No Attic or Eaves on New Install

[woodpecker]

My Daughter and her husband built this mountain home and asked me to install A Costco Reolink 12mp 8 camera NVR system. The biggest problems are there is no attic and real eaves are almost non existant. It does have a buildup area/ basement that runs the length of the house that the network cable can be run. 3cameras can be connected fairly easy through wall in unoccuppied space . The other 5 the only way I can reasonably get connected is to drill through walls coming out of buildup below where I would like cameras and run outdoor Cat5e cable up the tongue and groove on the wood siding to Reolink D20 junction boxes mounted to cameras and stapling cable along the way up to cameras. Fishing cables up walls seems like alot of grief . This isn't my first project installing cameras but I am 1100 miles from house and hope not to make to many trips to the house. Would appreciate any thoughts on this! Thanks in advance, Woodpecker

 

[wittaj]

Given what appears to be the lack of light out there, Reolink is the wrong choice LOL.

For the wiring, can you tuck them along downspouts and gutters?

 

[JPmedia]

Given what appears to be the lack of light out there, Reolink is the wrong choice LOL.

Especially with 12mp sensors

 

[JPmedia]

My Daughter and her husband built this mountain home and asked me to install A Costco Reolink 12mp 8 camera NVR system. The biggest problems are there is no attic and real eaves are almost non existant. It does have a buildup area/ basement that runs the length of the house that the network cable can be run. 3cameras can be connected fairly easy through wall in unoccuppied space . The other 5 the only way I can reasonably get connected is to drill through walls coming out of buildup below where I would like cameras and run outdoor Cat5e cable up the tongue and groove on the wood siding to Reolink D20 junction boxes mounted to cameras and stapling cable along the way up to cameras. Fishing cables up walls seems like alot of grief . This isn't my first project installing cameras but I am 1100 miles from house and hope not to make to many trips to the house. Would appreciate any thoughts on this! Thanks in advance, Woodpecker

Stapling ethernet cable is never a good idea. I would suggest access through the buildup like you mention and then pvc electrical conduit straight up to the camera location with a junction box at the camera. It would provide a nice clean look, and the conduit can be painted to help it blend with the wall or trim colors.

 

[woodpecker]

Given what appears to be the lack of light out there, Reolink is the wrong choice LOL.

For the wiring, can you tuck them along downspouts and gutters?

3rd picture down, that corner is getting 2 cameras, was putting one under gutter other immediately around corner and another location (2nd pict) may be able to utilize also, thanks!

 

[woodpecker]

Stapling ethernet cable is never a good idea. I would suggest access through the buildup like you mention and then pvc electrical conduit straight up to the camera location with a junction box at the camera. It would provide a nice clean look, and the conduit can be painted to help it blend with the wall or trim colors.

Probably the best overall , will need to give serious thought on that! Thank you JPmedia

 

[SpacemanSpiff]

3rd picture down, that corner is getting 2 cameras, was putting one under gutter other immediately around corner and another location (2nd pict) may be able to utilize also, thanks!

Isn't the slate gray a garage door? Is their no headspace above the door from the inside?

 

[Vettester]

If you use a decent grade of outdoor rated ethernet cable you may get away with running it inside the rain gutter. You would want to make sure you pull it tight so that nothing gets hung up on it.

 

[JPmedia]

If you use a decent grade of outdoor rated ethernet cable you may get away with running it inside the rain gutter. You would want to make sure you pull it tight so that nothing gets hung up on it.

I wouldn't recommend that practice - too many things that can go awry, including getting blocked with debris. And it can be a real pain if gutter/downspout work is needed as the ones doing the work will blame the issue on the cable and just remove it, likely destructively.

 

[JPmedia]

Probably the best overall , will need to give serious thought on that! Thank you JPmedia

Obviously, it's your project and you'll need to weigh your options. I feel that the conduit route is probably one of the better options as it will protect the wire from the elements and be a bit more secure. Not to mention that it should result in a nice clean installation and you won't have to worry so much about other trades damaging it when they service the property.

