CCTV Camera Cables and Connectors

CCTV Camera Cables and Connectors

When looking for a security solution for your home or business, it is important to spend time researching which type of camera is best suited for your security needs. Not all camera cables and connectors are the same. There are three types of cables and connectors that are common in CCTV systems: BNC, DIN, and RCA. This guide will help you learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of each of these connectors, and how to convert between them.

BNC Connector

BNC is abbreviation for Bayonet-Neil-Concelman. It is an industry industry standard for transmitting a video signal over a coaxial cable. It features a unique locking mechanism to ensure the cable is firmly secured to the DVR/monitor and will not come loose. 

Advantages and Disadvantages of BNC

Advantages	Disadvantages
Industry standard for CCTV cameras BNC cables are good for a distance of 300 ft. (depending on cable quality) BNC cables lock in place, ensuring a consistent image and no unwanted disconnection	Requires a separate power source Only transmits video Does not support audio

DIN Connector

DIN is an abbreviation for Deutsches Institute for Normung. DIN connectors are round with pins arranged in a circular pattern, and can have either 4 or 6 pins (depending on model).

Example of a 6-Pin DIN Connection and Pin-out:

Pin 1: + 12V Input

Pin 2: Audio to Camera

Pin 3: Alarm Signal

Pin 4: NC (no use)

Pin 5: Audio from camera

Pin 6: Video from camera

Advantages and Disadvantages of DIN

Advantages	Disadvantages
Easy to connect No need for a separate power source. The camera will be powered by the system. Supports two-way audio (depending on camera model) Only one cable required to run between the camera and the system DIN cables are good for a distance of up to 300 ft	Easy to bend pins Pin configuration is proprietary to the camera manufacturer so you cannot mix DIN cameras from different manufacturers Not as common as BNC Cameras Physical connection to the DVR / observation system is not locked-in, as compared to BNC connections

RCA Connector

RCA is a standard cable used to transmit analog video and audio between many devices such as TVs, VCRs, DVD players, stereo systems, and video game consoles. The yellow cable is for video. The black and red cables (or white and red) are used for audio: Black/White and Red cables are usually stereo; a single White cable is mono

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Advantages and Disadvantages of RCA

Advantages	Disadvantages
Standard for audio and video in consumer electronics industry Widely available accessories	Not as common as BNC Cameras RCA cables are good for a distance of 180 ft, depending on cable quality Physical connection to the DVR / observation system is not locked-in, as compared to BNC connections

6-Pin DIN Extension Cable

Simply use the high-performance 100 ft 6-Pin DIN Extension Cable (also available in 250 ft). Connections can be made up to 300 ft.

Extending DIN cables

Type	Terminating Connectors	Coupler	Distance
DIN	Female/Male	Not required	Up to 350 ft: (5 x 60 ft; 3 x 100 ft; 1 x 100 ft + 1 x 250 ft)

BNC Extension Cable

Simply use the 60 ft BNC / Power Cable or the 120 ft BNC / Power Extension Cable.

BNC Extension Cable Connections

Video Input Connections

Connect the BNC cable to the video input of the monitor, and connect the power adapter to an outlet.

Camera Connections

Connect the BNC and power cables to the camera.

Use the BNC (f) to BNC (f) Coupler to connect additional extension cables to each other.

Extending BNC cables

Type	Terminating Connectors	Coupler	Distance
BNC	Male/Male	BNC Female / Female Model: BNCC	Up to 180 ft (3 x 60 ft)

NOTE: It is possible to run a single coax cable with BNC termination over longer distances. However, a power supply will be required near the camera.

Universal Extension Cable

Use the 100 ft Universal Surveillance Camera Extension Cable to extend and/or connect DIN, BNC, and RCA cameras to a monitor, TV, or observation system.

How to Convert Between Connectors

BNC to RCA

Use the BNC (female)-to-RCA (male) Coupler (model: BNCB) to convert CCTV standard BNC connectors to common RCA connectors. Simply connect the BNC connector to the BNC (female)-to-RCA (male) Coupler. Connect the coupler to the RCA port on the TV / monitor. NOTE: BNC cameras terminate with a female connector. You need to use the included BNC extension cable (males in order to connect to a BNC input of an observation system/DVR.

RCA to BNC

Use the RCA (female) to BNC (male) Coupler (model: BNCA) to convert common RCA  Connectors to CCTV standard BNC. Simply connect the RCA connector to the RCA (female) to BNC (male) Coupler and then connect the BNC connector to the observation system/DVR DIN to BNC Use the 6-Pin to BNC Cable Adapter to convert Lorex 6-Pin DIN connectors to CCTV standard BNC. Connect the 6-Pin DIN connector to the 6-Pin to BNC Cable Adapter, and then connect the BNC connector to the observation system / DVR. Connect the power connector from the coupler to a power supply. NOTE: A regulated power adapter will be required (supplied with models: ACC1510, ACC1511) as power will no longer be supplied by the observation system/DVR.

