Home Entertainment & Automation Services in Matthews, NC.
Home Entertainment & Automation Services in Matthews, NC.
Home audio and Video Services in Matthews, NC.  TV installation, Surround Sound, Home Entertainment Systems
What You Need to Know About IP Surveillance Cameras

CIS is Charlotte, NC's first choice for IP camera sales and installation

Custom Installation Services is Charlotte, NC's First Choice for IP Camera Sales and Installation

We present key features, components, functions and setup involved in an IP surveillance camera system.

Surveillance cameras are an important component of home security. They can visually monitor key areas of your home and property, record activity and alert you immediately if they notice anything unusual. IP (Internet Protocol) cameras are able to transmit images and signals via the Internet, making them a popular choice for on-the-go families.

But how do you decide what type of cameras to rely on in your system? And what types of capability are you after? The answer to one could help provide some answers to the other. Here are some important aspects of IP surveillance cameras, system functions, features and setups, courtesy of Richie Scholl, Worthington Distribution.

CAMERAS
Choose indoor or weatherproof models based on your application.
Fixed, pan/tilt, and pan/tilt/zoom (PTZ) models are available. Fixed cameras will always be looking at one specified area. PTZ cameras, by contrast, can be manipulated manually or automatically. For this type of camera, consider having a “home” position that the camera returns to after a few minutes of inactivity.

Cameras differ in their ability to see in the dark. Use a camera with a night mode or a low lux rating if vision in the dark is important. Standalone IR illuminators can provide night-viewing capabilities for standard cameras. They have built-in sensors that activate the illuminator automatically when necessary.

One-way and two-way audio features are available on many cameras. One-way audio allows a user to hear the sound that a built-in microphone in the camera picks up. Two-way audio adds the ability for the user to speak into a computer microphone and have that sound played through the camera.

Form factors vary by manufacturer. Many cameras are shaped as a square unit with a bubbled lens. More traditional bullet and dome styles are now available. Keep in mind that an IP (Internet Protocol) camera will always be larger than standard analog camera.

Most IP cameras require a hardwired Ethernet connection, although wireless WiFi IP cameras are available.

POWER OVER ETHERNET (POE)
PoE capability greatly simplifies the installation of an IP camera because only one wire is necessary to carry both power and Ethernet signals.

Use a PoE switch at the head end, or PoE injectors somewhere between the switch and the camera.

PoE is a standard, which ensures compatibility between equipment from different manufacturers. 

RECORDING
The most cost-effective option for recording is PC software that records video to a local hard drive. Make sure you have plenty of space available or pick up an external hard drive. Video storage eats space quickly.

Another option is a hybrid DVR. This is a device that can record images from both analog and IP cameras.

Some IP cameras have built-in storage or memory card slots. They can store still frames or short video snippets, based on motion.

SENSORS/AUTOMATION
Many IP cameras have motion sensing built in, which can trigger the recording of video for a select amount of time.

When tied to a control system or specialized recording device, remote sensors can perform a number of tasks. For example, they can be used to pan, tilt or zoom a camera to a certain position, or they can trigger the system to send an email or text message when motion is detected.

IN-HOME VIEWING
Look for a TV monitoring adapter that’s compatible with your cameras so that you can view multiple images on a standard television.

Many IP cameras also have an analog video output that can be connected to more traditional video distribution systems.

When tied to a control system, televisions can automatically display images from cameras if, for example, motion is detected. Or the system can be programmed to display a picture-in-picture image from the front door whenever the doorbell is pressed.

REMOTE VIEWING
Some cameras have web servers built in, so all you need is an Internet connection. They are more expensive than their simpler IP counterparts, but for single-camera installations this is an attractive option.

Motion sensing allows some cameras to send still frames to a specified email address when movement is detected.

A port will have to be opened on the website’s router to permit access to the camera. Stay away from port 80, as it is typically blocked by ISPs.

Use a Dynamic DNS (DDNS) service to preclude the need for an expensive static IP address. These services are available free of charge.

Many manufacturers have IP cameras that can automatically configure the router and provide the DDNS.

Many security monitoring stations support video monitoring. They can view your cameras remotely upon sensor activity or some other alarm event.

by EH Staff

 http://www.electronichouse.com/article/what_you_need_to_know_about_ip_surveillance_cameras/D2/

Posted in Automation, IP Cameras, News, Structured Wiring, technology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment


Power Conditioning 101: Terms You Need to Know
 

The APC H15 is available at Custom Installation Services! Authorized APC Dealer In Charlotte & surrounding areas

The APC H15 is available at Custom Installation Services! Authorized APC Dealer In Charlotte & surrounding areas

Get to understand what goes into power conditioning as you prepare to add it to your home theater.

 You don’t want to have your favorite pieces of electronics gear wiped out during the next thunder and lighting storm, right? Or perhaps the next heat wave when your local electrical grid is going haywire?