 

[Vettester]

I wouldn't recommend that practice - too many things that can go awry, including getting blocked with debris.

Aesthetically it's probably the best option and if you pull it tight and maintain your own gutters, there shouldn't be a problem.

 

[JPmedia]

Aesthetically it's probably the best option and if you pull it tight and maintain your own gutters, there shouldn't be a problem.

I doubt the wire can stay taught through all temps and weather. Once the gutter assembly heats up and expands, it stretches the wire and when it cools and contracts, the wire will be loose. Most people don't or can't maintain their own gutters, especially custom gutters as seen on this dwelling. Obviously, the decision is his, but in my opinion, the conduit option provides the most trouble-free installation.

 

[looney2ns]

Do the conduit up from the basement.
Be sure you don't mount cameras higher than 8ft if you expect to capture face ID's. Of course that will be limited anyway because it's Reolink garbage.

 

[mat200]

My Daughter and her husband built this mountain home and asked me to install A Costco Reolink 12mp 8 camera NVR system. The biggest problems are there is no attic and real eaves are almost non existant. It does have a buildup area/ basement that runs the length of the house that the network cable can be run. 3cameras can be connected fairly easy through wall in unoccuppied space . The other 5 the only way I can reasonably get connected is to drill through walls coming out of buildup below where I would like cameras and run outdoor Cat5e cable up the tongue and groove on the wood siding to Reolink D20 junction boxes mounted to cameras and stapling cable along the way up to cameras. Fishing cables up walls seems like alot of grief . This isn't my first project installing cameras but I am 1100 miles from house and hope not to make to many trips to the house. Would appreciate any thoughts on this! Thanks in advance, Woodpecker
View attachment 224652View attachment 224653View attachment 224654

View attachment 224655

Welcome @woodpecker

"My Daughter and her husband built this mountain home and asked me to install A Costco Reolink 12mp 8 camera NVR system. The biggest problems are there is no attic and real eaves are almost non existent."

Looks like a very nice home, which they've clearly made attempts to build it in a way to reduce fire issues. ( no eaves, no vented attic .. good to help resist fires )

The issue ..

They've built the home without consideration of security cameras during the design and build phase.

This is a BIG issue with many who build homes, houses, structures. Making security cameras, IoT, and other networking as well as smart home tech an after thought.

Sort of along the lines of asking about birth control after one get's pregnant.

Not pleasant.

So, what to do ?

1) DO NOT use Reolink. ( please search the various threads on this topic )

2) Go wired PoE, get good cameras that can handle the weather and low light conditions well.

3) "It does have a buildup area/ basement that runs the length of the house that the network cable can be run"

Are the inside walls still open ?

If so Good, I would use that to run cat5e/6 to holes to about 6-8 feet high to a junction box.

If not, then I would consider running conduit up on the face of the exterior walls to a junction box about 6-8 feet high.

DO pay attention to the possible ingress issues of water, which is why ideally I would want to run the cabling up within the walls.



DO consider water ingress issues, as now the conduit will provide a path

Note : if they are opposed to surface mounted conduit, well they should have considered it during the build phase, you can always route a channel in a piece of lumber they used for the exterior siding to cover the conduit runs.
( honestly, I really hate it when people build a place from the ground up and then ask for cheap solutions and perfection on the add-on requests .. )

 

[woodpecker]

Isn't the slate gray a garage door? Is their no headspace above the door from the inside?

Yes there is room inside garage overhead and that is where one or two of the easy cameras will be going. The interior of the garage is finished and I am not bashful about cutting into and patching. The NVRs home will be in garage also.

 

[woodpecker]

I doubt the wire can stay taught through all temps and weather. Once the gutter assembly heats up and expands, it stretches the wire and when it cools and contracts, the wire will be loose. Most people don't or can't maintain their own gutters, especially custom gutters as seen on this dwelling. Obviously, the decision is his, but in my opinion, the conduit option provides the most trouble-free installation.

Actually only considering running cable between downspouts and wall and tucking cameras under gutters so they don't stick out so badly.

