Power Supplies for CCTV Cameras

Among security systems that have become very common today are CCTV cameras, which are used everywhere and by everyone. Therefore, great care must be taken when selecting a power supply for CCTV cameras.

In this article, we introduce various types of CCTV camera power supplies.

First, we need to know that...

What is the function of a power supply?

In fact, adapters convert mains electricity (220V) to 12V, which is the required voltage for CCTV cameras. Therefore, you must select an appropriate power supply for your CCTV system.

Types of CCTV Camera Power Supplies

Power supplies for CCTV cameras are divided into two categories.

• Single-amp or standalone adapters
• Central Adapters

Depending on the CCTV camera's structure and its functionality, either a centralized adapter or standalone adapter can be used.

Central Adapters

When do we use a centralized adapter?

When we want CCTV cameras to use fewer power supplies, we employ a centralized adapter. In this method, to connect cameras to the centralized adapter, you must use cables and splitters capable of delivering power to all devices.

Advantages of centralized adapters

• It reduces costs both in terms of wiring and power supply since multiple power sources aren't needed.
• All cameras are powered and controlled from a single location.
• You can install centralized power supplies in a panel or independently on the wall.
• Centralized power supplies have a much longer lifespan than standalone adapters, and troubleshooting them is also simpler.

Disadvantages of centralized adapters

• If the power supply fails, all cameras will stop working, and over long distances, voltage drop may also occur.
• If power fluctuations occur, these fluctuations will likely transfer to other cameras as well. Due to the interconnected and continuous nature of the connection, there's a possibility that all cameras could be damaged. In such situations, you may face multiplied costs.

Standalone camera adapter

In this system, you must consider an independent power supply for each camera, and if an issue occurs with a power supply, only the associated camera will be disconnected from the system.

Disadvantages of standalone adapters

• The power supplies cannot be controlled from a single location, and even if the distance between the camera and power supply is long, no voltage drop occurs.
• In this method, since you need to consider a separate power supply for each camera, it leads to increased costs in terms of time, expenses, and more.

Characteristics of a suitable adapter

When selecting a CCTV camera adapter, keep in mind that you should use an adapter with a higher capacity than the camera

The adapter should have noise suppression, meaning that by using proper power supplies, any possibility of noise or device failure is reduced and eliminated

Using a 12V 1A power supply or a centralized power supply can be suitable to prevent noise in cameras

Important notes about CCTV camera power supplies

• Typically, for various types of CCTV cameras, a 12V DC power supply is sufficient.
• For 12V cameras, power supplies with higher voltages must not be used, as they will cause the camera to burn out.
• Since mains electricity is 220V AC, a power supply is needed to convert it to 12V DC.
• 12V power supplies are available in various ampere ratings in the market. Typically, adapter output currents are 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 amps.
• The ampere consumption of CCTV cameras must be less than the power supply's maximum output current.
• CCTV camera adapters should be used either as single-amp standalone units or as industrial centralized systems.
• A centralized power supply can be used to power multiple cameras in a surveillance system, but 1 to 2 amps should be allocated per camera. Thus, a power supply with a higher ampere rating will perform more efficiently.
• Alternatively, a separate power supply can be used for each CCTV camera, so if one fails, only that camera is affected—though this method is more costly.
• If the power supply cannot provide the required amperage or is of poor quality, it may damage the CCTV system or even create a fire hazard.

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