Cctv Outdoor Camera

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A CCTV or closed circuit television outdoor camera can provide security and surveillance outside of buildings and in open areas. CCTV outdoor cameras can be purchased with several highly specialized features for use in all sorts of applications from businesses to residences; and thanks to current technological advancements, these cameras including their optional features, can be purchased at affordable prices making them a desirable addition to any security system.

A CCTV outdoor camera differs from a CCTV indoor camera by the enclosure it is contained within. A CCTV outdoor camera must be able to withstand typical weather conditions as well as other natural and unnatural environmental objects. Cameras are available that can withstand dust storms, being submerged in water, and even certain types of explosions.

These cameras are often rated according to the protection the camera and contents are afforded by external matter. This rating is an International Electrical code standard rating called an Ingress Protection code or IP Code. Most CCTV outdoor cameras are rated IP66 or IP67. A rating of IP66 indicates that ...
... the camera is completely dust tight and can withstand powerful water jets from any direction. An IP67 rating indicates that the camera is completely dust tight and can be submerged in up to 1 meter of water without causing damage to the unit.

A standard CCTV outdoor camera either uses rechargeable batteries, or more commonly is connected to a power supply source using a thin wire. The supply source is usually a low-voltage direct current of about 12 volts and is supplied by a plug-in adapter type power source that comes with the camera. It may also be supplied by a larger power source center designed for use with a larger system. In addition, the camera is also connected to the processor, monitor, dvr, or a personal computer by a coaxial cable. Each camera must have a cable that is connected to the central unit.

However, a CCTV outdoor camera may also be purchased as a “wireless” camera. Wireless CCTV outdoor cameras may still need to be wired to the power source, but do not require the coaxial transmission cable. Instead, these cameras have built in radio technology that sends the video image signal to a receiver using the 2.8 or 5.8 MHz band. The receiver then transfers the signal to the central unit.

A CCTV outdoor camera is actually a digital video camera that can provide high quality, high resolution full-color video. It does this by using special electronic sensing chips called a Charged Coupled Device or CCD or a Complimentary Metal Oxide Semiconductor or CMOS. The extremely sensitive CCDs can be manufactured so that a high quality color video can be produced with vary little available visible light, such as the light available on a clear non moon-lit night. These cameras are usually called day/night CCTV outdoor cameras.

Another type of highly specialized CCD can produce a high quality monochromatic or black and white video under conditions of total darkness, i.e. when there is absolutely no available visible light. This CCTV outdoor camera is called an infrared (IR) night vision camera. The camera uses IR Light Emitting Diodes or LEDs to provide IR illumination to the target area. For the CCD, this is like using a spot light or flood light to illuminate the target area, but the human eye cannot see IR radiation so the illumination is invisible to humans. These cameras are called IR night vision cameras. They produce high quality color video under visible light conditions and high quality monochromatic or black and white video under IR conditions.

CCTV outdoor cameras may be purchased with other features as well. Many cameras can also record audio in addition to video. Other cameras can be purchased with pan, tilt, and zoom capabilities. Used with motion detection programming, these cameras can automatically track objects or individuals.

A CCTV outdoor camera can have a huge selection of features, accessories, and options that make this camera versatile in application. In addition, modern technology has not only brought highly specialized features to these cameras but has done so at a reasonably low price that makes them economical and affordable to purchase and use.