While a team of emergency security guards may be well warranted for large businesses, a CCTV camera or two is likely more than enough for home security in Australia. Outdoor home surveillance has grown quite popular across the country thanks to the increasing availability of affordable yet reliable systems.
There is an important factor that should influence every homeowner’s model selection process: weather. While it can help to regularly consult with a qualified Australian security company, this can be time-consuming and impractical for people living in rural or off-grid environments. In this guide, we go over how weather in your area should be the leading consideration when setting up emergency security systems.
How Weather Affects Outdoor Camera Performance
Different weather conditions are prevalent in Australia’s many states, and these present distinct challenges for cameras. The most common of these are:
- High heat conditions frequently cause overheating issues, triggering thermal shutdowns as well as accelerating component degradation. Footage quality can also be affected by lens glare, while accompanying dry conditions increases the rate of dust buildup over image sensors.
- Constant rain or humidity can rapidly degrade the overall lifespan of lithium-ion batteries, leading to unreliability or increased maintenance costs around security emergency systems. Cameras in particular can suffer from external or internal lens condensation which causes blurry images and potential damage to internal components.
- Strong winds carry debris and can misalign the angle on weak installations. Both of these issues can cause recording errors, or even tear down improperly positioned mounts. Airborne debris can also cause lens scratches or damage sensors.
- Surges caused by lightning can seriously affect data and power lines, frequently short circuiting or outright frying appliances and gadgets connected to electrical outlets. Cameras and their recording platforms (e.g. NVR/DVR) can easily be affected by this without proper grounding and surge protection.
Implementing Practical Solutions
Depending on the state, territory, or environment you reside in, there are a number of prudent steps you can take to minimise risks posed by weather on your surveillance hardware. Let’s briefly go over these below.
Enclosures and sun shields
Installing enclosures equipped with visors blocks direct sunlight from your lenses — the single most sensitive external area of your cameras — while reducing glare and solar heat gain. Enclosures with high ingress protection (IP) ratings will protect from dust and moisture.
Strategic placement
Mounting your hardware under awnings, eaves, or overhangs provides protection from the elements. It pays to take note of East and West before installation in order to avoid pointing cameras toward the sun as it rises or sets.
Protect your wires and connectors
Use conduits or protective tubing to shield your wires from abrasion, wind, UV damage, and moisture. Waterproof junction boxes conceal as well as protect electrical connections from moisture wicking. Finally, use surge protectors and ensure the entire security system is properly grounded in order to divert voltage spikes from lightning strikes or system malfunctions safely.
A Proactive Approach to Security
Once you’ve properly set up your outdoor surveillance system in accordance with prevalent weather conditions, the rest will come down to proactive protection. Perform regular inspections and maintenance as needed, taking note of drops in recorded footage quality or consistency. With the right amount of care, you can rest assured of the safety of your investment as well as your household.
