That is my first post so hello to everyone.
I am quite new in CCTV and I done quite big installation on building site. There are nine cams with infrared housing.

Housing according to spec taking 2A

Body cam according to spec taking 0.16A

Lens 3mm - 8mm IR Corrective Vari Focal Auto Iris Lens

We are using Muxlab Power Thru Balun to run power and signal to cams and housings over CAT5 cable.

All that is powered by two PSU MCS6020B 20A

We are using Vista SmartDisk10 as recording equipment.

The problem is every thing is working well till dusk come right after that, I assumed camera want to switch to night mode. Some of the cams just losing signal and others getting horizontal straps for a while then losing signal completely.
All I was thinking they don’t have enough power and we where using 10A PSU but now when we switch to 20A there is still the same problem.
Now I am not sure that is electric problem or problem is with cameras setups.
All installation is running on 24V AC.
Each camera has separate CAT5 cable to run power and signal directly to it.
The longest cable has 320m from PSU to housing.
If anyone known how to solve this I will be the most grateful.
If there is any other information what I can provide please just ask.

Thanks

Tom

P.S. As a new user I can’t paste any links to specifications. I will do it ASAP.

I would redo the power side with 18/2 or bigger, 320m is crazy to be sending 2.2amps down Cat5 even 2 pair tied togther.

Read up on voltage drop, as Colin said, that distance with that amount of cable is crazy over cat5.

Once the IR kicks in, the load will increase to over 2amps from your specs, and your cams will die when the voltage drops due to the extra load over that distance.

Your lucky the cable did not catch fire!!

Once you have researched voltage drop, work out the cable needed for that distance and use that for the runs, or power the cams locally.

If in doubt get a qualified electrician / cctv installer in - for safety, as your distributing quite a bit of power over long distances...

The more I think about the the more I think you should add a power supply closer to some of these trouble cameras and bump it up to 18/2 or better. 2.2amps is a lot

It is long that true and now I have a look at the spec of balun and max power distance:

Requires EZ-CAT-5
Dimension 47(L) x 25(D) + 20mm Video 25mm Power
Output RJ45
Input Video: BNC Male 8
Max Distance Video 1000-1500 ft = 304-457m
Max Distance Power POWER-THRU: 24VAC 5vA 517ft (157m) 10vA 259ft (78m) / 20vA 130ft (40m) 30vA 86ft
Product Category Video Transmission

It looks like to give it the most power I need to have PSU less than 40m from cam. And all those not working cams got the longest cables. The only one problem is that is a building site and there is no power around the holding. Looks like electrician need to draw 230V line.

I think you guys got the right point of this just confirm please what I see from the spec of this balun.

Thanks mates.

Tom

Yeah, from the specs you posted around 40foot for the balun max at that current draw (although the specs stop at 30va so - if the balun does not state it can handle that much current, then it may not be rated for it - 30va may indeed be the max it can handle....)

Even if the balun can handle it, cat5 wont go that long distance for that current draw, local power is a much better option if you can get it put in.

Heres my two cents :wink:

Goto the worst camera feed (maybe its the longest maybe not) and hook a power adapter to it (use an extension cord if needed) if the problem is solved you know you have a power drain issue, if not it maybe somthing else. Just curious what camera (brand and model) are you using?

Glen

Try it with separate PSU that is a good idea. I just need very long extension lead and be there late evening. If I will get a chance I will do it.
We are using LILIN PIH-8028P cams
LILIN Infrared Illuminator Housing 80m PRH-5480
Lens Tamron-308ASIR 3mm - 8mm IR Corrective Vari Focal Auto Iris Lens

Thanks

Tom

Were are you from Tom? Germany?

at night the IR comes on which draws more amp

I ran into the similar problem which is cat5 cable too.
my installation was only around 200ft
a thin cat5 wire cannot carry enough power even though i was getting 12vdc but amp reading was low

i solved this problem by using two pairs which was going to another camera now i gotta run a new wire out for a second camera

another one of my camera is only around 100ft and i get half voltage drop like 7vdc instead of 12 even if i tried to crank the voltage up to 13vdc
i don't know what is going on here
i should have run Siamese instead