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dmiller9

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Posts posted by dmiller9

  1. Posted

    I know this is a little off topic as its not access control but didn't know what forum to put it in.

     

    Right now we have hardwired panic buttons located thru 5 floors all connected via the Honeywell Ademco Vista 128 security panel. We have 22 buttons, 3 LED annunciator panels and 2- disarming keypads. There are input boards in the field fed by a twisted 3 pair 22 cable back to the main panel. they are looking at having better annunciation with perhaps mapping (visual from 10 feet away). I think they want to stay away from wireless panic buttons. Anyone have any ideas on what product I should be looking at using?

  3. Posted

    You can throttle it with dd-wrt ( http://www.dd-wrt.com/site/index ) which is free aftermarket firmware that will work on a number of different routers. Make sure you buy a compatible router from the list it supports and give it a go. This will probably be the cheapest solution.

     

    This is probably your best option if you don't want to spend a lot of money. $80 router and a little time to flash it. Running software on the computer itself to throttle bandwidth is never ideal.

  5. Posted

    What did I get wrong?

     

     

    it depends how you interpret your trick question. also like soundy says its differant in state codes.

     

    If I have a 10A 24VAC power supply powering a camera using 2C/14AWG wiring can I run that cable in the same conduit as the data cable?

     

     

    which is not the same as your answer

     

    (1) Class 1 circuits shall not be run in the same cable with communication circuits.

     

     

    which is power and data in the same cable not data and power (24v) seperate in the same conduit

     

     

    Your right. Sorry this is the correct section of the code.

     

    16-212 Separation of Class 2 circuit conductors from other circuits

    (1) Conductors of Class 2 circuits shall be separated at least 50 mm from insulated conductors of electric

    lighting, power, or Class 1 circuits operating at 300 V or less, and shall be separated at least 600 mm from

    any insulated conductors of electric lighting, power, or Class 1 circuits operating at more than 300 V, unless

    for both conditions effective separation is afforded by use of

    (a) metal raceways for the Class 2 circuits or for the electric lighting, power, and Class 1 circuits subject

    to the metal raceway being bonded to ground;

    (b) metal-sheathed or armoured cable for the electric lighting, power, and Class 1 circuit conductors

    subject to the sheath or armour being bonded to ground;

    © non-metallic-sheathed cable for the electric lighting, power, and Class 1 circuits operating at 300 V

    or less; or

    (d) non-metallic conduit, electrical non-metallic tubing, insulated tubing, or equivalent, in addition to

    the insulation on the Class 2 circuit conductors or the electric lighting, power, and Class 1 circuit

    conductors.

    (2) Where the electric lighting or power conductors are bare, all Class 2 circuit conductors in the same room

    or space shall be enclosed in a metal raceway that is bonded to ground, and no opening, such as an outlet

    box, shall be permitted to be located within 2 m of the bare conductors if up to and including 15 kV or

    within 3 m of bare conductors above 15 kV.

    (3) Unless the conductors of the Class 2 circuits are separated from the conductors of electric lighting, power,

    and Class 1 circuits by an acceptable barrier, the conductors in Class 2 circuits shall not be placed in any

    raceway, compartment, outlet box, junction box, or similar fitting with the conductors of electric lighting,

    power, or Class 1 circuits.

    (4) Subrule (3) shall not apply where the conductors of a power circuit are in the raceway, compartment, outlet

    box, junction box, or similar fitting for the sole purpose of supplying power to the Class 2 circuits, and all

    conductors are insulated for the maximum voltage of any conductor in the enclosure, cable, or raceway,

    except that no Class 2 conductor installed in a raceway, compartment, outlet box, junction box, or similar

    fitting with such conductors of a power circuit shall show a green-coloured insulation, unless such Class 2

    conductor is completely contained within a sheathed

  6. Posted

    There is nothing incorrect in my reply based on the info inbyour question.

     

    I guess I don't know what you are trying to say in the your reply then.

     

     

    dmiller9. take a read though your own findings and you will see where YOU have got it wrong. you have over looked a simple mistake.

     

     

    What did I get wrong?

  7. Posted

    It would depend if the transformer was rated as "class 2", or not, but since he mentions a output of 10A/24VAC, which would be 240VA, it probably wouldn't be, and he doesn't mention a fuse or other current limiting device that would be required to be in compliance.

     

    Thanks. An integrator that knows his stuff. Props to you.

  9. Posted

    Whether you MAY will depend on local electrical code... but you certainly CAN. Interference will depend on the size of field generated around the power wire, and that will be a direct factor of the voltage used *and* the current drawn by the load (current capacity of the power supply is irrelevant - could be a 1A supply, could be capable of drive 100A). A camera shouldn't draw anywhere near enough current to create a large enough field to cause a problem.

     

    And thats where you are wrong. In both Canada and the USA that would be illegal. You can only mix Class 2 low voltage with data cableing. The above mentioned power supply is not Class2 because or the current carry ability You would have to fuse the output of the power supply to limit the current output. Like I said this was a trick question and not many people know about this rule. The other thing you are mistake about is the reason for this rule has nothing to do with interfearance. It has everything to do with safety. Just like mixing 120V with data cableing its all about safety not interfearance.

     

    This is a couple importatant sections copied from the CEC.

     

    "16-012 Circuits in communication cables

    (1) Class 1 circuits shall not be run in the same cable with communication circuits.

    (2) Class 2 remote control and signal circuits or their parts that use conductors in a cable assembly with other

    conductors forming parts of communication circuits are, for the purpose of this Code, deemed to be

    communication circuits and shall conform to the applicable Rules of Section 60."

