How do security cameras work?
If you have decided to purchase a security camera or even considered getting a complete system installed, you may be wondering exactly how a security camera system works and how it will help protect your home. It's true that a lot of the camera functionality can seem confusing at first but we are here to help so let's try breaking it down into features:
The role of a security camera
Security cameras are simply dedicated video cameras used for the sole purpose of observing an area or event. They can be directly connected to a recording device or connected to a network to be streamed and recorded. Common uses for security cameras include:
- Watching your house
- Keeping an eye on the kids
- Monitoring sleeping babies
- Car Security
- Front door monitoring eg package delivery
What are the different types of security cameras?
Security cameras come in many different flavours, looks and purposes and some of these include:
- Dome cameras are often paired with a wide-angle lens.
- Bullet cameras offer a greater range with a narrower field of view.
- Day/ Night cameras fitted with IR sensors for nighttime monitoring.
- Wireless security cameras offer greater location flexibility.
- PTZ cameras offer the ability to Pan, Tilt and Zoom.
All these configurations can share the same characteristics, i.e you can have a bullet camera with infrared sensors which activate only during the night.
What does a security camera consist of?
The basic parts of a security camera incorporate both traditional and specialised hardware components which can be broken down as follows:
Camera hardware
Security camera hardware is really not much different from any other modern camera product as it consists of a camera shell with internals such as the lens, imaging sensors and focal adjustments. The biggest difference is in how they are designed and the purpose they are designed for.
Security cameras distinguish themselves from other types of cameras due to their ability to be mounted in locations around the home and workplace. The common components of a security camera include:
- Mounting Brackets
- Weather Shielding
- Infrared Sensors around the lens for night vision
- Designed to suit the environment
- Cable exposure management
Security camera software
Modern security cameras usually come with their own software stack allowing you to monitor video feeds, setup activity and motion tracking as well as the ability to adjust quality settings and utilise cloud storage if available. Some of the common software capabilities include:
- Networking including wired and wireless
- Motion Tracking functionality
- Encoding settings
- Recording scheduling
- Cloud integration
- Linking multiple devices
- Remote viewing
- Mobile Apps
If you are still a little unsure as to what you are after when it comes to home security and video security cameras, give the experienced team at Alltronic Security a call on 07 3353 3248 or complete an online enquiry form today. We know the importance of good quality and properly installed security cameras, and we have all the parts to make your home security work the way you want it. Get in contact today.