Outdoor Motion Activated Security Camera System

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An outdoor motion activated security camera system is an ideal choice for perimeter coverage of a home or business. In addition, motion activation is a conservative, economical choice that produces excellent video surveillance and security results.

What exactly is an outdoor motion activated security camera system? The description sounds fairly complicated but in reality the system is relatively simple. Anytime motion is detected, the digital video cameras switch on and begin recording video images. So if no motion is detected, the cameras shut off. This conserves digital video file storage space on a Digital Video Recorder or DVR since the system only records when motion is detected.

Let’s take a closer look at an outdoor motion activated security camera system. These systems are similar to any other digital video security system in that they consist of one to several cameras, a processor/DVR unit, and a monitor. The camera produces an electronic image and sends it along to the processor/DVR. The processor reads the camera data and uses it to create a digital video file. The digital video file ...
... may then be viewed on a monitor and/or stored on the DVR for later use.

Most digital video security systems will record constantly, that is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. However, an outdoor motion activated security camera system only records when motion has been detected. There are several advantages to this type of system.

Many digital video cameras today are wireless; that is they do not have a coaxial cable that transmits the video signal to the DVR. Instead, these cameras have a built in transmitter and antenna that they use to send the signal via radio waves to a corresponding receiver. The receiver then passes the signal electronically to the processor/DVR. However, these wireless cameras still need a wire for a power supply.

To avoid the necessity of a power supply line and transformer, digital video cameras have been manufactured that can utilize rechargeable batteries. A digital video camera with wireless video transmission and rechargeable batteries is truly wireless. This type of camera is incredibly versatile in that it can be mounted almost anywhere without the concern for any type of cabling or wire attachment. However, continuous video capturing can run down the batteries after several hours making replacement with freshly charged batteries necessary. An outdoor motion activated security camera system can greatly extend the run time of rechargeable batteries, because the camera only captures video when motion is detected. Although a very small amount of energy is needed for the motion detector, the largest amount of drain on the battery is during video capture.

Another advantage of an outdoor motion activated security camera system benefits the DVR. A DVR is basically the same thing as the hard disk drive on a personal computer. DVRs come in a wide variety of storage capacities ranging from gigabytes to terabytes in size. Still, digital video files can take up tremendous amounts of storage space, even when COmpression/DECompression utilities are used to make the files smaller in size filling up the storage disk in a short period of time. A motion activated camera only records when motion is detected, which means the DVR is not required to store video files for a continuous 24 hours, unless motion is present for all of that time. Recording video only when activated by motion can greatly reduce the amount of storage capacity needed on the DVR.

How do outdoor motion activated security camera systems detect motion? These cameras are connected to a special sensor called a Passive InfraRed or PIR sensor. When an object passes in front of the sensor, the sensor can detect the change in infrared radiation. A relay connected to the circuit board of the sensor then switches the camera on. Most cameras turn off either after the motion is no longer detected or for a specified time period after the motion is no longer detected.

Some examples of uses for outdoor motion activated security cameras include parking lot monitoring, building entrance and exits, pet monitoring, and perimeter monitoring of homes, yards, buildings, and industrial areas.

An outdoor motion activated security camera system can save time and money. It can enhance the use of wireless, rechargeable battery operated cameras and it can conserve DVR storage space for use when it is most needed.