While surveillance equipment protects our safety, we also need to protect it.
How should outdoor cameras be waterproofed?
Today, I will introduce some tips for you.
Why Waterproof?
For outdoor installations, waterproofing is an essential step. Proper waterproof protection can effectively prevent equipment failures caused by water intrusion, thereby extending the lifespan of the equipment.
1.Waterproofing: Outdoor Installation Considerations
- Sealed Tail Wires: The camera’s tail wires are designed to be sealed and should not be arbitrarily removed or cut. Improper disconnection or cutting of tail wires may cause short circuits, leading to abnormal operation of the equipment.
- Waterproof Tape for Tail Wires: After properly connecting the tail wires, use waterproof tape to seal all wire connections.
- Waterproofing for Cable Ends: Pay attention to the waterproofing treatment of cable connections to prevent rust from causing image abnormalities. When wall-mounting, the camera’s cable outlet must face downward, and the power adapter should be placed inside the distribution box.
- Handling Dome Camera Cables: During the installation of a dome camera, avoid transporting it with the output cables exposed to prevent loosening of the waterproof seal, which can degrade waterproof performance. Do not twist or rotate the wiring during bracket installation, as this may cause cable damage or signal abnormalities.
- Outdoor Camera Protection: Use an outdoor protective cover or infrared waterproof camera with an IP66 rating or higher. The cables should not be exposed; they must be run through sealed conduits. It is best to place cables inside cable trays, and do not cut off the cable ends.
- Cable Routing for Waterproof Cameras: The exposed cables of the outdoor protective cover or infrared waterproof camera should be routed in a “U” shape, not straight, to prevent water from flowing through the cables into the protective cover or conduit seal.
2. Waterproofing: Outdoor Mounting Bracket Usage
- L-type Pole Mounting: When using an L-shaped mounting pole, it is recommended that the horizontal bar be slightly angled upward to prevent rainwater from entering the camera through the horizontal bar if the seal is poor.
- Long Wall-Mount Bracket: Long wall brackets are suitable for outdoor use and have a slight incline to prevent water ingress. These can be combined with pole-mounted or corner brackets for outdoor installations.
- Short Wall-Mount Bracket: Short wall brackets have horizontal beams and gaps between the mounting plate and the bracket, which may allow water to flow back into the camera. This type is not recommended for use.
- Suspended Mounting Brackets: Suspended brackets are not suitable for outdoor use because they have gaps between the bracket and the fixed mounting plate, which may allow rainwater to enter. If suspended mounting is necessary, it is advisable to use specialized outdoor waterproof suspension brackets.
3. Waterproofing: Network Port
4. Waterproofing: Power Supply and Other Interfaces
Tools Needed: Self-adhesive rubber tape for cable interface waterproofing
Preparation: Connect the device’s power supply and tighten the connection screws.
Waterproofing Steps:
- Step 1: Cut an appropriately sized piece of waterproof rubber tape based on the area to be wrapped.
- Step 2: Peel off the isolation film from the waterproof rubber tape.
- Step 3: Stretch the waterproof rubber tape to approximately 200% of its original length.
- Step 4: Wrap the waterproof rubber tape around the connection in a half-overlapping manner, ensuring it covers at least 3 cm on both ends of the interface.
Waterproof rubber tape wrapped：
5. Waterproofing: Insulation for Power Supply and Other Interfaces
- Insulation Treatment: After completing the waterproofing, use insulating tape to cover and wrap the connections again.
- Wrapping Method: Similar to the waterproofing tape, wrap the insulating tape in layers over the surface to provide additional insulation protection.
