It’s no secret that security cameras are becoming more and more popular every day, with good reason. They offer a sense of security and peace of mind that can’t be matched by any other home security system. But if you’re thinking about installing a security camera system in your home, there are some things you need to know first. In this blog post, we’ll discuss nine important factors to consider before purchasing or installing a security camera system. So, if you’re ready to take the next step in securing your home, keep reading!
1. Outdoor vs. Indoor Security Cameras
Indoor security cameras are great for protecting your home from burglars and other intruders, but they’re not so great at preventing damage due to outdoor elements. If you live in an area that sees a lot of rain or snow, chances are good that your indoor security camera won’t be able to record anything useful during heavy rainfall or snowfall because the lens will most likely get covered by water and/or ice. On the other hand, if you live in an area where humidity is high year-round, you’ll need to wipe down your security camera’s lens every few days just to keep it clean enough for it to see clearly through the glass. So before purchasing a security camera system, think about what kind of weather conditions your home experiences and consider whether or not you’ll need an outdoor security camera to guard against environmental damage.
2. Motion Sensors
All security cameras have motion sensors, but there are a few differences between each model that could affect your purchasing decision. For example, some motion sensor alarms only beep when triggered by someone walking in front of the lens. While other motion sensors can detect intruders up to ten feet away from the lens, giving you more warning time before calling the police. So when searching for a security camera with motion sensors, think about how far out you want it to reach and if longer range is important to you, then look for a model that provides this and fits within your budget.
3. Night Vision
Night vision is one of the most important features to consider when purchasing or installing a security camera system because it allows you to see an intruder as soon as they step onto your property, whether it’s day or night. The obvious downside, however, is that without night vision, you won’t be able to see anything at all once the sun goes down and it gets dark outside. So, think about what time of day burglars tend to strike and do some research on different security cameras and their respective night vision capabilities before making a purchase.
4. Storage Capacity
Security cameras store footage like phones store pictures; by using an SD card aka memory card which can hold several gigabytes worth of data depending on its quality. With this in mind, make sure you purchase an SD card with enough storage space to store at least a few days’ worth of footage before needing to dump the old data and recording over it. Otherwise, you’ll end up losing important footage which could lead to your security system failing to capture suspicious activity on camera.
5. Power Source
Almost all security cameras come with rechargeable batteries that can hold a charge for several hours depending on how often they’re triggered by motion or recording. But if you want more time out of your security camera’s battery life, then you’ll need to get one that can also be powered by regular AAs aka standard alkaline batteries. These types of batteries are only good for around 20-30 minutes of runtime, so it’s important to purchase a camera with a rechargeable battery built-in as well, otherwise you could end up caught off guard by an intruder if your security camera runs out of power during an attack.
6. Security Camera Placement
The placement of your security camera is incredibly important because without the right angle and distance between the lens and potential intruders, you won’t be able to see or record much at all. That’s because most home security cameras only give their user roughly 24-30 feet of coverage which means that anyone outside this range will go undetected, hence rendering the security camera useless for protecting against burglars and other invaders. For example, if someone breaks into your garage but isn’t close enough to trigger the security camera, then it’ll only record them as a shadow or blur.
7. Audio Recording
Some security cameras (like the one in the picture above) come with built-in microphones and speakers which can allow you to listen and talk through your camera like an intercom system. So, if you’re looking for a way to scare away potential intruders before they step onto your property or if you need to give commands or instructions to someone working on your home from inside, then this is a must have feature that could potentially save your life someday.
8. Night Vision Distance
In general, most home security cameras don’t have night vision capabilities beyond 20 feet out so realistically speaking, if someone breaks into your yard but isn’t standing directly outside your house, then you won’t be able to see them on camera. However, if they do happen to venture into the range where your security cameras are enabled with night vision capabilities, then you’ll have a much better chance of seeing their face or number plate on camera and thus being able to identify them off of it afterwards.
9. Video Recording Quality
Just like most things in life, you get what you pay for when it comes down to security cameras because instead of having cheap, grainy images that only show the intruder’s shadow or blurry face rather than clear details; more expensive models tend to record video footage at 1080p HD which provides enough detail for police investigators to use as evidence in court. But remember, if the video recording quality is too good then it’ll also take up a lot of storage space per minute due to its higher bitrate, so make sure you invest in high-quality security cameras with enough internal memory or SD card storage space built-in.
That’s all 9 things you need to know about home security cameras and their installation. If this article has been helpful to you, please share it on social media using the buttons at the top of this page so that others can benefit from this knowledge as well. Thank You.
