Power adapter for POE camera

[Pink-Flamingo]

Hey folks

Have purchased a few Dahua cameras and they are all POE. Why is there an input for power? I am able to power directly from the NVR. Is this an option if I place the camera far from the NVR that power may be weak? I have power available at some of the locations I want to place so I could do so, curious to find out why there is this input.

Thanks

 

[TonyR]

It's very common for POE cameras to also have a 12VDC power jack, it just allows installation flexibility. When you can, it's best to use POE; do NOT use both!

Properly terminated (T-568B specs on both ends), pure copper (not CCA / Copper Clad Aluminum), solid (not stranded) CAT-5e cable should provide POE operation to a typical POE IP camera easily to 200 feet, even farther (possibly up to practical Ethernet limit of 328 feet/100m) if the larger 23 AWG (American Wire Gauge) CAT-6 is used.

There are special considerations for the larger PTZ cameras.

P.S. - Welcome to IPCT!

 

[Old Timer]

I like to use the POE even if I have power at the camera site.
You can put the POE switch on your UPS and keep your cameras up
even when you get a power bump or outage.

 

[ArnonZ]

The better question is why all vendors supply the power inlet with no waterproof caps.
Most of the users are NOT using the power inlet, the ethernet cable comes with a waterproof cap but the power that is not in use at all in most cases comes without a cap to seal it.

 

[Old Timer]

The better question is why all vendors supply the power inlet with no waterproof caps.
Most of the users are NOT using the power inlet, the ethernet cable comes with a waterproof cap but the power that is not in use at all in most cases comes without a cap to seal it.

The ethernet is always used, but power plug seldom.
A dab of silicone sealer will take care of it. And you can pull or dig it out easily.

 

[Shockwave199]

Frankly I wish POE cameras did not have the power adapter at all. Would be SO much better.

 

[sebastiantombs]

You say that until you might need to be able to test a camera using an external power supply to determine if there's a switch, cable or camera problem.

 

[Shockwave199]

Yeah I get that. But still- hate the power adapter lol.

 

[sebastiantombs]

That's what electrical tape was invented for

 

[ArnonZ]

The ethernet is always used, but power plug seldom.

That's JUST WHY I could expect all vendors to supply the cam with a PROPER waterproof seal.
NOT to play with silicone and not to block it, not with the glue if the electric tape and with no miki-mousing. 1 cent cap with a proper rubber seal last longer, looks better' protect better and you can always take it out if you need.

 

[TonyR]

1 cent cap with a proper rubber seal last longer, looks better' protect better and you can always take it out if you need.

I disagree. In my experience those "1 cent caps" as you call them do a poor job of preventing total moisture intrusion and subsequent corrosion if that's all you use, especially if in direct exposure to the elements.

I don't use those so-called "waterproof" connectors but instead treat the male RJ-45 with a touch of dielectric grease before I plug it into the camera pigtail and then wrap the union of the 2 with coax seal (self-vulcanizing rubber tape) and finally a tight layer of electrical tape (like 3M 33+ or 88) to speed the curing process. It takes 5 minutes...a small amount of time to invest to obtain a long lasting, reliable connection. Because I install a matching junction box so that I can drill a small 3/8" hole for un-terminated cable, there's plenty of room inside the box to perform the above.

If a box is not used, I perform the same procedure as stated above but wrap the coax seal / self-vulcanizing rubber tape starting about an inch BEFORE the female RJ-45 (camera end) and continue the wrap about an inch PAST the male RJ-45. 3M even makes a white vinyl electrical tape that can be used to help hide the black coax seal / rubber tape. I would still try to keep the camera and/or pigtail under a roof eave or behind a soffit and not expose it directly to rain.

Removal? A pair of reasonably-sharp diagonal cutters and some patience and it's off completely in less than 30 seconds. IMO, that's a small amount of time (that may not be needed) that outweighs the alternative.....the caps alone with no coax seal/rubber tape and no final wrap of 3M electrical tape.

But certainly, it's your camera, your time..... and your call.

 

[Old Timer]

I disagree. In my experience those "1 cent caps" as you call them do a poor job of preventing total moisture intrusion and subsequent corrosion if that's all you use, especially if in direct exposure to the elements.

I don't use those so-called "waterproof" connectors but instead treat the male RJ-45 with a touch of dielectric grease before I plug it into the camera pigtail and then wrap the union of the 2 with coax seal (self-vulcanizing rubber tape) and finally a tight layer of electrical tape (like 3M 33+ or 88) to speed the curing process. It takes 5 minutes...a small amount of time to invest to obtain a long lasting, reliable connection. Because I install a matching junction box so that I can drill a small 3/8" hole for un-terminated cable, there's plenty of room inside the box to perform the above.

If a box is not used, I perform the same procedure as stated above but wrap the coax seal / self-vulcanizing rubber tape starting about an inch BEFORE the female RJ-45 (camera end) and continue the wrap about an inch PAST the male RJ-45. 3M even makes a white vinyl electrical tape that can be used to help hide the black coax seal / rubber tape. I would still try to keep the camera and/or pigtail under a roof eave or behind a soffit and not expose it directly to rain.

Removal? A pair of reasonably-sharp diagonal cutters and some patience and it's off completely in less than 30 seconds. IMO, that's a small amount of time (that may not be needed) that outweighs the alternative.....the caps alone with no coax seal/rubber tape and no final wrap of 3M electrical tape.