Audio recording capability must be supported on the DIN camera. If audio is supported and you want to continue to record audio, make sure that an AUDIO IN port (RCA-female) is available on the system/DVR.

Check the instruction manual of your system for complete details.

BNC to DIN

Use an RCA to 6-Pin DIN Cable Adapter to connect CCTV standard BNC connectors to a Lorex system with 6-Pin DIN ports. Connect the BNC connector to the RCA to 6-Pin DIN Cable Adapter using the included BNC (female) to RCA (male) coupler (model: BNCB).

RCA to DIN

Use an RCA to 6-Pin DIN Cable Adapter to allow a connection between common RCA connectors (with power supply) and a Lorex system with 6-Pin DIN. Connect the yellow RCA (male) connector to the yellow RCA (female) connector on the RCA to 6-Pin DIN Cable Adapter. Connect the Power connector (female) from the RCA camera to the Power connector (male) on the RCA/Power to 6-Pin DIN Coupler. Connect the 6-Pin DIN (male) connector to a 6-Pin DIN (female) port on an observation system / DVR.

NOTE: If necessary, connect the 6-Pin DIN Coupler to a 6-Pin DIN Extension Cable.

Introduction to CCTV Monitoring

What is CCTV?

Most people think that CCTV is a relatively new invention, but then again, many don’t even know what it is ... so first things first, what exactly is Closed Circuit Television? Well the television bit is perhaps self explanatory; it’s simply about putting a picture onto a television screen, or ‘video monitor’ to give it its correct title. Incidentally, very basic video monitors are essentially televisions, but without the additional circuitry needed, to receive and decode the Radio Frequency signals, which are transmitted through the air.

The Closed Circuit’ bit is actually quite straightforward. Let’s say for example, that you subscribe to Satellite TV. If you watch your favorite television programmed, you and perhaps a few million others will be able to receive the transmitted signal through the dish and ‘set top box’. As anyone with a correctly tuned ‘Telly’ can access this signal, we can safely describe this type of arrangement as an ‘Open Circuit Television’ or ‘OCTV’ system.; If a signal is being linked from any source, whether it’s a DVD player, a camcorder, or a surveillance camera, directly to a display device such as a television, this is described as a ‘Closed Circuit’ simply because it is not available to anyone else.

So you can see that in the early days of developing video camera security systems, the pictures from the cameras were almost always sent to a monitor, or a video recorder, or indeed a sealed Control Room under ‘Closed Circuit’ conditions, hence the now widely accepted term “Closed Circuit Television”.

Which type of Security Camera should I use?

A security camera can come in many different styles including dome, bullet, infrared and c-mount.  The security camera that will work best for your application will depend on several factors such as whether you will use the security cameras inside or out, during the day, nighttime, or both.

Bullet style security cameras are the most popular. They can be used inside or out. These security cameras come in black and white or color and come with all of the required mounting hardware. Some security cameras casings are weather resistant and don’t require added external protection. Most security cameras have a fixed 6mm lens that allows you to see facial features out to about 30 feet and provides a 56 degree angle of view.

Resolution levels for black and white security cameras are about 400 lines, any higher and the benefits are minimal. For color cameras, the higher the resolution the better. 

Infrared security cameras are also very popular as they allow an image to be seen in little or no lighting conditions. Most infrared security cameras are bullet style and can be used inside or out. The cameras have infrared lighting installed around the outer edge of the lens which allows the security camera to see in no light.

The advantage to c-mount security cameras is that the lens can be changed. You’ll want a special camera lens if you need to see further than 35 ft. The colour c-mount security camera allows you to change lenses on the camera giving you the ability to zoom into a particular area. Varifocal camera lenses allow you to adjust the focus from 5 to 50 mm. These lenses can be used inside only unless you put it in special housing for outdoor use.

Dome security cameras basically provide a different look. Everyone has seen these security cameras in businesses and stores. Because of its shape, its difficult to tell exactly where the camera is aiming unless you see it up close. Dome cameras are generally used inside buildings.

Dome Cameras

The dome camera is obviously named for its dome shape. Everyone has seen these security cameras in businesses and stores. Because of its shape, its difficult to tell exactly where the camera is aiming unless you see it up close. Dome cameras are generally used inside buildings, although the armor domes can be used outside as well (more about the armor dome below). You can mount them on the ceiling or on a wall. They are available in black and white (b/w) and color, and the basic unit has good video resolution (400 lines for b/w, 380 for color).

