernet hub to power the camera. 

Looks like there is already a POE injector in the kit. Drill a hole through the wall big enough for an RJ45 connector, and feed it through from the outside. Plug the gap with silicone sealant, job done. Don't go messing around cutting cables and reconnecting using terminal blocks. You run the risk of picking up electrical interference.

benson1980

Ok thanks both. Much appreciated. Any suggestions how I make it neat on the inside? The camera will obviously be mounted near to the top of the wall, so I'd have the cable coming in internally near the ceiling. 

FreeBear

benson1980 said: Any suggestions how I make it neat on the inside? The camera will obviously be mounted near to the top of the wall, so I'd have the cable coming in internally near the ceiling. 

A surface mount single back box & blanking plate where the cable comes through the hole. Run a bit of 12mm self adhesive trunking down to hide the cable.

If you want to make a mess (and it will be very messy), a metal back box chased in to the wall along with a length of 20mm conduit down to a floor level box - Much would depend on where the router is located...

benson1980

FreeBear said:

benson1980 said: Any suggestions how I make it neat on the inside? The camera will obviously be mounted near to the top of the wall, so I'd have the cable coming in internally near the ceiling. 

A surface mount single back box & blanking plate where the cable comes through the hole. Run a bit of 12mm self adhesive trunking down to hide the cable.

If you want to make a mess (and it will be very messy), a metal back box chased in to the wall along with a length of 20mm conduit down to a floor level box - Much would depend on where the router is located...

Ok it would definitely be the messy option as I can't stand trunking! We're renovating anyway so I don't really mind making a mess.

I think I have the plan in my head now- the camera unfortunately comes with quite a short RJ45 lead, so if I use a female/female ethernet cable coupler, and conceal this somewhere (perhaps behind a blanking plate), then use a longer POE cable to chase into the wall, and install some kind of wall cable entry cover at socket level with the cable coming out of it, I can then just plug in the injector and adapter as I would normally and hide all the cables nearer floor level with a bit of furniture...

Just not quite following what the floor level box would be for. Probably missing something obvious.

FreeBear

benson1980 said: Just not quite following what the floor level box would be for. Probably missing something obvious.

Somewhere to terminate the trunking/conduit neatly as well as to hide the POE injector box along with any other connectors.