Nothing can provide you with more peace-of-mind about your home than a residential security camera. If you want to be able to “look-in” on your home during the work day, monitor your home from a distant location (for instance, when on travel), or have the ability to record the perimeter as well as the interior of your home, then a residential security camera system is for you. Not only do residential security cameras provide you with the means for real-time security monitoring but thanks current technological advances, they are affordably priced as well.
A typical monitoring system for the home includes from one to many residential security camera(s), a processing unit, a monitor, and a digital video recorder or DVR. There are systems that can use a personal computer in place of the monitor, processor, and DVR and these can save you even more money on the price of the system as a whole.
A residential security camera may be an indoor or an outdoor type camera. Outdoor cameras differ from their counterparts by being enclosed in a case that protects them from the weather and other environmental elements. Often times, outdoor residential security cameras are rated as to the protection they afford from damage by external matter. This rating, called an Ingress Protection code or IP code is based on an International Electrical standard. Most outdoor residential security cameras, unless they will be covered by some other type of covering or protection should be rated IP66 or IP67.
Both ratings indicate that the camera housing protects the inner contents one hundred percent from dust. This is what the first “6” is the code represents. However, and IP66 rating means that in addition, it can withstand powerful jets of water from any direction (the last “6” in the rating). IP67 rated cameras mean that in addition to the protection from dust, they can be submerged in up to one meter of water.
A residential security camera is a digital video Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) camera that can produce high quality color video. In addition to this standard feature, cameras may be able to produce video images in settings where there is very little light or no visible light at all. This is due to the image sensor chips that are used, either a Charged Coupled Device or CCD or a Complimentary Metal Oxide Semiconductor or CMOS. These integrated circuit chips are able to produce electrical impulses from light that is focused on them from the lens. These electrical impulses are further translated into digital video data.
A day/night vision residential security camera can produce high quality color video in very low light conditions. A night vision infrared (IR) residential security camera can produce high quality color video when there is visible light and high quality black and white or monochrome video under infrared conditions.
A night vision IR residential security camera works by providing its own IR light to illuminate the target area. Generally, these cameras have an array of IR Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) that surround the camera lens or are next to it that “flood” the target area with IR light. Light that is invisible to the human eye but can be seen by the CCD or CMOS. The LEDs work like an invisible spot light. This particular type of residential security camera works great as a baby monitor or nursery camera. In addition, these cameras can also record audio.
Residential security cameras can be on their own standalone system which includes a DVR to record the video or they can be networked. There are IP ready residential security cameras. IP (Internet Protocol) cameras can be networked using the internet. This means that you can monitor your home cameras any time and any place there is access to the internet. These residential security cameras are particularly useful for people that must travel or as nanny cams that can be monitored from work computers during the workday.
There are several other features or options that are available on residential security cameras as well. Cameras can be purchased with pan, tilt, and zoom options that allow the camera to me moved horizontally or vertically to increase the field of view. In addition, zoom lenses can enlarge subjects using telephoto lenses.
A residential security camera has the versatility to be used anywhere throughout the home. In addition there are several monitoring and recording options available and all can be purchased an installed for an affordable price.
