Electronic equipment often lulls its owner into a sense of overconfidence. After all, solid state electronics are supposed to be relatively indestructible right? No moving parts?
Unfortunately, there’s no such thing as “no moving parts” in a world where weather, structural flaws, power outages, vermin and other hazards are present. Electronics aren’t immune to wear and tear. Complex equipment just experiences it differently.
When it comes to security systems, you don’t have the luxury of putting off maintenance or repair checks. A cctv or security camera system has to be on the job without interruptions, or it could leave you, your family and your property at risk.
But what should you check? How often should you inspect your system? These are important questions. Fortunately, the answers aren’t as urgent as the problem makes them seem.
Backups
When it comes to maintaining electronic equipment, computer users might seem to have it easy. They just do their system checks with every scheduled backup. Security systems owners can and should do exactly the same thing. If your cameras are recording, and your storage medium has a seven-day rollover, for example, you can simply schedule a maintenance check on every fourth reset.
This is good practice, especially if you intend to preserve your surveillance records for business or legal purposes. The systems check, especially if logged in a standardized way, will serve as validation of the accuracy of your backups.
What to Check
With cctv cameras, the biggest threat to operational integrity is the weather. Changes in temperature, air pressure, humidity, static electricity and particulate concentration put stress on electronics. You will want to start with your connections. Make certain your power and communications wires are clean, properly insulated, secured to the structure, protected from pests and tightly attached.
Second is anything exposed to the outside air, especially lenses. If possible, you will want to cover your camera lenses with at least water-resistant canopies. Make sure there are no leaks or vapor transfers, as moisture will degrade your picture quality and damage your equipment over time.
Finally, you will want to test and cycle your storage media, control stations and evaluate your picture quality. Most security systems have firmware boot and diagnostic checks similar to the PC BIOS. Make certain you run these checks at a reasonable regular interval.
Upgrades
When replacing components, you will want to consult a security camera system specialist to see if your particular situation qualifies for an upgrade. TC Tech Systems can help you with all your security camera needs. It isn’t necessary to overspend. Most security setups are adequate for most basic needs. However, if repairs are necessary, or if you expand your system, that is the best time to go over your upgrade eligibility with a company that understands your technology and safety requirements.
Cameras and basic property safety systems have come a long way in just the last ten years. If you take advantage of what the industry has to offer, you will likely find you can get top performance at a reasonable price.
