Subscriber Discussion

Did Older Cameras Use 110V AC Outlets?

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Kyle Folger
•Sep 30, 2017
IPVMU Certified

I haven't been in this business forever and came into it near the end of analog. I took the following picture of a camera at one of my clients after I took it down.

Most of the original camera locations all had 110V outlets installed specifically for the cameras. The system I gradually put in would be system number three. 

I'm curious if 110V plugs on cameras were the norm? Did every manufacturer offer this option? Did distributed power supplies not exist? At what point did the AC plug disappear on cameras?  If we had to put outlets at every network camera location and PoE didn't exist, this would get pretty expensive.

U
Undisclosed #1
•Sep 30, 2017
IPVMU Certified

At what point did the AC plug disappear on cameras?

As soon as Pelco goes under...

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Kyle Folger
•Sep 30, 2017
IPVMU Certified
In reply to Undisclosed #1

I’m sure the enclosure is AC powered. Does the camera inside it have an AC whip directly to the camera? The camera I have pictured is an indoor Panasonic. I haven’t seen many box cameras without enclosure that have a direct AC connection.

 

U
Undisclosed #1
•Sep 30, 2017
IPVMU Certified
In reply to Kyle Folger

U
Undisclosed #1
•Sep 30, 2017
IPVMU Certified
In reply to Kyle Folger

Not to be outdone, Panasonic has:

In stock at B&H.

btw  I'm not giving you a hard time, I'm just as shocked as you :)

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Kyle Folger
•Sep 30, 2017
IPVMU Certified
In reply to Undisclosed #1

I don't doubt that these cameras might still be available. It wouldn't be common at all though. Sony still sells miniDV tapes which always surprises me. It seems a lot of these large companies continue to carry legacy equipment. It is amazing though that it's analog SD video. I'm wondering who would still be purchasing these cameras and the reason behind it.

The previous installer at this location, replaced the box cameras with small bullet cameras and instead of running new cable, just used DC wall warts that were used for the older cameras. I ended up running new cable to these locations as almost every wall wart failed eventually and that type of installation doesn't look as nice.

UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #4
•Sep 30, 2017
In reply to Kyle Folger

Remember the post on here a couple years ago about the Post Office RFP calling for a VHS DVR? That's how a lot of this old equipment sticks around. Very old spec's and contracts that never get updated or very slowly. Manufacturer's will milk those for as long as they can and there are contracts to sell on.

PM
Paul Meltzer
•Sep 30, 2017

When I started the big 3 we supported  were Motorola, RCA and Vicon.   Everything required 110VAC.  The first generation units also had PL-259 type video connectors. Cameras, housings, PTZ.  Zoom lenses were challenging to track (make sure it stays in focus throughout the zoom spectrum) Video transmission (point to point) were optical links and slow scan on a POTS line.

interesting progression from tube cameras to chip to IP    

 

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Kyle Folger
•Sep 30, 2017
IPVMU Certified
In reply to Paul Meltzer

Thanks for the reply. Do you recall what time period this was the norm and when it started to phase out to have 24VAC and 12VDC become the more common standard. It's always interesting to me to learn this information and see how much has changed over time.

It seems like many of these cameras were box cameras and they didn't have other form factors with 110VAC power connections. I do know that Pelco had the really large dome PTZ enclosures with box cameras.

I'm also curious what drove the change to lower voltages. Was it to reduce the need for an electrician?

UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #5
•Oct 02, 2017
In reply to Kyle Folger

What drove the change: Tube imager cameras were being replaced by CCD cameras. Sorry, but POE had nothing to do with it back then. Everything was still 1v p-p

PM
Paul Meltzer
•Oct 02, 2017
In reply to Kyle Folger

First generation CCTV all cameras were bricks.  (some were round in form factor with a flat mounting base to go in a housing)   

Best guess mid to late 80's where 12V & 24V started to take off.  Why?  Advancements in technology.  I suspect the digital revolution and extensive R&D on sync performance led the way.  Think about an old PTZ performing a tour that required a cable from either a controller in the guard house or local receiver that had multiple 110VAC conductors moving left and right all day and night...  Improperly installed, they were a service nightmare.

Also, 110VAC had it's own set of challenges.  Ground Loops (noise, ghosts and rolling pictures)  caused by difference is potential (AC) from camera to monitor.  Low voltage systems also presented this problem but there are solutions available.

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U
Undisclosed #2
•Sep 30, 2017

It definitely was the norm... if you ever took a gander around a BlockBuster video back in the day, they always had 110AC Panasonic cameras with the signature woodgrain finish, at least four at every store.

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UE
Undisclosed End User #3
•Sep 30, 2017

Before PoE was common...

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U
Undisclosed #6
•Oct 02, 2017

Actually the older cameras were powered by birdseed:

 

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