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Cabling cost, convenience, effectiveness

With the annual escalation of cable prices, it seems as if the South African market still manages to get itself tangled in the different choices of cabling.

Smart cabling is not only about the various techniques and installation benefits but also about the total cost of ownership. When you consider better performance, smaller cable diameter, and faster installation time, it is easy to conclude which applications works best. Before attempting a large installation, solution providers should focus on providing lower cost per connection, clear video signals, fewer cables to manage and centralised wiring for greater control. Other facts to consider are interference immunity, transient protection, gain control and the connecting range.

Questioning cost effectiveness and flexibility

Since the client pays the final cost, and many pockets are lined along the way, we ask the questions: "Was there a cost saving?" and "Is there an ability to expand?" and mainly we question the installer's knowledge. We as distributors and system designers should make an effort to support and educate companies, because in the end we provide a common service that protects lives, knowing the flexibility of our cabling solutions which will result in the direct effectiveness of our services.

Fibre-optic solutions

Looking at video signals within a closed circuit, we have these main types of fibre-optic cables, RG59 and CAT5. Fibre-optics is the solution that provides long distances up to 80 km on a single mode and up to 5 km on multimode. It has the ability of 128 cameras per single fibre. This, however, covers all equipment dependent, and unfortunately fibre comes at a higher price and requires special splicing.

RG59 as a solution

More commonly used on the South African Market, RG59 has the capacity of a single signal over a distance of 300 m unamplified. This cable provides a solution from small to medium camera installations, where cost is not a major factor but a constraint nonetheless.

CAT 5 UTP solutions

Since the cable has multicores (four pairs), one has the ability to send four camera signals over a distance up to 1,5 km on active transmission and 400 m on passive transmission. It has the flexibility to send data, video and even power. This low cost solution matched with smart designs will reduce installation time.

Why use UTP?

Twisted pair transmission products are designed for CCTV signal transmission over unshielded twisted pair wire (CAT 5 network cable). Smart cabling system transmission provides an alternative solution to coaxial and fibre-based systems providing fast and easy wire installation, low labour costs, less costly cabling, easier maintenance, long range transmission, better interference immunity, multiple video signals in the same bundle, RS485/RS422 data signal transmission, 24 V a.c./d.c. power transmission, and structured building wiring.

Damage control

A common problem experience by most installers is the cost of damages caused by mishandling equipment or damages caused by external factors such as lightning and water. It is important not to bend or damage cables as this may cause video interference in the future, and to ensure that waterproofing is applied to avoid corrosion. Another important note is to ensure that surge protection devices are installed as a precaution.

Conclusion

This article determines where costs and appropriate effectiveness and benefits of CCTV projects lie. Although all projects are described as CCTV solutions, it is not standard in nature because the type of locations, specifications, needs, and the quantity of equipment that have variations on the costs. An installer can reduce costs in many ways, such as by preventing cable damage which may result in the replacement of cables. It is therefore a professional's responsibility to take precautions and make precise calculations that enables him to design a system that is cost effective and that suits the needs of their client without taking the easy way out.

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