Security/surveillance cameras for apartment building

[petersonra]

They were standalone NVRs?

These two computers just happen to be HMI servers. No real difference as far as the computer goes. No idea why they failed but the same brand I think I bought 15 or 20 of them for the same customer over the last 3 or 4 years and four or five have failed now. I will not be buying this brand anymore.

Ironically two of the four or five that failed were the only two that had raid drive arrays.

 

[egnlsn]

These two computers just happen to be HMI servers. No real difference as far as the computer goes. No idea why they failed but the same brand I think I bought 15 or 20 of them for the same customer over the last 3 or 4 years and four or five have failed now. I will not be buying this brand anymore.

Ironically two of the four or five that failed were the only two that had raid drive arrays.

In standalone NVRs, the HDDs are for storage only. The OS is not on them. Too much potential for a major failure, as you unfortunately experienced.

 

[Amps]

I'm considering this system. 10 cameras outside, 3 inside, 3 spares.

Lorex Nocturnal 3 4K 16-Channel 4TB Wired NVR System with Smart IP Dome Cameras, 30FPS Recording, Listen-in Audio and Motorized Varifocal Zoom Lenses

Know that your property is protected while you're there and while you're away thanks to this Nocturnal security camera system from Lorex. This system includes security cameras and a powerful 16-channel Network Video Recorder (NVR). Along with 4K recording resolution, Color Night Vision...

www.lorex.com

Since the Lorex kit includes cables for the cameras, check to be sure they are not CCA type CAT5. Copper clad aluminum cable is not a good choice with PoE due to heating issues at the RJ45 connectors and when bundled. I contacted Alibi about this since that was the cable type they offered with their packaged systems. Their next catalog they offered all copper CAT5. This link shows CCA- https://www.alibisecurity.com/video-cable-cat6-1000-ft-550-mhz-cab-cat6-1000a This link shows all copper- https://www.alibisecurity.com/utp-plenum-rated-1000-ft-cat6-bulk-cable-gray-cab-cat6p-1000

 

[LarryFine]

I will check. Are CCA cables labeled as such?

 

[Amps]

I will check. Are CCA cables labeled as such?

Yes. On the insulation, and in the cable specs.

 

[LarryFine]

New question:

Conduit size for 14 to 16 CAT-5 cables. Is 1" EMT large enough, or should I use 1-1/4" EMT?

It would be a straight vertical drop, about 16' to 20' from attic to floor in an interior hallway.

 

[Amps]

New question:

Conduit size for 14 to 16 CAT-5 cables. Is 1" EMT large enough, or should I use 1-1/4" EMT?

It would be a straight vertical drop, about 16' to 20' from attic to floor in an interior hallway.

See NEC 2017 Article 725.144 for bundling, most likely going to happen at each end of the conduit. Consider riser cable. Bond the EMT?
This article has a guide. See the note on attenuation in EMT. https://www.cablify.ca/conduit-fill-guide-for-data-cables/ if running on the wall surface you may want to consider something like this https://www.showmecables.com/icc-1-...1ovhtLVKyq-2AhlorYlazhcZvKPmcQicaAuG0EALw_wcB

 

[LarryFine]

Thank you for those. So, 1-1/4" conduit is the smallest.

I don't believe an isolated LV sleeve requires bonding.

The channel does not provide any vandalism resistance.

 

[Amps]

Depending on the NVR, the camera locations and if there is a secure closet on the higher floor(s) a PoE switch could be used for camera connections and then one Cat5 or 6 trunk line ran from the switch to the NVR location. The NVR should see the IP cameras on the network. Each camera may not need to be home run to the NVR. Just a thought. Always a good idea to bench test the NVR and a camera or two before installing on the job. Include a UPS or at the least a good surge protection for the NVR even if it's a power strip type.

 

[egnlsn]

I use 2 PoE switches in my system -- the main one that most of the cameras go to, and another in the garage that has 3 cameras connected to it, that then goes to the main switch.