IP Camera Cabling Installation Guide

Last Updated Dec 22, 2022 17:45 PM

This guide teaches how to install network cabling for IP cameras, including:

  • Estimating cable run length (with video tutorial)
  • Accounting for vertical length
  • Tracking cable remaining (with video tutorial)
  • Selecting a staging location (with video tutorial)
  • The importance of labeling
  • Basics of using push rods (with video tutorial)
  • Fishing walls/dropping cables (with video tutorial)

IPVM Image

Estimate ***** *** ******

****** *** ***** *** ****** ** even *******, ** ** ********* ** estimate *** ****** ****** ** *** drop ** ** *********. ************* ********** frequently ******* ***** **** **** ** come ** ***** *** **** ** re-pull.

***** *** ******* **** ** ** this, ** ***** ** ********:

  • ********* ******:*** **** ******** *** ** ******** cable *** ****** ** **** ********** ********* *** ***** ***** *** ****** or ***** ****** **** ** ********* to ***** *** **** ***/***/****** **** be *******. ****** *** **** ******** than ***** ******* ***** ******* **** guesswork.
  • ***** ******* *****:*** **** ******** *** ** ******* run ****** ** ** ******** **** ceiling *****, ***** *** * ***** size (*'**' ** *'**' ** ***** America *** ***** ** ******. ******* tiles *** ****** ** ******* ***** the ***** **** *** ******* ** provide ** ******** ******** ** ******.
  • **** ** ***:*******, **** ** ***** ******* *** available ** *** **** ***** *********, installers *** **** *** ***** **** and ***** *****, **** **** **** equating ** ******* **". *******, **** method ** *** ********, ** ********* people **** ****** ** ******* **** length *** *** *** **** ********* results, ********** ** **** ****.
  • ***** ******** ******:***** *** ** ***** ******, ** big *** *********, *** ** ***** electrical ********* *** ***** ** ***** from ~$** - $*** ********* ** features *** ******** ***********. **** ***** this ***-**** **** **** ** * labor-saving ****** ****** ** ********* **** walking *** **** ** ** ********.

Add ******** ******

** ******** ** *** ********** ***** distance, ********** ****** **** **** **** include ***** ****** *** ******** ******** of *** ***** ***, ** **** down * **** ** *** ****** location, **** * **** ** ** terminated, ***. * **** **** ** thumb ** **' ** **** ***, though **** ********** *** ****** ****** for ******* ***** ** ****** ** be **** **** **** ****** ***** to *********.

Mark ***** ***/***** **** ******

******* *** *** ******** ****** ** short ** ** **** *** ***** boxes ** ****** ***** **** *** with *** **** ***** *******. **** also ***** ******** **** ******** **** efficient ***** *** *** ****** *** which *** ** ***** *** ***** use *** * ******** *** ** runs.

Staging *****

*** ** *** ******* ******** **** before *** ****** *** **** ****** is ******* ** ******** ***** ******, making ***** **** *********, ****** ***** cost *** ********** *** ********** ** cables ***** ****** ***** ** *******.

**** ******* ***** *****, ***** *** a *** ********** ** ******:

  • **** ** *** *****: *** **** place **** ***** ** **** ***** is **** ** *** *****, *.*., a ****** ******** ** ***** ***** location. **** ***** ******* ** ****, but *****, **** ********** *** ****** it ** ****** ** ***** ****** and ***** *** ***** *** **** in *** ******** *********. **** ****** is ****** **** ********* *** ****** to **** ** ********* ** ****** cable.
  • ****** ****** *****: ******, ***** **** should ** *** ** ** * location **** ********** ** **** ******* as ********. ******* ****** ******* ** additional **** ** ****** **** *** pull ** *** * ***** **** to ** ****** *** *******, **** of ***** ******** **** ** **********.
  • *** ** *** *** ** *******: Finally, *** **** ******* ****** *** out ** *** *** ** ****** facility *******. ******* ***** ** ** active ****** ** ****** ********** *** in **** ***** *********, ** ***** cables *** * **** ******. ******* up ***** ** * **** **** area ** ********* ** **** ** done ****** ****** *****.

*** ***** ***** ************ ******* * strategic ***** ** ***** *** *** / ***** ** *****. *** ******** selected ****** **** ** *** ***** drop ** ** *** **** **** starting ***** *** **** ****** ***** more **° *****. ***** *** ******** of *** *** ** ******, *** final **' ** ***** *** ****** room *** **** *** ** *** MDF. ******** ***** ***** ***** **** the ******** *** ** *** ***** and **** **** ****** ****** **** / ****.