Plus, we’re guessing you want everything to reach its optimum performance, so you can hear everything you should be hearing out of that new set of speakers. 

Power conditioning and protection products are not going to be the sexiest things in your equipment rack, but they could be among the most important relative to their job. They’ll ensure your gear receives clean electricity, and protect your products from potential damage.  And if you’re having a system installed by a custom electronics pro, you can be sure it will include some sort of power product. 

Because it’s an overlooked category, we asked our friends at SurgeX to give us a glossary of what to know. 

1. Alternating Current (AC) – Electric current that reverses direction periodically, usually many times per second. Used for power distribution because the AC voltage can easily be changed by a transformer. 

2. Ampere (Amp) – The practical meter-kilogram-second unit of electric current that is equivalent to a flow of one coulomb per second. 

3. Avalanche diode – A type of semiconductor component that is normally open circuit until the voltage increases to the point where the device turns on and conducts current. Similar in operation to MOVs but do not degrade with use. Very reliable as long as they are used strictly within their ratings. 

4. Direct current (DC) – Electric current which flows in one direction only through a circuit or equipment. The associated direct voltages, in contrast to alternating voltages, are of unchanging polarity. 

5. Brown Out – The IEEE (IEEE Std 1100-1999) recommends avoiding the use of ambiguous terms such as “Brown Out.” 

6. Capacitance – The property of a circuit element that permits it to store charge. A capacitor is an example of one such circuit element. A capacitor has high impedance at low frequencies and its impedance decreases as frequency increases, which allows it to differentiate between signal frequencies in applications such as crossover networks. 

7. Current – A measure of the amount of electrical charge (in Amps) transferred per unit time. It represents the flow of electrons through a conductive material. 

8. Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) – A general type of electric or magnetic interference which is transmitted by conduction or radiation and can be of a very wide frequency range. 

9. Ground – A conducting connection, whether intentional or accidental, by which an electric circuit or equipment is connected to the earth, or to some conducting body of relatively large extent that serves in place of the earth. 

10. Ground Contamination – The diversion of surge and noise currents to the ground wire, which contaminates the system ground. Surge voltages can couple noise to the ground, which can often enter an audio or video system by causing shield current to flow. 

11. Ground Loop – A potentially detrimental loop formed when two or more points in an electrical system that are nominally at ground potential are connected by a conducting path such that either or both points are not at the same ground potential. 

12. Hertz (Hz) – The unit of frequency in cycles per second. Used to characterize anything from AC power (50 or 60 Hertz) up to cellular phone radio frequencies (Giga-Hertz) 

13. Hospital Grade Receptacle – A receptacle which has a high-impact-resistant face and body, and a higher spring tension in the receptacle contacts. Identified by a green dot on the receptacle face. 

14. IEC – (A) IEC stands for the International Electrotechnical Commission: An “organization that prepares and publishes international standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.” (B) Commonly used to refer to one of the 13 power connectors described by specification IEC 60320. Most commonly refers to the C13 and C14 connectors used by most computers and many AC-powered electronic devices to connect the AC power. 

15. Impedance – A measure for the manner and degree a component resists the flow of electrical current if a given voltage is applied. It is denoted by the symbol Z and is measured in ohms. Impedance differs from simple resistance in that it takes into account possible phase offset. 

16. Joules – The standard unit of electrical energy (measured over time). One Joule is equivalent to the heat generated during one second when one Volt is driving one Amp around a circuit. 

17. Linear power supply – One type of power supply inside electronic equipment that converts the 120V AC to the DC required by the circuitry. A type of regulated power supply which utilizes a line-frequency transformer. Linear power supplies regulate their output by generating a higher voltage than needed at the output, then reducing it by converting some of the electrical power to heat. 

18. Metal Oxide Varistor (MOV) – A disc shaped device which is normally open circuit until the voltage increases to the point where the MOV turns on and conducts current. Originally developed to suppress arcing on relay contacts but used extensively in shunt-mode surge protectors. Have a limited lifetime. 

19. National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) – A US trade organization that develops standards for the electrical manufacturing industry. 

20. NRTL (Nationally Recognized Test Laboratory) – A government certified testing agency (such as MET Labs, Intertek/ETL, and TÜV) that tests and certifies equipment to established safety and test standards. Identical in function to UL certification. 

21. Parallel Connection – Devices connected together so that the same voltage appears across all devices. 

22. Radio Frequency Interference (RF) – Interference which is caused by radio signals. 

23. Root Mean Square (RMS) – The value of an AC voltage or current that delivers the equivalent power that a given DC voltage or current delivers. 

24. Sag – An RMS reduction in the AC voltage, at the power frequency, for durations from a half cycle to a few seconds. Note: The IEC terminology is dip. 

