Installing Box Cameras Indoors Guide

By: IPVM Team, Published on May 22, 2018

This guide starts our physical installation for video surveillance series, starting with Box Cameras, one of the oldest and most basic types. Inside we cover:

  • Videos Detailing Grid Ceiling Installs
  • Videos Detailing Drywall/Gypsum Board Installs
  • Why The Correct Fasteners Are Important
  • Which Installer Skills Are Needed
  • Choosing Camera Height
  • Noting Lighting Impact
  • Do Not Ignore Area Cleanup
  • Running Cables and Networking

We provide 7 total videos showing installation steps and methods for mounting one of the most basic camera form factors.

Installing Box Cameras Challenging

Because box cameras are often attached only via a short mount to a ceiling or wall, they can often be installed more quickly and with less skill than those cameras which require ceiling supports, recessed mounting, etc. Despite the easy availability of high-quality equipment, the installation of these cameras often leaves much to be desired.

Fortunately, most of the problems can be easily prevented by being aware of a few critical issues during installation.

Grid Ceiling Installs

First, we take a look at the components for installation:

Then, the next step is connecting the mount to the ceiling grid:

Regardless if clips or other ceiling mounts are used, the penetration hole for the cable is next:

**** ***** ****** *** physical ************ *** ***** ************ series, ******** **** *** Cameras, *** ** *** oldest *** **** ***** types. ****** ** *****:

  • ****** ********* **** ******* Installs
  • ****** ********* *******/****** ***** Installs
  • *** *** ******* ********* Are *********
  • ***** ********* ****** *** Needed
  • ******** ****** ******
  • ****** ******** ******
  • ** *** ****** **** Cleanup
  • ******* ****** *** **********

** ******* * ***** videos showing ************ ***** *** methods *** ******** *** of *** **** ***** camera **** *******.

Installing *** ******* ***********

******* *** ******* *** often ******** **** *** a ***** ***** ** a ******* ** ****, they *** ***** ** installed **** ******* *** with **** ***** **** those ******* ***** ******* ceiling ********, ******** ********, etc. ******* *** **** availability ** ****-******* *********, the ************ ** ***** cameras ***** ****** **** to ** *******.

***********, **** ** *** problems *** ** ****** prevented ** ***** ***** of * *** ******** issues ****** ************.

Grid ******* ********

*****, ** **** * look ** *** ********** for ************:

****, *** **** **** is ********** *** ***** to *** ******* ****:

********** ** ***** ** other ******* ****** *** used, *** *********** **** for *** ***** ** next:

[***************]

*******, ******** *** ****** onto *** **** ** threaded ***** *******:

** **** ****, ** describe ****** ******** ********** with ***** * **** mount.

Drywall ************

** **** ******, *** videos ******* * ******** overview ** * ****** wall ***** **** **** box *******:

*** **** ************ **** mounting * *** ****** to ******* ***** ****-******** drywall *******:

Important: *** ******* ******* 

*** ******* ******** **********, using *** ****** ******* anchor ********* ** ****** weight, ******* ****, *** wall ********* ******* ********* types ** *******.

****** ******** ************ ******* describe ***** **** ** use, ** **** *** physically ******** **** *** camera. *** **** ****** types ****** ***:

Type of Anchors

*** *** ***** ***** the ****** ** * wall ***** '****** ****' style ****** **** ** being ********* ** **** how ** ******* *** camera ******* ** *** wall. *** ********'* ***** are ********* ** ** is ****** ******* *** pre-drilled ****, **** *** springloaded ****** *******, ******* increasing *** ****** ********* and ******* ***** ******** the **** ** *****. Finally, *** ***** **** the **** ** *** drywall ** *** **** is *********:

***** *** ********* *** installation ** ***** ****** types ****, **** *** are **** ** ******** the ****-*** ******** ** the ********* ******* ******* or ****. ****** **, IPVM **** ******* * full '****** ********* ********* guide' ********* *** ****** use *** ******* ** the **** ****** *****.

Install ***** ******

*** ***** *** ********* an ********* ***** *** box ******* ******* **** basic ****:

  • *********** ***
  • ******* ***
  • ******** ***** *****
  • **** *******
  • *******/****
  • ****** ******* & ********

**** ************* **** **** only ***** *****, *** using ******** ******** ***** or ******* *** ******* additional ********* *****. ********* tasks **** ******* ******* or ****** *** ** also ********, ** ********** *********/*** ************ **** ***** ** ***** safety *********** ** ******** types.

Installers ****** ******

*** ***** ** **** for * ******* ****** box ******* ** ****** tight and *****, ********* **** a *** *********** ******:

  1. ***** **** ********
  2. ******** *****
  3. ***** ************
  4. ***** ******** *** ********** features ** ****** ******
  5. ****** ***
  6. **** ***
  7. ******* *****

**** **** *****-***** ******, however, *** ****** ** craftsmanship *** ******* ** work ******* ******* ** just *** **** ***** basic ****** *** ****, and **** ****** ** overlooked ** *********** ** high-quality ******* ****.

Role ** ****** ******

******* ****** *** ******* are ********* ******* ******* a ********** *********, ***** attention ****** ** **** to *** ************* ** exposed ******* - **** the ******** ********** ******** lenses *** ** * target. ****, ******** *** potential *** ******** **** out ** ********* *** handslaps ** ***** ******.

*** **** ** ******** cameras *** **** ** that ****** ****** *** the ******, ********** **** complicated ** ******** ******* of ***** ********.  ** cover **** ******* ** depth ** *** ******* ****** ****** ** Image ******* ****.