 

[woodpecker]

Welcome @woodpecker

"My Daughter and her husband built this mountain home and asked me to install A Costco Reolink 12mp 8 camera NVR system. The biggest problems are there is no attic and real eaves are almost non existent."

Looks like a very nice home, which they've clearly made attempts to build it in a way to reduce fire issues. ( no eaves, no vented attic .. good to help resist fires )

The issue ..

They build the home without consideration of security cameras during the design and build phase.

This is a BIG issue with many who build homes, houses, structure. Making security cameras, IoT, and other networking as well as smart home tech an after thought.

Sort of along the lines of asking about birth control after one get's pregnant.

Not pleasant.

So, what to do ?

1) DO NOT use Reolink. ( please search the various threads on this topic )

2) Go wired PoE, get good cameras that can handle the weather and low light conditions well.

3) "It does have a buildup area/ basement that runs the length of the house that the network cable can be run"

Are the inside walls still open ?

If so Good, I would use that to run cat5e/6 to holes to about 6-8 feet high to a junction box.

If not, then I would consider running conduit up on the face of the exterior walls to a junction box about 6-8 feet high.

DO pay attention to the possible ingress issues of water, which is why ideally I would want to run the cabling up within the walls.



DO consider water ingress issues, as now the conduit will provide a path

Note : if they are opposed to surface mounted conduit, well they should have considered it during the build phase, you can always route a channel in a piece of lumber they used for the exterior siding to cover the conduit runs.
( honestly, I really hate it when people build a place from the ground up and then ask for cheap solutions and perfection on the add-on requests .. )

Matt 200, use to see you over at SD on basically any IP camera deals with good comments on what ever the deal at the time was. Sadly this house has been in planning and construction mode for 2-3 years. Security cameras were not high on the priority list, just" Dad will make it work?!!" I was expecting ethernet jacks in everyroom sadly only got 4 AP in the ceiling of 2 upstairs and 2 downstairs. I wish I could have had access before walls were closed up , but being over 1100 miles away it wasn't in the cards. As far as Reolink , I took everything out of the box and tested at my house in the mountain and they seem way better than a hodge podge Amcrest system I have been using for7-8 years now using to capture bears, deer , Mountain lions and an occasional human running around the house. I call them my critter cams. I know my daughter has limited expectations on the system and Costco seems pretty good of taking care of their customers with the longer warranties.
( honestly, I really hate it when people build a place from the ground up and then ask for cheap solutions and perfection on the add-on requests .. )LOL on that for sure.

 

[mat200]

Matt 200, use to see you over at SD on basically any IP camera deals with good comments on what ever the deal at the time was. Sadly this house has been in planning and construction mode for 2-3 years. Security cameras were not high on the priority list, just" Dad will make it work?!!" I was expecting ethernet jacks in everyroom sadly only got 4 AP in the ceiling of 2 upstairs and 2 downstairs. I wish I could have had access before walls were closed up , but being over 1100 miles away it wasn't in the cards. As far as Reolink , I took everything out of the box and tested at my house in the mountain and they seem way better than a hodge podge Amcrest system I have been using for7-8 years now using to capture bears, deer , Mountain lions and an occasional human running around the house. I call them my critter cams. I know my daughter has limited expectations on the system and Costco seems pretty good of taking care of their customers with the longer warranties.
( honestly, I really hate it when people build a place from the ground up and then ask for cheap solutions and perfection on the add-on requests .. )LOL on that for sure.

Good to have you here @woodpecker

Re deals :
Many of the good deals we used to see are no longer coming up in any reasonable frequency.

Camera tech has advanced a lot, and yet we see many cameras sold now with small sensors.

Unfortunately for US consumers the choices are poor, in fact even for "professional installers: we see a lot of poor options with smaller sensors.

Seems like the only real way to get good cameras is to source better Dahua OEM and / or Hikvision OEM versions from China.
Tariffs going to hit my camera affliction hard .. sigh

Personally I think the cabling job is the most important part of a PoE system now, as if you do a good job you can upgrade cameras as you need later.