Proper Way Of Installing A Security Camera Inside the Housing Enclosure

To minimize the chance of reflecting unwanted light and reducing the visibility of the security camera, there is a simple rule to positioning a fixed camera inside the housing. All security camera housing has to have a glass or plastic window for the camera to ‘see’ through. This transparent covering must be made of high-quality glass so that it is tough enough to withstand the demands of the environment but also fine enough not to hinder the quality of the image.

If all the conditions are met and the housing is built up to standard, there still is a way of compromising the quality of the image by improper placement of the security camera inside the housing enclosure. To eliminate a glare or reflection, the camera must be pressed up against the window. If this is not done properly, there is also a chance of catching some of the background in the image. There is also a special coating that can be applied to the glass to reduce reflections.

How Camera Housing Protection Levels Are Defined

Camera housing is often divided into two categories termed "indoor housing" and "outdoor housing" which correlate with the amount of protection the housing offers. Obviously, an outdoor housing would offer a higher level of environmental protection than an indoor housing. Indoor housing typically is enough to protect against dust but does not have a built in fan or heater for temperature extremes.

The terms are actually misleading since it refers to the camera housing's capacity to withstand environmental demands rather than where the camera is actually installed. For example, a security camera used to monitor a freezer room would require an outdoor housing that can accommodate the extreme cold.

There are more standard ways to describe the amount of protection provided by camera housing. While there are various standards worldwide, in the United States camera housing use standards set by NEMA, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association.

How To Mount A Camera For Maximum Protection

One of the most important factors to protecting your security camera from vandalism is to consider how it is mounted. Regardless of whether it is a dome camera or a fixed security camera, it is less protected when mounted on the surface rather than flush to the wall or ceiling. Being mounted flush to a wall or ceiling means that most of the camera is inside the wall or ceiling and only the transparent part of the camera is visible.

Also, if it is not possible to mount the camera or housing flush to the wall or ceiling, then it is important that the cables are protected as well. Ideally, the cables are pulled directly through the wall or ceiling so no part of the cable is exposed. If this is still not possible, then there are metal conduit tubes available that the cables can be pulled through to protect them from being tampered with.

Security Camera Housing Offers Environmental Protection

Outdoor security cameras are particularly prone to environmental threats. The primary threats to a security camera are extreme heat, extreme cold, water and dust. For places that have extreme high or low temperatures, there are camera housings available with built-in fans and heaters. Some housing enclosures offer active cooling which is basically a mini air conditioner.

Specially built camera housing that are designed to keep out water and dust have to be carefully sealed by the manufacturers. The housing can be made of metal or plastic but in general metal housings tend to offer more protection, especially in conditions where chemicals and acids might erode the plastic casing.

There are also special housings for security cameras that might need to be pressurized, bullet-proofed, or withstand explosives. Much of the protection that a camera housing offers also has to do with how the intelligently the housing and security camera is mounted.

Camera Housing For Security Cameras

Camera housing may be required for security cameras which are very often placed in harsh and demanding environments. This is especially true of outdoor security cameras where they are exposed to weather extremes, temperature fluctuation, vibrations and vandalism. There are several ways to handle these challenges and the most common are to encase the camera in a protective housing, using some intelligent detection system that alert users when there is a change in operating conditions, or a combination of the two.

The camera housing is required when the environmental conditions exceed the camera’s capacity to operate normally. Camera housings range in quality, shape and size, and features. Wireless cameras will need an external antenna if the housing is metal but should work fine inside a plastic housing. For that reason, metal camera housings tend to have built in antennas for wireless security cameras.