No matter where you are located, winter likely brings a host of inclement weather conditions, from icy cold temperatures to intense rain or snow. Can the outdoor cameras you’ve installed withstand the season? What about the extreme heat of the summer months?
Thankfully, no matter what the weather conditions, Dahua has a few simple tips on what to look for in your outdoor surveillance devices:
IP67 Rating
Looking at the IP rating on cameras is the simplest way to tell if a camera can handle outdoor environments. A camera with IP65, IP66, IP67, or IP68 rating means the camera offers full protection against dust, and varying degrees of water resistance ranging from a water jet (IP65) up to 1m of water submersion (IP68). Most of Dahua’s cameras offer an outdoor rating of IP67.
Even with outdoor IP ratings on cameras, utilizing incorrect mounts or mounting techniques can cause the camera’s outdoor design to become ineffective. Ensure that proper mounts are used and a drip loop is installed to prevent any water from finding its way into the outdoor conduit and components. This should be done in any outdoor application, whether or not water is a primary concern.
Temperature Ratings
While a camera may be outdoor rated for water and dust, that doesn’t automatically qualify it for all outdoor temperature applications. Check Dahua’s temperature ratings on specific cameras and make it a point to note the temperature range on each camera to ensure it meets your deployment’s specific needs. While many of Dahua’s outdoor rated cameras are able to perform in temperatures down to -22° F, for extremely cold climates a temperature rating of -40 °F is recommended.
It is also important to note that even those cameras designed for outdoor use will usually need to be installed in weather resistant housing and may even require a heater to stabilize the temperature inside the housing in the event of extreme cold.
Heating Elements
For particularly cold applications, it is best to look for cameras with built-in heaters. This feature allows cameras to withstand more extreme winter temperatures. Cameras with built-in heaters will require additional power compared to cameras without a heater. Dahua cameras with a temperature specification of -40º F or lower feature a built-in heater.
Wiper Blades
For outdoor environments that are plagued by rain, snow, or fog and require high-powered PTZs that can capture distant details, look for built-in wiper blades. This small feature ensures that the lens of the camera is clear of water and other debris, so that video is usable no matter the weather conditions.
Voltage Tolerance
The final requirement may seem like a strange one, but voltage protection is an important yet often overlooked spec for outdoor cameras. Many Dahua cameras can handle a 25% change in voltage coming into the camera, which is important for outdoor deployments as environmental conditions can easily affect a power source. For more advanced protection, specific lightning protected cameras can be found with a 2 or 4 kV surge protection rating.
Selecting the best camera and mounts for your outdoor location, as well as utilizing preventative installation techniques, can help prevent future issues and save time for your business.