******** *** ***** ****** for ******* ** ***** done ** ******* *** convenience *** ***********, ******** installing ** *********** ******* (more **** ~** ****) or ********* **** ********* locations *** ******* *** an ******** **** ******** on * ****.

Check *** ****** ******** *********

********** ****** ** ***** of **** ***** ******** utilities ** ******* *** be ****** ***** ** drywall. ******** *** ******** camera ******* ******** ***** for ********** ******, ********, or ***** ** ******* ceiling ***** *** ******** the ******* ********* ** things **** ******** ** outlets ** *** **** is *** **** ******* steps ** ******** ********* or ****** ****** ** camera ********.

Lighting ******

****, ****** ******* **** commences, ***** *** ********* of *** ****** ** fluorescent ***** ******* **** can ***** ************ ** cast ***** **** *** frame. ***** ******* *** be ***** ** ***** glare **** ***** *******, **** may *** ******* ***** coverage ** ***** ******** area, ***** *** ******* ********** the ******. 

Labor ***** ****

********** *** ******* ** a ******* **** ** drywall ** *** ** the ******* ************ *****. We ***** *********** *** much ***** **** ******** for * ******* ******* and **** ******** ~*.** manhours, *** **** **% of ********* **** ******* *.* to *.* ********. ** ******** *** labor ********* *** **** application ** ****** ***** ********: *** Tile / **** *******.

Area *******

*******, *** ** *** most **********, *** *** install ***** ** *** the ********* ** ***** up *** **** ** debris **** ********, ******* dust, *****, *****, *** perform * ******** ** the ****. **** ********** carry ***** ****** *****, often ******** ** ***** drill ************* ** *** the **** ********* *** quick ****** **** ******* up **** ******* ** drilling ***** ** *******:

** ********, *** ***** marks ** ***** **** prints, ********* ** ** areas **** * **** cleaning ******* (**: ******) and * ***** ** cotton ***** ******** ** install ******** **** ***** up *********.

**** ********** **** ******* area ***** ******** **** disposable **** **** *** even **** **** ***** guards, ** ** ***** staining ** ********* ******* carpets ** *****. **** installers ***** ***** ** boot ****** ***** **** their ********* ** ******** and ****** *******:

Running ****** *** **********

*** *********** ****** ** box ****** ******* *** covered ** *** ***** is *******, *******, ** fishing ****** ** *** point ** *******. ******* that ****** ** ******* is *********** **** **** tools *** ****** **** from ***** ******** *****, we **** ***** ** a ******** ******** ************* guide.

Your ******** *******

**** **** ******** ******** first ** * ******, we ********* **** ******** on ***** *******, ****, and ********* ** *******. Have * ********** ** how ** *** ***** these ********* ** **** your *****?  *** ** know ** * ******* below.

Comments (6)

Undisclosed #1

05/22/18 11:55pm

*** **** ** *** penetration **** ** *** dependent ** ******* *** cable ** ***-********* ** not, ***** *** *** going ** ***** ** as ************, ** **** the **** *** ** removed *** *******. *** hole ***** ** **** smaller.

Avatar

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 05/23/18 01:59pm

**** ** * **** insight, *** ***** **** it.

** *** **** ** notched, *** ***** **** can ****** ** ***** smaller. *'** **** **** variations **** **** *** notched '****' **** *** tile *** *** ** back **** *****, ******** that ***** ****** ********* to **** ******* **** over ****.

Itamar Kerbel

05/23/18 09:04am

* **** *** ********** in ****** ***** **** the **** ***** *** clean **.

******** *'* ****** **** it ******* **** **** of * ****** ******....

Avatar

Jon Dillabaugh

Pro Focus LLC | 05/24/18 03:12pm

** **** *** **** Toggles ******* *** *** remove **** ****** ******* losing *** ******* ****** the ****, ****** *** spring ***** *******. *** plastic ***** ** ** place. 

** **** **** *** self ******** **** ******* in *** ****, *** they **** ** ***** or ***** ******. **** also ***** * ****** hole **** *******. 

** **** *** ******** over ** ******* ********* anchors *** **** ** our *** ****** ************. They *** ***** *** effective. **** **** ** Sheetrock *** ******** ******** too. ** ***** **** the ** *** *** anchors, ***** *** ** where ***** ** ******* mounting ** ********.

*** ******* *****, ** try ** *** * backer ***** ****** *** surface *** ****** *** lags ** ***** **** screws. 

*** ******* ***** ** mansonry, ** ****** ****** expansion *******. **** **** crack ******* ******** ** over-torqued, ** **** **** to **** ******* ** spec. 

Undisclosed Integrator #2

In reply to Jon Dillabaugh | 05/25/18 06:14pm

****** ** *** **** drilling *******. **** **********, I ***** ****'** *****.

** ******** *** ******* has ****** **** ****** plastic ******* ***** *********. The ****** ** ******* is ***** ** ***** or ****** ******* ** because ** **** **** out *** **** **** just **** ******* ****. I **** * ***** awl ** ** **** kit **** * ***** simply ***** ****** **** drywall ** ****** * hole ******* ********, *** wiggle ** * *** on ********** ** ***** it *** * #* drywall ****** ****. ***** fit **** *** ****** into *****.

** ****** ** *** have *** ******* ** use *******, **** *** superior ** **** ********.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

05/25/18 08:13pm

*** ***** “*** ****** housings”?  *** *** ***** buy *** ****** *****?

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