25. Series Connection – Devices connected together in a chain so that the same electric current passes through all devices. 

26. Shunt Connection – (Equivalent to Parallel Connection) 

27. Shunt Mode Surge Protector – A type of surge protector which uses MOVs, avalanche diodes or gas discharge tubes to conduct surge current to the neutral or ground wire. 

28. Spike – The IEEE (IEEE Std 1100-1999) recommends avoiding the use of ambiguous terms such as “Spike”. 

29. Suppression Voltage – The maximum peak voltage that will be seen across the active terminals of a suppressor at a specified waveform and source current. It is the remnant voltage the suppressor “lets through” to protected equipment. Products tested to the UL 1449 Standard are assigned a VPR (Voltage Protection Rating) in a range from 330V to 2500V, based upon the product’s suppression voltage. 

30. Surge (Transient) – The IEEE (IEEE Std 1100-1999) defines “surge” and “transient” to be analogous terms, as defined as: a subcycle disturbance in the AC waveform that is evidenced by a sharp, brief discontinuity of the waveform. 

31. Switch-Mode Power Supply – One type of power supply inside electronic equipment that converts the 120V AC to the DC required by the circuitry. A switch mode supply is smaller and lighter than a linear power supply because it switches the current on and off very fast to generate the DC using a small high-frequency transformer rather than a larger traditional line-frequency power transformer. 

32. Toroidal Transformer – A transformer that is constructed around a magnetic core in a toroidal, or donut shape. This geometry produces a more contained magnetic field, which leads to a more efficient and compact design. 

33. Transient – A subcycle disturbance in the AC waveform that is evidenced by a sharp, brief discontinuity of the waveform. May be of either polarity and may be additive to, or subtractive from, the nominal waveform. 

34. Under Voltage – When used to describe a specific type of long duration variation, refers to an RMS decrease in the AC voltage, at the power frequency, for a period of time greater than 1 min. 

35. Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) – An independent product safety certification organization that writes standards and tests products. Other NRTLs (Nationally Recognized Test Laboratories) may also perform product testing to ensure compliance with standards written by UL. 

36. Uninterruptable Power Supply/Source (UPS) – A device that provides battery backup power for continuous equipment operation when the electrical power fails, drops, or rises to an unacceptable voltage level. 

37. Volt Ampere (VA) – The standard unit of measurement of apparent electrical power, equal to the product of root-mean-square (RMS) voltage and RMS current. 

38. Watts – The standard unit of measurement of real electrical power, which factors in any phase differences between the voltage and current waveforms. 

by Robert Archer 

http://www.electronichouse.com/article/power_conditioning_101_terms_you_need_to_know/ 

Custom Installation Services, LLC – Charlotte and Boone NC’s Source For APC & Panamax Sales, Support & Installation! 

Posted in APC, Audio Systems, Flat Panel TV's, Line Conditioners, Media Rooms, Multi Room A/V, News, Panamax, technology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment


URC Has Energy Monitoring App

C.I.S. is Charlotte NC's First Choice For URC Remote Programming & Sales!

CIS is Charlotte NC's First Choice For URC Remote Programming & Sales!

Users can view their energy usage on Network Series controllers.

Just how hot is energy monitoring? Now you can see your energy consumption in your home theater, on several URC controllers.

URC has released new energy control modules for use with its Network Series controllers KP-4000, MX-5000 and MX-6000, that work with The Energy Detective (TED) 5000 energy monitor.

TED integrates with a home’s electrical system to monitor a home’s total power usage. A certified electrician can install the TED 5000 device in the main panel in a few minutes.

Via URC’s new modules, the TED 5000 wirelessly communicates via the home network with URC Network Series keypads, wand remotes and touch screen controllers, enabling you to view information including:

-Real-time kW usage, dollars spent and carbon dioxide emissions
-Daily, monthly and projected usages
-Daily and monthly peak values
-Billing information
-Power and cost history per hour, day or month
-Default metrics (kW, Cost or Carbon emissions)
-Line voltage, to detect fluctuations
-Graphical displays of how energy-efficient the home currently is

URC says homeowners not only can view their energy information on their URC controllers, but also act on that data by instantly adjusting the lights or temperature, or powering down their electronics components.

The URC-TED solution does not require a two-way smart meter, and can be installed in any normal system.

The module is being made available to URC dealers, so be sure to ask your custom electronics pro (CE pro) about it.

by Steven Castle

http://www.electronichouse.com/article/urc_has_energy_monitoring_app/

Custom Installation Services, LLC – Charlotte NC ’s #1 URC Remote Control Dealer!

Posted in Automation, HAI, Home Theater, lighting control, Lutron Radio Ra II, Media Rooms, technology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment


Custom Installation Services, LLC | P.O. Box 132 Matthews, NC 28106 | 704-400-8701 | dmiller@cis-nc.com
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