CCTV Maintenance, A Chore That Has To Be Accomplished
CCTV systems are like a machine. Each different part of the machine, cameras, housings, mounts, cables and connectors, multiplexer, recorder and monitor are all individual parts of a single machine. Should any one of the parts fail, the machine is broken and won’t perform its intended job. The only way to insure that the machine will work correctly and perform the intended job is through CCTV maintenance.
There are many things that the owner of a CCTV system can do in terms of periodic maintenance however there are just as many things that must be accomplished by a qualified technician. Only a qualified technician can be sure that an auto iris lens is functioning properly. Only a qualified technician can inspect the head end equipment, multiplexer, video tape or digital recorder and monitor and insure that the equipment is working at its full specifications. If the environmental controls (heater and fan) in the camera housing are not functioning properly then the service life of the camera and lens in the housing will be reduced.
Heat or sunlight can cause the insulation of the cables that run to the camera to become deteriorated should they not be protected from the environment. This deterioration of the cables will lead to an unusable video picture. Head end equipment, multiplexer, recorder and monitor must all be cleaned periodically. Dust that can accumulate in vent holes will shorten the life span of any electronic component by reducing the air flow through the vent holes. The heads on video tape recorders must have a periodic cleaning. As the tape runs across the heads it can leave deposits on the heads. If these deposits become heavy enough, the video signal will not record on the tape leaving the owner with a blank tape instead of a tape filled with data.
Most providers of CCTV systems will offer their client a CCTV maintenance contract. This maintenance contract will include periodic inspections of the equipment and a thorough cleaning of the equipment. Just as a car requires periodic preventative maintenance so does the CCTV system. The CCTV maintenance contract will also provide for no/low cost replacement of any component in the system that fails.
A CCTV maintenance contract insures that the owner of the CCTV knows that the system is functioning properly and will be functioning properly when tape needs to be reviewed after an incident. Without a proper CCTV maintenance program, the owner of the system can never be fully sure that the system is going to work when it is needed. A failure to be able to retrieve data from the system can often be far more expensive than the CCTV maintenance contract which will insure that the system is functioning properly.
So now you know why CCTV maintenance is important. Did you like this article? Why don’t you find out more here. I think you’ll like it alot!: CCTV Camera Maintenance or Installing Security
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