Cable Strapping IP Camera Networks

Author: Brian Rhodes, Published on Nov 12, 2015

Many say using zipties is asking for problems. And BICSI prohibits them. But many video surveillance integrators use them regularly. What should you do?

In this note, we contrast and explain the tradeoffs between:

  • Zipties (often Nylon)
  • Hook and Loop Straps (also called Velcro)
  • Cable Lacing (Typically Waxed String)

**** *** ***** ******* ** ****** *** ********. *** ***** ********* them. *** **** ***** ************ *********** *** **** *********. **** should *** **?

** **** ****, ** ******** *** ******* *** ********* *******:

  • ******* (***** *****)
  • **** *** **** ****** (**** ****** ******)
  • ***** ****** (********* ***** ******)

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

Zipties *** ***: **** ** ****?

******* ********* ******************* * ****** ****** ** *** ******, *********** ********** ******* and ********** **** *** **** ****** *******.

**** ******** *********** ********* ******* ************ ******* ****** (******):

** ********** *** ********* **** ** *****, *** **** **** network ******** ***** ***** *** ******** ** ******* ********* ***** is *********:

** ***** ** ******** *** **** ******** ***** ******, *** internal ****** **** *** ** **** ** ****** *** ** shape *** *********. *** '****** ****' ** **** ****** ***** ratcheted ****** **** ********** ******** ********** *** ****** ** ************ point *** *********** ** ********** *** *********** -********* ** ***** traffic.

But ** **** * ********* *****?

******* *****'* ****** ******* *******, ******** ** ******** ** ***** **** are ********. ******, ************ **** ******* **** ******** ** ****** racks *** **** *** ***** **** *** *** * ****** of *********** ********:

********** ** ******* ***** **** ** **** ** *** ***** is *** ******* ********* ** *** ***** ******, *** ********* with **** ***** ******* ******* *** ***** *** ***** *** delicate ****** ** ******** ***** **** *** ** *********.

*******, ** ** ***** ******** *** **** ******* ******* ** frequently *** ******** *** **** **** ** *** *** ******* during ***** *****, ****, ** *******. ***** ***** ********** ******** like **** *** **** ****** *** ** ******, *** ** detached *******, *** **** *********** ** *** ******* ***** *********.

Zipties ********

*** **** ******** ****** ** **** *** ***** ********* *** requires ** ******* ******** ** ***** ** ***, ******** ******** ties ** **** ** ***** '********* *****' ****** ** ********* ** ******* **** ********* ** *********** from ****** **** ******** ******* ****.  **** ***** ** ******* are ********* **** **** **** **** **** $*.** ****, ** variable *******, *** ******** **** ********* ***** *** ***** ** hazardous ************.

** *******, ******* *** ******-*** ********* **** ******* ******** **** often ******** ********** ****.  *******, *** ** ***** ***** ******** and ********** ******, **** **** ******* ** ****** ******* *** decades **** ** **** *** ***********.

Hook *** **** ****** ********

*** ***** ********* ****** ***** ********** *** ****** ****** ****** of ******, ** *********** "**** *** ****' ********. ******* ** widespread ******** ** *******, **** ******* *** ******* ** ***** straps *** *********. *******, *** ******* **** ** ***** ****** are ******, ***** ******* $*.** ** **** ****.

******* ********* ***** **** ***** ****** ** **** *** **** loose **** ****, ********** **** ******* ** ***** ************. **** can **** **** ******** ********** ** ********* ************ *** ** required.

Cable ****** ********

***** ******** ** **** ****** ********* *******, ********* *** ***** skill ********* ***** ****** ** ********* ***** **** ** **** in ************ ***** ***** ******* ** ******. ***** ************ ******* to ********* ****** ** ***** *********** ****** **** ***** ** offshore *** ********* ****** **** ****** ******* ** **** ************* and ***** ***** **** *********.

***** *** **** ** * ***** ** ****** ****/**** ** low (**** **** *** ~$**), *** **** ** ********** ** in * **** ******* **** ***** ******** *** **** ***** of ******** ** *******. ******* *** *** ****** **** ** install ***** ****** ** ************ ********* ******* ******** *** **********, and *** ******** ******** ******** *** *** ******** **** ** widespread ***.

