The Right Location to Install your Outdoor Security Camera

We spent hundreds to thousands of currency in getting a security system that will provide the best level of security to our members. Covering the outdoor areas, through outdoor security cameras, is an essential part of a good security system. The outdoor camera can give you the best results only when it is placed at the right location.

Before you go ahead and a buy a security camera, it is essential for you to plan the placement of the cameras. Look at all the possible areas inside as well as outside your home. The outer areas should be observed during the day as well as during the night for several days in a row. This will give you a fair idea of the vulnerable areas that are more accessible to rowdy elements.

Let us take an example; while you have decided to cover your lawns and gardens, have you considered your driveway and garage? Incidents of car theft are on a rise and you can prevent damage to your car by securing your driveway and the garage door with a camera. In this case a camera at the outer edge of your garage door will give a good view of any intruder who might attempt to steal your car.

Camera housings are normally made of aluminum or more recently now from extremely durable specialty thermoplastics. Weather conditions, outdoor temperature and equipment temperature rating should dictate if the camera housings will require a heater, de icing system and multiple hi flow fans or possibly an active cooling system. Remember sensitive electronics are just that sensitive -long life, reliability and down time should be all be considered.

All material in front of the camera lens will attenuate the light and an allowance of at least one full f-stop should be used in calculating lighting and camera sensitivity. An auto iris lens should always be used with an outdoor camera. This will give the camera a better dynamic range and protect the image sensor from being damaged by direct sunlight.

The next area to consider will be those small sidewalks or a side alley where you store extra furniture and toys. Most of us try to cover the busy-areas of our house for surveillance while leaving out the less-frequented areas. However, the areas with less traffic are the perfect entrances for a burglar. Look closely at those overgrown garden areas and try to cover areas that have big tress that can obstruct the view from your window. Install the cameras at a high roof top window to get the best view.

Always try to avoid direct sunlight in an image. Direct sunlight may “blind” the camera and filters and burn the CCD causing stripes in the image.

How about your backyard? Do you have a small store where you store your extras – beddings, cutlery and furniture? Such areas are also as vulnerable as the front yard or the garage. Make sure that you cover them with a security camera. If you are finding it difficult to spend huge money on a number of cameras, consider using dummy cameras.

While you cover all the difficult to access and low-traffic areas, make sure that you install cameras in a way that they can be reached for maintenance and frequent checks. Do not use high-rise trees to install cameras as they can be damaged by birds and animals. Also, a camera at a very high location will be very difficult to reach for you as well. A bird’s nest or a spider’s web can obstruct your view frequently and you will have to make changes all the time.

When using a camera outdoors, avoid including too much sky in the image. Due to the large contrast, the camera will adjust in order to achieve a good level for the sky and the interesting landscape or objects may appear too dark. One way to avoid these problems is to mount the camera high above the ground. Used a proper pole with sturdy pole mount adapter or wall mounted bracket and always use proper mountings to avoid vibrations caused by wind.

If cameras are to be used at night additional external light sources may be required such as incandescent, HID or IR illumination.

If you mount a camera behind glass, for example in an outdoor housing, make sure that the lens is close to the external lens. If it is too far away, reflections from the camera and the background may appear in the image.

Hence, other than the obvious locations for an outdoor security camera choose areas that are not visited frequently but install cameras in a way that they can be reached for maintenance and repair.