Setting Up Your CCTV System - Tip 1 - Use Siamese Cable

greatchillyfly | May 18, 2010 |

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Use Siamese Cable

Setting up your own CCTV security camera system can appear like an overwhelming task at times, but it doesn't need to be as complicated as it may seem. One of the most difficult things to consider is how to wire video and power to your cameras. Powering the cameras can often be difficult as most places where you'll want a camera there won't be a regular power outlet to plug it into.

Fortunately, there is an excellent solution for wiring both the power and video to your camera in a single cable. The cable you'll want to use is called siamese cable. This cable has a single RG59 line for carrying your camera's video signal. It also has a positive and negative power line so you can carry the power from your power source to your camera.

This provides you with incredible flexibility for installing your cameras. Anywhere that you can get a cable to you can install a camera. This can be extremely useful when installing cameras on the outsides of buildings, on ceilings, roofs, or other similar locations.

Installation

As you're installing it you'll need to terminate the RG59 portion of the siamese cable with the appropriate ends. For most CCTV cameras you will need to use BNC type connectors. Occasionally your equipment may call for F-type connectors, but this is usually pretty uncommon for CCTV systems.

For the power connection you'll need to do some splicing, but don't worry it's easier than that may sound. What you will do is take the AC power adapter that comes with your camera and you'll use the power portion of the siamese cable to extend the connection. This means that you'll cut the cable that goes from the AC power adapter to the plug that goes directly into the camera. You'll then connect the positive and negative lines coming out of the power adapter to the appropriate lines on the siamese cable. Then on the other side you'll want to do the same thing with the power connector. Connect the positive and negative wires of the connector to the siamese cable. The siamese cable will then act as a long extension between the AC adapter to the power connector.

Save Yourself a Headache

Save yourself the trouble of having to find an AC outlet or unsafely running extension cords to your camera and get yourself some siamese RG59 cable. You will be able to safely run that cable behind walls and through your buildings. You already have to run the video cables, you might as well make it support the power as well.