Comments (5)

Undisclosed #1

11/12/15 07:23pm

There may be a cable lacer or two in our midst:

Rogier van der Heide

11/13/15 06:48am

I always love roaming around in /r/cableporn. One downside to it, is the negativity connected to zipties. Cable lacing is apperently the holy grail, and if you don't want to you only other option is Velcro.

Personally, I like using a combination of velcro and zipties. Velcro to bundle my patches where needed, and zipties to bundle my incoming cables. Personally, I never had troubles with zipties. As this article shows, zipties are being used in datacentres as well, and I've already seen quite a few state that they have no problems with them.

One of the motivations against zip ties from what I've seen is the comment that it takes a long time to replace a cable. Nonesense is what I think. With a cable cutter you're trough in no time.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Rogier van der Heide | 11/13/15 07:03am

I wonder what technicians in countries with less developed infrastructure than ours would think about how we fret about whether zipties "change the cable's physical geometry"...

Ben Wilks

In reply to Rogier van der Heide | 11/14/15 09:26pm

Hi Rogier. I'd have to politely disagree with you on the statement that 'with a cable cutter you're through in no time'. That's not the case when one has 60+' of ladder rack and zip-ties every 6". With velcro, one could attach the new cable(s) at the furthest point, and every 15-20' or so, and quickly dress the cables in and retighten with the same velcro. Cutting zip-ties and replacing them is more costly, and not as convenient as velcro. I do agree with your use of both though, but the majority of my fasterners would be velcro. Zip-ties hold the radius better.

Undisclosed #1

11/25/15 02:35am

However, it is worth pointing out that reusing zipties is frequently not possible and they must be cut for removal during cable moves, adds, or changes.

They do make releasables as well.

Login to read this IPVM report.
Why do I need to log in?
IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.

Most Recent Industry Reports

July 2018 IP Networking Course on Jun 22, 2018
  This is the only networking course designed specifically for video surveillance professionals. Register now. Lots of network training exists...
Installation Hardware for Video Surveillance - Indoor Fasteners on Jun 22, 2018
As part of our Installation for Video Surveillance series, in this note, we cover drywall anchors. A key part of installing security hardware is...
Hikvision ColorVu Integrated Visible Light Cameras Examined on Jun 22, 2018
When it comes to low light, infrared light has become the defacto standard in surveillance. But IR is limited to monochrome images, making colors...
'Secure Channel' OSDP Access Control Examined on Jun 21, 2018
Despite claiming to be better than Wiegand, OSDP's initial releases did not address the lack of encryption between reader and controller, leaving...
Most Wanted Improvements In Manufacturer Technical Support (Statistics) on Jun 21, 2018
5 key areas of improvement and 1 clear wanted support feature were voiced by 140+ integrator responses to: What improvement in manufacturer...
GDPR / ICO Complaint Filed Against IFSEC Show Facial Recognition on Jun 20, 2018
IPVM has filed a complaint against IFSEC’s parent company UBM based on our concern that the conference violates core GDPR principles on...
IFSEC 2018 Final Show Report on Jun 20, 2018
IPVM attended the IFSEC show for the first time this year. The Chinese took over the show, centered on Hikvision, flanked by Dahua, Huawei and a...
Mobotix Releases 'Move' Into 21st Century on Jun 20, 2018
For years, Mobotix stood resolutely against, well, every other manufacturer, selling it as a virtue: MOBOTIX equipment is designed with no...
Cybersecurity Startup VDOO Disclosing 10 Manufacturer Vulnerabilities Starting With Axis And Foscam on Jun 20, 2018
Cybersecurity startup VDOO has uncovered significant vulnerabilities in Axis cameras along with many others not yet disclosed. In this report, we...
Axis Guardian - Cloud VMS And Alarm Monitoring - Released on Jun 19, 2018
Axis has struggled to deliver a cloud-based managed service video platform. Video service providers have utilized AVHS for over a decade, and have...

The world's leading video surveillance information source, IPVM provides the best reporting, testing and training for 10,000+ members globally. Dedicated to independent and objective information, we uniquely refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship and consulting from manufacturers.

About | FAQ | Contact