How To Choose A CCTV Camera Housing

When choosing a CCTV camera housing for outdoor applications, there are multiple factors to take into consideration. The housing will determine how easily or difficult it may be to mount the camera, hide the camera, and also may impact the location of your camera.

There are many types of housings for CCTV cameras, and there are many cameras that are designed for specific applications, as I'll discuss below. Some things to consider when you are looking at the housing for your camera:

1) Is the camera for outdoor use?

2) What are the temperature variations you expect? An aluminum housing in the hot sun can get much hotter then ambient temperature.

3) What is the size of the camera you are going to mount in the housing?

4) Some housings have temperature control - will there be a power supply nearby?

5) Do you want your camera to be hidden, or in view?

6) What type of mounting options will your application require?

The first question is the most important, and must be answered as soon as possible: will the CCTV camera housing have to survive outdoor extremes of temperature and/or moisture?

Outdoor cameras require power, light at night (unless it is a night vision camera) and a mounting location. While many will mount the camera where it is visible, sometimes it is useful to have a hidden camera.

You will want to locate the camera where you can get a large field of view. For night-time applications, you will want the area you are monitoring to be well-lit, or to have a camera capable of night vision. Mounting the camera high up, on a light pole or on the side or roof of a building gives effective coverage. Just make sure you have power available for the camera, as well as ability to access the camera for repairs and upkeep.

Temperature control is important because of a number of factors. You can use less expensive cameras when using a temperature and weather controlled camera housing. Having a good camera housing, with moisture barriers and temperature control, can keep the complete system cost more affordable than if you had to purchase cameras rated for extreme outdoor use.

Interior cameras have to conform to different requirements than for exterior use. Depending on your purpose, they may be disguised or in the open, or even hidden completely. When looking at the housing, you want to ensure that it's easy to attach, and fits in with the decor of the room you are installing it in.

Dome-shaped enclosures are very common for interior use, you will find them in banks, casinos, office buildings and other places where there is a great deal of public traffic. You can find them in various sizes, and they can be installed on walls, ceiling or countertop. They offer a wide field of view, and are easy to fine-tune.

Even indoors, you want a camera housing that keeps the temperature at a reasonable level, and allows humidity to escape, so that the lens does not fog.

We've touched on the main things to consider if you are looking at CCTV camera housings. Your level of security can be enhanced or hampered by the performance of your cameras, so you want to use housings that will provide protection and long life, while making it easy to mount and maintain.