Label *** ******

****** *** ***** *****/***** ****** ** labeled ***** ** ******* **** * unique **********. **** ***** ** ** simple ** *, *, *, *, etc. ** ***** *******, *** *** require **** ******* ********* ** ***** where ****** *** ** ********* ** split *** ** ********* ********* (****-*, C114-2, ****-*, ****-*, ***.).

**** ** ******* **** **** ** often **********, **** **** ***** ****** saying **** ******** ****** ****** ***** ** ******** ****, and ****** *** ******* ******** ****, leading ** ********* ******* ** *** 7s ** ** *** **, ***.

Use ****** **** ** *** ******

*** ** *** **** ****** ***** for ******* ****** ** ****** **** commonly ****** **** ******, **** ****, or **** ******. ****** **** **** the ***** **** **** **** ***** flexible **** ****** *** ********* ** span ******** **** ~*' *** ** to **** **' ** * ****.

IPVM Image

***** ******* * *** **** ******** it *** ** ********* ** **** it ** *** *** ********. *** rod *** **** ******** **** *** intended ****** ** *** **** *** an ***********. **** ** *** **** wire **** **** **** **** *****, clearly ******* ** * **** *******, shown *****.

***** *** ********* ** *** ************** **** ****. ***** ***** ******* powered **** ****** ** *** ***** end ** *** **** *** *** make ** ****** *** *** ** your ****** ** ****** *** *** of *** ***.

Push *** ***********

**** ******** *** **** ******, *******, push **** *** ***** *** ***** on *** ******* **** ** ***** obstructions. **** ***** **** *** ** is **** *********** ** **** ** bounce *** *** **** *********** ***** obstruction. ** ****** ***** ******, ********** may *** ******* *********** *** *** push **** ***** **** ** ****** over *********, ****** ** *** ****** or ***** ** ** **** ***** simply * ****.

Vertical ****

*** ******** ******* ** ***** ************ may **** *** ******* ***** ** typically **** ***** * **' ******* of *** ****** ****, ******* ******* a ***** ** ** **** * wall *** ****** ** *** **** challenging ****, **** **** **** **** framing, *********, ******* ********** ***** ***** must ** *******.

*********, ** ** ******* *** ****** to **** * ***** **** *** to ******. **** ** ******* *** access **** ** ******* ****** ** the ******** ***** *** **** ** plug **** ** ********* **** *** smaller **** **** ** ***** *** wall. *******, ***** *** ** ***** where *** ***** ** ****** ** push **** *** **** ******** ** a **** *** ******* ** ********** to **** ** *** ****.

*************, ***** ** ** **** **** practice *** *** ** ********* *** a ***** ****** ** ******, ***** it *** ** ****** *** *** practice ******* ** ****** * ******** method. ********** ****** ****** ** ***** some **** *********** *** **** **** for **** **** *** *** ****** that *** ***** ** * ******** are *** ****.

** *********** *** ****** ** ******* in * ******* **** (********* ******* on ***** *****) ** **** *****.

Wear **** *****

********** ******* ***** ******** ****** **** and ***** **** ***** ** **** or **** *** *****, **** ****, or ****. ************ **** ******** **** tools *.*. *****, ***** *******, ***** down ****, *******, ********** ****. ** will **** **** *** *********** ** you **** * ******** ** **** sheath. ***** ** *** **** ****** or ******* ****** * *** **** to ***** ***** ** *********** *** unprofessional.

IPVM Image

Further *******

***** * ***** ** ***, ** must ** ******** **********. ** **** to ***** **** ***** **** ************** in ** ******** ******. ******* ****** also ********** ********** *** ** ******* ******** ******* ** *****, *** *****, and ***** ********* *****.

***** ****** *** ********* *** **********, cameras *** ** *********, ******* ** detail ** *** ***************** **** ******* ******************** *** ******* *******.

*******, ********** **** ********* *********** ********** ****** *** ********* ****, including ***** **********, ***** ****** ******, floorplan *************, *** ****.

Comments (16)
UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #1
Aug 29, 2018

I believe it would be valuable to review the difference between the multiple types of cabling links and their certification tests (channel link, permanent link, modified single connector permanent link).  This is a key component of cabling installation for IP Physical Security Solutions, and I believe the most misunderstood.

(2)
Avatar
John Scanlan
Aug 29, 2018
IPVM • IPVMU Certified

U1, thank you for the suggestion. We are currently working on the IP Camera Cabling Termination Guide (jacks, mod tips, patch panels, etc.), but we have another guide planned which will cover testing and certification where this will be covered. 