Varifocal dome cameras feature the highest quality SONY 1/3” Super HAD CCD sensor and excellent resolution (420 lines). The 5-8mm model has an adjustable lens focus from 5mm to 8mm. The 9-22mm model can adjust its lens focus from 9mm to 22mm.

Infra Red Cameras

An infrared security camera has infrared LED lighting (light from a different region of the electromagnetic spectrum than we normally use to see) installed around the outside of the lens of the camera. This lighting allows the camera to capture a good image in no light at all. With a little bit of light (called low light) the infrared camera can capture a picture that looks just like daytime. People use infrared security cameras for businesses that have the lights out at night (in case of break-ins). Or for outside, nighttime viewing. Keep in mind that even at nighttime there is a normally some light from the moon, stars, or street lights.

Infrared cameras are often called “Night Vision” cameras because they can ‘see’ at night. However, do not confuse “Night Vision” with “Day / Night Cameras”. Day / Night cameras do not have infrared lights built in. More about those types of cameras below.

Infrared security cameras will provide a color picture while the light is good. When it gets dark, the camera will switch to infrared mode and illuminate its built-in infrared LEDs. In infrared mode the image is captured in black and white - this is true of all infrared cameras. The level of light required to capture a good picture is referred to as a camera’s lux, the lower the lux the better the camera can see in low light. For example a camera with 0.003 lux is better than a camera with 0.2 lux. Infrared cameras are considered to be 0.0 lux in infrared mode - in other words they can ‘see’ with no light at all.

Infrared cameras are also compared by how far they can see in total darkness. This is generally a result of how many infrared LEDs are built into the camera. Our Long Range Color Day/Night Weatherproof IR Camera can see up to 150ft. with no light at all.

If you are going to use an infrared camera outdoors, its best to use a outdoor weatherproof bullet style camera. This is because if you use an indoor infrared camera and need to put it in an outdoor housing, sometimes the infrared light reflects off the glass of the housing. Some people get acceptable results if the camera is absolutely flush up to the glass thereby reducing the glare. An alternative solution is to use a day / night camera which has an extra sensitive imaging chip that allows it to capture a good picture in low light situations without using infrared lighting. This works well for example if there are street lights outside or an exterior light that can be left on at night.

Bullet Cameras

The term Bullet Camera comes from its resemblance to a rifle bullet. Generally long and tapered like a cylinder, it looks like an oversized ammo cartridge.

Most bullet cameras come with a fixed 3.6mm lens that allows a 80 degree angle of view. This is the widest angle you can have without distorting the picture. A 4mm lens will allow you to see facial features out to about 35 feet. If infrared is included you can generally see 35 feet minimum with no external lighting, some can see up to 70 feet.

Some devices capture images in color which is best for daytime lighting. For nighttime viewing choosing an infrared camera, which captures images in black and white is better. Many of the products will display color during the day and automatically switch to black and white infrared viewing when light levels are low. Resolution levels for black and white are usually about 400 lines, any higher resolution and the benefits are minimal. For color, the higher resolution the better the picture.

Used in closed circuit television applications, bullet cameras contain essentially the same electronic components as c-mount cameras but have been modified to fit in a weatherproof casing for outdoor use. You can see from the image that some models allow the housing to be removed for installation indoors. Mounting brackets are included with each item. They can be installed on the ceiling or the wall. Voltage is 12V DC. Power adaptors are included with every camera.

C-Mount Cameras

The advantage to a c-mount camera is that the lens can be changed. If you need to see further than 35 or 40 ft then you’ll need a c-mount camera with a special lens. C-Mount lenses are available from 4mm to 50mm. A 4mm lens provides facial detail and a 70 degree angle of view focused up to about 35 ft. An example of where you might use a fixed 4mm lens is in a small office, or at home to focus on your driveway.

A higher millimeter lens will provide further distance, but narrows the field of view. So, a 16mm lens would provide about a 15 to 20 degree angle of view at a focus distance of about 35 ft (or a 70 degree angle of view at about 140 feet). In general, a 8mm lens is like a 4mm lens zoomed in 2 times. Similarly, a 16mm lens is like the 4mm lens zoomed in 4 times.

Many times, the best option is to use a Varifocal lens. This will allow you to vary the focus from 5 to 50mm. So when you install the camera you can fine tune the focal distance and angle of view. An example of where you might use a Varifocal lens is outside (or inside) a large commercial building where you need more distance than 35 ft. and the Varifocal lens will allow you to adjust the focal distance to your preference.