How to install a CCTV camera and DVR in 6 simple steps

CCTV camera installation

Installing a CCTV camera system can an expensive affair. Don’t worry, just follow these simple steps and do the installation yourself.

Planning before installing a CCTV camera

The most important aspect of installing a CCTV camera system is choosing the right spots for camera and DVR to maximize camera coverage and minimize cable length (which in-turn reduces the in line losses that affect video quality). For indoor placement of best home security cameras, choose a corner in the room from where most entry points into the room are visible. A power socket should also be in close proximity. For outdoors, choose a higher spot covering the door, window approaches, garages etc. Choose the spots above 10ft so that it cannot be knocked down easily.

If you reside in UK and looking for round-the-clock CCTV camera solutions, you can also visit Clacton Locksmith. A locksmith can help you to have extra security aside from security cameras. They can come and rekey all of the locks in your home by removing the cylinder from your lock and reconfiguring it. That way, you have total access and control over your house. Additionally, for free quotation and survey of your CCTV security requirements throughout Coventry, Warwickshire, and the West Midlands, click here.

Mounting the camera

mounting the cctv camera

Place the camera unit at the desired place, make guide marks for drilling. Drill holes and hammer in the screw mouldings. Now, screw the camera in place firmly. Insert the power cable of the camera in a socket.

Placing the DVR

locker for dvr unit

DVR of the CCTV is the place where the surveillance hard disk is present. Thus all your CCTV recording reside inside a DVR. It is highly recommended to keep the DVR inside a locked compartment so that even if an intruder spots the DVR, he/she can’t destroy the recorded videos. This is a vital step to ensure a bullet proof security system for your home.

Our Pick

Managing the cables

wire molding for cctv


Image Credits: cabletiesandmore.com

Plan the pathway for all the cables from cameras to DVR unit. Use wire moldings to keep the wire managed and safe. Nail the moldings along the path and put the Siamese surveillance wire inside.

Connecting the wires

Steps to connect the BNC port:

bnc connector

The video cable is connected via a BNC port. Remove about 1.5cm of outer covering of the video cable which should now expose the braids. Slide the crimping barrel onto the cable with wider diameter facing towards the end of the cable. Now remove the white insulator covering the innermost cable. Now insert this exposed cables into the BNC port and screw the crimping barrel. This makes a secure connection. Connect the DVR output port to the screen on which you want the video feed.

Power on the system

CCTV video feed test


Image Credits: wikimedia.org

Start by powering ON the cameras followed by the display and the DVR. Setup the DVR according to the user manual provided with the DVR. Go over every camera’s feed to confirm each camera is working properly and providing the desired viewing angle.

If you’re currently shortlisting which CCTV system to get, do consider the following:

Our Pick

For any queries regarding installation of a surveillance system, please comment in the section below.

You might also like

85 Comments

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4

    I really appreciates this article it is very helpful it would guide me through out my study of telecommunication engineering in ramat polytechnic Maiduguri borno state Nigeria thank you ones again for this published article I remain yahaya David.

  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8

    Hello, thank you for sharing this article it will be really helpful for me to understand about how to install a CCTV camera and DVR in 6 simple steps. I appreciate your step for choosing this topic. Great article!! You have done a good research I must say, thank you very much for sharing this article. See Security Camera Systems Melbourne

  9. 9
  10. 10
  11. 11
  12. 12

    Really helpful as I’m a beginner …thanks sir, but please what are the things to buy when planing for CCTV installation I’m a satellite installer….I want to first try installing it in my house

  13. 13
  14. 14
  15. 15

    my camera goes from 1 times magnification to 1000 times making it extremly pixilated. How do you make the image increase gradually

  16. 17
  17. 18
  18. 19

    how to select CCTV devices means If i want to install two or three cameras in my home what can i do for that? what all the devices required?

  19. 20
  20. 21
  21. 22
  22. 23

    Hi Kanishk ,This is great article, very useful information shared with us.you have briefly explained about install a CCTV camera and DVR,very useful information shared with us.keep going… All the best ,Thank you.

  23. 24
  24. 25

    If more people that write articles related to CCTV’s were really concerned themselves with writing great & informative content like you, more readers would be interested in their writings. Thank you for this step by step guide.

  25. 26

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>