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NELLY'S SURPLUS' GUIDE TO SURVEILLANCE EQUIPMENT

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Step 1: Test your equipment!!:
Do not make the mistake of installing all of your equipment before testing. Testing your equipment first ensures that you become familiar with the products operations and that you perform all troubleshooting methods before installing. You will want to also do this because a common misconception is that some equipment is not working when indeed it is a bad cable feed that is causing the problem. Testing your equipment first rules all of that out. If at any time during this testing process you have trouble with your equipment, please refer to each items specific page on this site to get detailed troubleshooting methods.

1) Set up your testing station: In order to do this you will need your TV and the RCA cable with BNC adapter ready to go. Plug the non-adapter end of the RCA cable into your TV's RCA video input. Get all of the equipment that you bought in the same area. Connect one set of power wires to your power supply, make sure the wires are long enough to reach your cameras for testing. You are now set up for testing.
2)Test your cameras: You can do this by simply running power to your cameras power inputs and plugging the RCA cable with the adapter end into your cameras video connection. Do not plug in your power supply until you connect the power wires to the camera. Do this for each camera.
3) Test your VCR: Simply plug a power cord in the back and connect the RCA cable with the adapter end into the VCR. Get a regular old VHS movie tape, such as the Goonies, Forrest Gump, Top Gun, etc and pop it in the VCR. Push play. Usually the player will default to L2H or L6H mode, but if it doesnt, go ahead and manually toggle the time mode to L6H. If the movie plays clearly, its good. Sometimes you will notice a little fuzziness when you first play the movie but it should eventually level out.
4) Test your Multiplexer or Quad: Please make sure you are using the power supply with the correct amperage for these units, if you dont, you will get a multiplexer that will act funky. The amperage can be found on our multiplexer page or by looking at the bottom of the unit. You can test these simply by plugging the multiplexer's power adapter in and getting the RCA cable and plugging the adapter end into the port labeled "main" or "mon A" depending on the unit. The multiplexer will then boot up and it will run through a test of cameras. Of course you will not have any cameras plugged in but right now we are just making sure everything boots up properly.

Step 2: Get your viewing station set up!!!:
Your viewing station consists of your Monitor, Power Supply, VCR recorder, and Multiplexer/Quad (if applicable). Ideally you will want all of this stuff right next to each other because this is where all of your cameras power and video cables/wires will come down to.

Step 3: Setup your cameras:
Get all of your cameras set up where you want them to be. Please keep in mind a few things when considering camera placements:
1) Is the lens strong enough or wide enough to capture what I need?
2) Try avoid putting your camera in areas where the lighting conditions are going to be different then what it is viewing. For example, you do not want to put your camera way back in a very shady place and viewing out on a very bright location, this will cause the cameras view to wash out. Conversly, if you have your camera in a very bright location viewing in on a dim location, it may cause the view to be very dark.
3) Be sure you have light shining on the area being viewed on at night. Unless noted otherwise, most of our cameras are not considered night vision cameras, but they can see as long as some light is shining on the area. This means in outdoor scenarios, it may be advantageous to install some lights in order to get the best picture. If these are being used indoors, be sure to have a night light on to capture video. These can see in fairly low light conditions but a good rule of thumb is the more light the better.

Step 4: Run Cable from your cameras to your Viewing Station:
We recommend only using RG59 Siamese Cable. It is possible to use CAT5 cable with video Baluns but we avoid it simply because we have heard too many issues of not enough power being sent over the thin lines that CAT5 has. We do not offer any type of installation tips or support for CAT5 but we do for RG59 Siamese. Running cable is an art within itself. Most folks want to conceal the cable within walls, attic, or crawlspace for aesthetic purposes. Just remember to avoid running a staple through the cable as that will kill the video feed and be sure to have a good BNC connection on your COAX cable as well. Also, if you are running cable outside and if you want to ensure a long operating life, you should put the cable in some conduit to avoid moisture and UV exposure.

Q: Yeah but thats all basic set-up instructions. I need more detailed installation instructions!!!!
A: Not a problem. Continue reading for more product specific installation and set up instructions

Correct connections for your cameras:

Need help installing? Use this Quick Setup Guide to get started:

Ultrak KC552BCN Connection

Costar CCC3400 Connection

Samsung SCC-130A/B Connection

How to connect a Camera to a Housing:

KHTM12N3:

Step 1: Take the mounting plate out of the housing and attach it to the camera like so:

Step 2: Put the camera with the mounting plate attached back in the housing. Be sure to move the lens right up next to the housing window, this will help reduce glare and lighting issues in the future. Screw down the mounting plate securely.