But certainly, it's your camera, your time..... and your call.

The little caps don't seal. I have came along and found water inside the connector many times.
I seal them pretty the same way if they have to be outside. Di-electric grease in the connector first.
I put a first wrap on of electrical tape, the coax seal over top and out 1/8-1/4" past the top and bottom of the connector. Then a final top layer with the electrical tape. With the first lap (we call a courtesy wrap) , you can easily use a knife and slit the coax seal all the way down and peal it off. I learned this while working 500' above the ground on radio towers. Anything you have to do up in the air, takes 5 times as long as on the ground, it's worth the courtesy wrap!

 

[fstfrd50]

I use vacuum caps on the 12v port much neater than tape, in the end it all works the same.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ArnonZ]

WOW
You guys are talking about specific cams as if I was talking about something that was or wasn't good enough.
My question was why the vendors did not supply some sort of WATERPROOF caps that would cost them 1 cent and would fit their plugs.
I only though it was silly that they didn't design and supply some good waterproof ending as closing it is actually the default.
If most users need it closed, why not having it closed good as default.... I wasn't talking about something specific, I was only wondering why such a thing does not come with the cam.

 

[TonyR]

WOW
You guys are talking about specific cams as if I was talking about something that was or wasn't good enough.
My question was why the vendors did not supply some sort of WATERPROOF caps that would cost them 1 cent and would fit their plugs.
I only though it was silly that they didn't design and supply some good waterproof ending as closing it is actually the default.
If most users need it closed, why not having it closed good as default.... I wasn't talking about something specific, I was only wondering why such a thing does not come with the cam.

I understand now that you're talking about the 12VDC female jack on the camera pigtail which is generally not used since it's a POE camera. I'd say that only the camera manufacturer or vendor can accurately answer your question why such a seemingly inexpensive waterproof cap is not furnished.

Although I think I know why my wife does the things that she does and usually can predict what she will do or say next, it would be pure speculation on my part regarding why that little cap is not furnished....but I'll bet it has to do with money .

 

[Fastb]

The comments here did NOT touch on another benefit of having the power plug on a pigtail to a poe comaera.
Microphone!
At the camera, a powered mic is needed. A separate powered mic is usually preferrable even if the cam has a built in mic. Generally, the built-in mic doens't pick up audio as well as a seperate mic.
On three POE cams I use an external mic. The mic is very small, about the diameter of a pencil. I incorporate the mic into the camera mount, and it's unobtrusive.
I use a poe splitter. The splitter takes the poe and 1) powers a female DC power jack and 2) a non-poe ethernet male plug. Using a one-to-two barrel connector adapter, I power both the cam and external mic. the mic output is connected to the audio-in flying lead from the camera. The audio then added to the ip data, providing audio and video back to my NVR.
Audio is nice to have for my front door cam. (Granted, the short distances involved with a front door application might be adequately handled by an internal mic model, which I ignorantly didn't order in my newbie years)).
If recording audio, check local laws. For my region, "two-party consent" is required for recording audio. I needed a sign to inform people I might be recording audio. IMHO, recording audio is legally more restrictive than recording video.

Fastb

 

[ArnonZ]

I understand now that you're talking about the 12VDC female jack on the camera pigtail which is generally not used since it's a POE camera. I'd say that only the camera manufacturer or vendor can accurately answer your question why such a seemingly inexpensive waterproof cap is not furnished.

Yes, that's the point. And I don't think it's that expensive. They do supply waterproof connectors for the network and the power that is hardly in use left as is. Strange.

@Fastb: I'd only say one thing. I was not looking for sound, I bought 8 5442 verifocals. Half bullets and the other half turrets.
Though I was not looking for the sound, That was the biggest surprise from all 8 cams: the build in mic of the turrets is a big WOW... except for one cam, the wind and noise is completely filtered and I actually hear everything way better than standing outside.
wasn't looking for build in mic and I never thought I needed sound but I could not expect it to be so damn good. too good actually: I can hear people on the street gossip and/or my neighbors that are sitting 14 meters away with the camera facing the other way.
I'll need to cancel the mic since honestly, I had no intentions to violate their privacy.

 

[tigerwillow1]

It's really dumb that the POE splitters don't pass the power through to the outgoing RJ45. I know they exist, they just cost so much more that we choose to fiddle with the mess of the extra wires and passive splitters.

 

[ArnonZ]

It's really dumb that the POE splitters don't pass the power through to the outgoing RJ45. I know they exist, they just cost so much more that we choose to fiddle with the mess of the extra wires and passive splitters.

In my case, I have 8 cams on 4 corners of the house (two for each corner). Every 2 cables comes together using the same pipe to the corner and one cable continue to the other side.
I was afraid that one cable may not work and since each 2 cams are relatively close, I bought splitters "just in case".
AFAIK, you can NOT simply split ethernet cable. However, it takes 4 wires to get speed of 100Mb and 8 wires to get a speed of 1000Mb.
I believe that the splitters are simply divide the 8 into two groups of 4 wires. I to know for a fact that those splitters are limiting the speed to 100 and it makes a total sense that it works that way though I do not know it for a fact.
I was not aware of the fact that those splitters are not supporting POE. If that's indeed the case, I guess that the POE is pushed by two wires that are being splitted
I'm not sure though and fortunately, I didn't need to try that scenario.

 

[sebastiantombs]

A camera, even a 4K/8MP, doen't even need 100MbPS. Speed is not a very big consideration at all.