(3)
(3)
U
Undisclosed #2
Aug 29, 2018

Why not go wireless on everything?! (Sarcasm intended)

Good tutorial. Thanks.

(1)
U
Undisclosed #3
Aug 30, 2018

What's the Belden # on wireless 2 AWG?

 

(Sarcasm given)

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #4
Sep 11, 2018

Yes!  Of course!

What could be so hard about not running cables? (Sarcasm also intended)

LZ
Lee Zanter
Aug 30, 2018
IPVMU Certified

Ive been running cable for 15 yrs.  I have found a gopher pull has been my goto for running cable down hallways, to be honest pretty much everywhere.  I only use flexible rods in tight areas and for fishing walls.  I do not use it like they show.  I tie it to the back and push it down the hallway. Count 10 to 12 ceiling tiles and open up there and continue to push on.  It saves me so much time.  Get one!  

(2)
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Bobby Mancia Jr.
Sep 02, 2018
MIZELA CORPORATION • IPVMU Certified

You might want to add Laser Distance Meter for more convenient measurement of the length of the cable run.  

(3)
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Kyle Folger
Sep 05, 2018
IPVMU Certified

Agreed, I recently upgraded from my old one that didn't work when it was too hot or too cold. These weren't extreme temperatures either. 

I went with the Leica DISTO D2. So far it works well and works at greater distances when compared to my previous one. 

I also have the wheel (I just don't like hauling it around), have counted the ceiling tiles, and my natural stride is 1.9' (I'm not 6' tall). I generally use whatever method is the fastest. Often times you just need to be close on cable length and doesn't need to be exact. I'd much rather have 20' too long than 20' too short. Cable is often times cheap and is generally always cheaper than labor.

I recently ordered pre-terminated armored fiber so I needed to be pretty accurate. I created my pull path and ran pull tape with foot markings on it and worked well and allowed me to get my desired service loop. 

RD
Rob Dunham
Nov 01, 2018
Tailored IT Solutions

It's not the industry's first book or course. There's actually some really good video courses out there already.

JH
John Honovich
Nov 01, 2018
IPVM

Rob, thanks for your feedback. What specific courses on video surveillance installation would you recommend?

RD
Rob Dunham
Nov 01, 2018
Tailored IT Solutions

John, this one comes to mind. It has a kind of "safety video" feel, but the content is actually really good.

http://www.cablepullingcourse.com

(1)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #5
Mar 27, 2019

I have found it easier to run the snake up the wall like he demonstrated in the video. but what he first said "tying onto the snake above the ceiling and then pushing down to your wall plate" I find that not to be helpful. especially when you have insulation in the wall. just my opinion.

Avatar
Robert Forte
Mar 27, 2019
IPVMU Certified

I have found it easier to run the snake up the wall like he demonstrated in the video. but what he first said "tying onto the snake above the ceiling and then pushing down to your wall plate" I find that not to be helpful. especially when you have insulation in the wall. just my opinion.

Avatar
Kyle Folger
Mar 27, 2019
IPVMU Certified

It all depends on the wall which direction I go. If I'm in an attic where I can clearly see the header. I will drill down from above and stick fish rods down to the plate for someone to grab. If the situation is as shown in the video, I will cut into the wall, install the LV ring and use fish rods up.

I use fish tape only for conduit and generally prefer the fiberglass, but will use the metallic fish tape for longer runs just because the fiberglass is physically larger. I keep both in my van. I use two types of fish rods; the orange Klein rods are helpful for longer runs when I need more rigidity. I use the LSD Creep-Zit rods for a lot of wall fishing when I need ultimate flexibility. I don't break many of these and they last a long time. I have bought two sets in probably 10 years.

TT
Tan Tharp
Aug 13, 2020
IPVMU Certified

The egg beater attachment for the fish sticks seem so useful, as well as the light-up head attachment. I have been in several situations where I would have been much better off with the egg-beater attachment!

(1)
PL
Philip Leicht
Oct 20, 2021
IPVMU Certified

Every situation is different. Every installer has a preference. When I "knew it all" with push rods and fish tape, we wasted hours trying to get a wire from attic to basement. My electrician father came out to the job and with his experience in various building construction, showed us an old method... a length of string tied to a 3/8" nut.

After finding a vent pipe chase, he dropped the nut to the lower level. He then bounced it until it found another hole next to the pipe and it fell to the next lower level. Less than 15 minutes later, we had a pull string from attic to basement. Thanks to Dad, I may make it to dinner next time. Hope this helps someone out.

(2)