Monday, July 9, 2012

CCTV Video Baluns

CCTV video baluns, also known as UTP baluns, allow traditional coax cable to be replaced by category 5 and other forms of twisted pair wire in CCTV video camera & surveillance installations. Video baluns allow installers to use more cost effective structured cabling techniques to wire security cameras. By using video baluns, UTP wire such as cat-5 can be run over longer distances easier than coax cable and for less money. Active balun transceivers enable UTP wires for cameras to be run distances up to 3,000 feet.
Video Balun Passive


The origin of the word balun is bal(ance) + un(balance). Video baluns, also known as CAT5 baluns.  A video balun is placed on both ends of the CAT5 cable run and uses one of the the twisted pairs from the CAT5 cable to transmit the video from the camera to a DVR or monitor.  There are also multi-camera baluns that can use the four twisted pairs in CAT5 to transmit the video for up to four cameras.   Most security camera installers are familiar with using RG59 coax cable for CCTV, as this is the industry standard cable and allows installers to run both the video from the camera and power to the camera using a single cable run.   There are versions of video baluns that also support running power to CCTV cameras in addition to the video.  These are some of the most common reasons that a security installer would choose to use CAT-5 cable instead of RG59 for a CCTV application.
  • The location of the installation already has CAT5 cable pre-run and the installer wants to use it.
  • The distance of the cable run exceeds 700 feet (the maximum distance supported by RG59 without a video amplifier).
  • CAT5 cable typically costs less than RG59 cable.
The following types of video baluns are available and used in different circumstances.
Passive Video Balun with Power Connector

Passive Video Baluns
Passive video baluns are not powered and support cable distances up to 1200 feet.  These baluns use only one of the twisted pairs in the Cat5 cable.  The CAT5 is attached to the baluns on both end using screw terminals or other connection types. The balun has a BNC connector that gets connected to the camera on one end and a DVR or monitor on the other. 

Video Baluns with Power
arindamcctvaccesscontrol.blogspot.com
Video baluns with power support running low voltage power to CCTV cameras in addition to transmitting the video signal.  For baluns that also supply power to cameras, one of the twisted pairs from the CAT5 cable is used for video and 2 pairs are used for power.
Passive Video Balun with Power Connector & Data - for PTZ Camer
Installers attach one pair for the positive and one pair for the negative power leads.  There are also video + power baluns that use RJ-45 connectors instead of the cable terminals, and even some models that support audio as well.  Some installers prefer this, especially when using pre-made network cables with the RJ-45 ends already attached.  An important note is that the distance that power is unable to be run is much lower than video and is still limited by the voltage and guage of cable being used. 12V DC typically begins to drop after 200 feet. The below video demonstrates how to use passive video baluns with power.

Active Video Baluns
Active video baluns include a power supply and act also as an amplifier so that cable distances can be increased beyond 1200 feet (the limit for passive baluns). 
Active Video Balun

Multi Ch Video Balun
An active balun receiver can be used on the DVR or monitor end of the cable with a passive balun on the camera end to boost the maximum effective distance to 2000 feet.  When an active transmitter balun and active receiver balun are used together, the effective distance of the cable increases to 4000 feet for color cameras and 5000 feet for black and white. The below diagram illustrates the wiring used when installing active video baluns. Please note that power is required for both the transmitting and receiving unit.

Wiring Diagram
Multi-Camera Baluns
Multi-camera video baluns allow each twisted pair of a CAT5 to be used for one camera, effectively allowing an installer to run video for up to four CCTV cameras over a single CAT5.  The below diagram illustrates how a multiple camera video balun is wired.
arindamcctvaccesscontrol.blogspot.com
Multi Camera Baluns

Internal Circuit of Baluns:

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Active UTP Video Transceiver: 4 Channels Active Video/Audio/PowerTranceiver Spec :

Video Support Up to 1.5Km.Cost Effective CCTV Solution
Brightness & sharpness controlling
High quality Video Image
Screwing terminal for connecting cable
Built-in Surge Protection, Lighting Protection and Other Protection Setting
Frequency response DC 6Mhz Via UTP
12V DC Power Required

jhonden said...

What kind of structured cabling can be used with CCTV video Balun. This is a good post. CCTV balun are of great help and if it could be made more effective then what else do we need is no it.

LT Power Cable Manufacturer
RG-59 Coaxial Cables

shark said...

THANKS FOR SHARING SUCH A AMAZING WORK
cctv for offices in dubai

sman said...

Thanks for sharing Home Security Cameras Installation

sman said...

Thanks for sharing tripod turnstiles dubai

Hales said...

Thanks for a very interesting blog. What else may I get that kind of info written in such a perfect approach? I’ve a undertaking that I am simply now operating on, and I have been at the look out for such info. Melbourne CCTV

Miot Solutions said...

Thanks for sharing such an useful blog.5G Antenna Manufacturer

vigilworld.com said...

This is an informative post review. I appreciate your efforts and all the best. I am so pleased to get this post article and nice information. I was looking forward to

getting such a post which is very helpful to us. Best Steam Presses A big thank for posting this article on this website.

cctv camera system in bhubaneswar

Top Kids' school said...

Simply described, a doorbell camera (also known as a video doorbell) is a doorbell that has a camera installed. It's also a WiFi-enabled smart gadget with motion detectors, recording capabilities, and a speaker for speaking with the person at the door.
access control strobe lights
warehouse spy cameras
office spy equipment’s

unknown said...

Nice post. Wireless cameras are very compatible and easy to install. These are important to keep home and offices secure.
security company columbus ohio
office security systems