Step 3: Take a little 5" snippet of the power wire pair off of your siamese cable. Unscrew the terminal inputs and Insert the wires into the 2 of the inputs that are closest to the camera. DO NOT PUT A WIRE INTO THE GROUND INPUT, IT IS NOT USED FOR THIS SCENARIO. Simply put one wire into one input and the other wire into the other input. Since these are AC powered units, you cannot get the wires crossed so do not worry about polarity. Firmly screw the terminal screws down to keep the wires secure.

Step 4: Run your siamese cable coming from your viewing station through the back of one of the wire holes in the back of the housing. After you run the cable through, twist or crimp on a BNC connector on the Coax cable. Insert the 2 power wires into the 2 push inputs near the back part of the housing. AGAIN, YOU DO NOT INSERT A WIRE INTO THE GROUND INPUT. Again, you do not have to worry about getting the wires crossed, simply put one wire into one input and one in the other:

Step 5: Close up the housing. Be sure to fill any holes and gaps in the back with silicone or caulking to prevent moisture and insects from entering the housing.

ULHEM1203:

Step 1: Unscrew the 2 screws in the back of the housing that are located on the middle outside part where the hood slides onto and pull the back part of the housing free from the main body.

Step 2: Push the mounting plate to the side so you can put a screw on the underside of it. Insert the screw through the screw hole on the camera. You will want to make sure that your lens is snug up against the housing window so please position your camera as such on the mounting plate:

Step 3: Now you need to get a short set of power wires and run them from the 2 connections that are labeled "AC Out" to your cameras very far left and very far right input. Next insert your siamese cable through the rear wire holes and connect those power wires to the inputs labeled "AC In". When connecting your power wires, remember, you do not have to worry about getting the wires crossed as this housing requires AC power and polarity is not an issue when dealing with AC power. Lastly you will plug your BNC Coax connector to your camera. (note: if your ULHEM1203 only has one set of power input, please refer to the GVI connection below for similar setup instructions)

Step 4: Close up the housing and seal any open wire holes with silicone to prevent moisture and bugs from entering the housing.

GVI:

Step 1: Open up the latch to expose the inside. Take out the mounting plate and put the screw through the underside of the middle slot of the plate and insert the screw into the bottom screw hole on your camera. Make sure you position your camera on the mounting plate to ensure that your lens is snug up against the housing window.

Step 2: Firmly snap the camera and the housing plate back into the slots on the housing, sometimes the cord that runs to the heater will get in the way of this, if so, push it to the side. You will notice that there is only one set of power terminals on the housing. You will have to create a "Y" adapter. To do this get (2) 6" pieces of red power wires & (2) 6" pieces of black power wires and strip the ends of each to expose the wire. Twist the ends of the red wires together and do the same with the black.

Step 3: Next you will need to take the Red "Y" cable and plug one end into one of the cameras inputs and the other end into one of the housings inputs. Do the same thing with the black "Y" Cable. Remember polarity is not an issue with 24 VAC power so you wont get any wires crossed.

Step 4: Now you will need to run your siamese cable through the bottom wire hole. Attach the red power wire coming from your siamese cable to the red "Y" cable by twisting them together. Do the same with the black cables. Tape them both together with electrical tape to secure their connection. Connect your coax cable to the BNC connection on the camera.

Step 5: Close the housing and seal up any gaps in the wire holes with silicone to prevent bugs and moisture from entering the housing.

Multiplexer Quick Set Up:
Getting a Multiplexer setup correctly may seem like a confusing task but we have simplified it for your. The following are instructions on how to correctly get a multiplexer set up with a VCR. We also show you how to do the basic recording set up as well. If you need instructions on the more advanced features, please refer to the multiplexers manual. For this example, we used our GVI GV-MUX16TC multiplexer and our Samsung SRV-960A VCR. Do not worry if this is not your particular multiplexer or VCR that you ordered. All of these operate in very similar fashions so these instructions should still help you on the other models as well. Please make sure that you have the correct amped power supply. For example, the GV-MUX16TC takes a DC 12V adapter with 2.5 amps. Incorrect amerpage will make the multiplexer just beep continously or not work at all. Lets get started!!!

* Before getting started, it may be good to default to the multiplexers factory settings. To do this, go to the Multiplexers Main Menu>Unit Set Up> Factory reset> OK

Step 1: Get your cameras plugged into your multiplexers inputs. These are labeled as Cam1, Cam2, Cam3, etc. And make sure you plug them into the "IN" Ports which is the top layer of ports. You do not have to have all 16 cameras, you can use as little as one if you want to.

Step 2: Next you need to get your multiplexer connected to your VCR. To do this. Run a coax cable from the Multiplexers "VCR Out" port to the VCR's "VCR In" Port. Conversly, run another cable the multiplexers "VCR In" port to the VCR's "VCR Out" port. Lastly, run a cable from the Multiplexer's "Main" port to your monitor (remember, if you are using a TV as a monitor, you will need to use an RCA cable equipped with a BNC adapter and run it directly into your Tv's RCA video input. Running a Coax cable from the multiplexer to your TV will not work.

Step 3: Now that you have all of your equipment connected correctly. Lets do a test run on recording. Start with a brand new blank tape. Pop it in the VCR and rewind it all the way. Do not push play yet. On the Multiplexer: Push the Menu button> Go to VCR System Setup > Go to VCR Type > Select "user Define"

Step 4: Make sure that your VCR is set to L6H time Mode. You can do this by pushing the + and - signs on the time mode button on the face of the VCR. Toggle it until it says L6H on the front of the VCR (see pic below)

Step 5: Switch the multiplexer to a multi-view screen such as 4,9 or16 camera view and make sure all of your cameras are showing up. If they are not, please check your cable and power connections on your camera for bad connections. Look at your Multiplexer screen and make sure there is not a VCR time stamp flashing on each box. Push the Record button on the VCR and let it record for about 10 minutes or so.

Step 6: After 10 minutes is up. Rewind the tape all the way, do not push play yet. Push the button on the multiplexer that is the second button to the left (it looks like 2 tape reels). After you push it you should see the VCR's time stamp flashing on each channel. IMPORTANT: Look down at your VCR and make sure it is still set to L6H time mode (see picture below). Go ahead and push play on the VCR. You should now see each channels recorded video. Feel free to push each channels appropriate button to see the cameras full screen view. PLEASE NOTE that after pushing play on the VCR, you may not immediately see any video come up, but after atleast a minute, you should definetely see something.

VCR Set to L6H Time Mode:

Now that you know the basics of recording with a Multiplexer, you can toggle with the VCR's time mode to get a longer tape time. We recommend using standard 6 Hour T-120 blank tape when recording because this will match up with the VCR's time mode exactly. For example, if you have your VCR set to 240H, you will get exactly 240 hours of recording out of one 6 hour blank tape. Have Fun!

How to connect a Twist on BNC connector to RG59 Cable:

Step 1: Layout your equipment that is needed which is one end of a RG59 siamese cable, 1 twist on BNC connector, and 1 sharp utility knife. I am using a utility knife for people who do not have a coax stripping tool, if you have one of those tools then more power to ya, if not, you can use a good sharp utility knife, just dont cut yourself!!!

Step 2: Make an incision between the power wire cable and the coax cable and pull the seperate jackets apart like so:

Step 3:Put your BNC connector right next to the cable like shown in the picture. Make a measuring mark by cutting a small incision on the cable about half way up the longest part of the connector:

Step 4: Carefully cut around the outer jacket where you made the mark and pull off the outer jacket. Be sure not to cut around the inner jacket. Once you pull the outer jacket off, push all of the copper shielding down around the outer jacket as shown in the picture.

Step 5: Carefully cut around the inner jacket about halfway between the end of the cable and the part where the outer jacket is cut. Be sure to keep the inner copper conductor as straight out as possible and avoid bending it as you will need it very straight in order for it to go properly inside the inner hole inside the BNC connector.

Step 6: Take a look inside the hole of the BNC connector, you will notice an even smaller hole that the center coax conductor must insert into to get a good video feed. Go ahead and attach the BNC connector to the coax cable, you do this by pushing and twisting at the same time, this will ensure that you get your BNC connector threads over the outer jacket and copper shielding. IMPORTANT: Before you do this, make sure that all of the copper shielding is pushed down around the outer jacket, you do not want even the slightest strand of copper shielding to touch the center coax conductor because you will not get a video feed if that happens. You will know that the connector is on the cable correctly when you can no longer twist the connector on any furhtur and you can test it by trying to pull off the connector off of the cable, it should not be able to pull off at all. Never use pliers to twist on the BNC connector because if you try to twist it on at extreme measures, you will bend the center coax conductor. Simply just use your hands until you cannot twist anymore. If you cannot get a video feed, it either means that you didnt get the center conductor properly inserted into the tiny hole or that a strand of copper shielding is touching the inner conductor. After you are done, you can feel free to cut off the excess copper shielding that is sticking out the bottom of the connector of just leaving it there will not hurt anything either.

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