     

     

    This is the defention of a Class 2 circuit. If it doesn't meet these requirements then it can not be ran in the same conduit as a data cable.

     

    "16-200 Limitations of Class 2 circuits (see Appendix B)

    (1) Class 2 circuits, depending upon the voltage, shall have the current limited as follows:

    (a) 0 to 20 V — circuits in which the open-circuit voltage does not exceed 20 V shall have overcurrent

    protection rated at not more than 5 A, except that overcurrent protection shall not be required where

    the current is supplied from

    (i) primary batteries that under short-circuit will not supply a current exceeding 7.5 A after 1 min;

    (ii) a Class 2 circuit transformer;

    (iii) a device having characteristics that will limit the current under

    (iv) a device having a Class 2 output;

    (b) Over 20 V but not exceeding 30 V — circuits in which the open-circuit voltage exceeds 20 V but

    does not exceed 30 V shall have an overcurrent protection rating not exceeding 100/V amperes,

    where V is the open-circuit voltage, except that the overcurrent protection shall not be required

    where the current is supplied from

    (i) primary batteries that under short-circuit will not supply a current exceeding 5 A after 1 min;

    (ii) a Class 2 circuit transformer;

    (iii) a device having characteristics that will limit the current under normal operating conditions or

    under fault conditions to a value not exceeding 100/V amperes, where V is the open-circuit

    voltage; or

    (iv) a device having a Class 2 output;

    © Over 30 V but not exceeding 60 V — circuits in which the open-circuit voltage exceeds 30 V but

    does not exceed 60 V shall have an overcurrent protection rating not exceeding 100/V amperes,

    where V is the open-circuit voltage, except that the overcurrent protection shall not be required

    where the current is supplied from

    (i) a Class 2 circuit transformer; or

    (ii) a device having characteristics that will limit the current under normal operating conditions or

    under fault conditions to a value not exceeding 100/V amperes, where V is the open-circuit

    voltage;

    (d) Over 60 V but not exceeding 150 V — circuits in which the open-circuit voltage exceeds 60 V

    but does not exceed 150 V shall have an overcurrent protection rating not exceeding 100/V

    amperes, where V is the open-circuit voltage, and in addition shall be equipped with current-limiting

    means other than overcurrent protection that will limit the current, either under normal operating

    conditions or under fault conditions, to a value not exceeding 100/V amperes, where V is the opencircuit

    voltage.

    (2) A device having energy-limiting characteristics may consist of a series resistor of suitable rating or other

    similar device.

    (3) A Class 2 power supply shall not be connected in series or parallel with another Class 2 power source."

  12. Posted

    Hello

    Maybe somebody has met similar problem and can advise anything except changing vms and camera

     

    there is exacq 4.8 software installed and connected to several AV3115 cameras, and exactly one camera periodically goes off-line and don't reconnect automatically, while it responds to ping and can be accessed from INTERNET explorer. It is regional installation (traveling there needs half a day), and cctv operator can only reboot PC, after which camera is reconnected again. I don't know if restarting exacq server service only help as operator can't do it himself, no IT stuff is available and remote assistance is not possible. Network is camera dedicated, based on cisco gigabit switch, bandwidth per camera is no more than 10Mbps, any other camera didn't drop connection until now, and this one periodically does - once per two/three weeks...cameras run latest firmware

    any ideas? I didn't write to exacq support as they'll be asking for remote assistance so first i try to post here,

     

     

    There could be lots of reasons for this. I would be examining your network to to see if you might have an unstable network connection to that camera. How many hops does it take to get to the camera? Have all the lines to that camera been certified? Is the network a dedicated camera network?

  16. Posted

    This is what the exacq rep sent me.

     

    "Here is the scoop: other companies can purchase the Exacq software and re-brand it. What this means is, ie. ABC company purchases an Exacq license and installs it onto their own server. They then brand the Exacq system as "ABC" and sell it with whatever support they offer. Another big OEM partner is IVT. "

     

    Hi

    I found this ...I don't know where.

    Cameras looks like Avigilon as well as software.

    They also sell Exacq ( looks like )software.

    What do you think about it?

    Is it good for such a well known brand like Exacq and Avilgilon to sell their products that way?

    Regards

    Mariusz

     

    http://clearpix.com/

  19. Posted

    I think people are forgetting why in a typical office environment you are suppose to use a patch cable and not just put a RJ-45 connectors on the UTP cable. The cable ran through the walls or in the ceiling is a solid core conductor and is not designed to be bent or moved excessively. If you just terminate the solid conductor coming out of the wall over time as equipment is moved the conductor will break down causing unreliable network connectivity. I have seen this happen so many times over the years. This is why best practice states terminate a keystone at a wall jack and use factory made patch cable made out of stranded UTP. At the head end it is best practice to install a patch panel to allow equipment to be moved and replaced. Patch cables are easily replaced with shorter or longer lengths as needed.

     

    Now as for terminating a RJ-45 plug on the field end of a camera. I don’t think there is anything wrong with doing so as the cable connecting to the camera will not be moved excessively so there is no chance for the cable to break down over time. There is also nothing wrong with putting a surface mount box inside an enclosure and using a patch cable. Both are acceptable in my opinion. One thing you should never do is use terminate a RJ-45 plug and use a coupler. Panasonics first generation of IP cameras came with a RJ-45 Plug on the camera and a coupler. That coupler Panasonic included could not pass certification as most of them will not.

  20. Posted

    I've actually had MORE problems with keystones than with simply terminating the wire myself (including a particular toolless keystone design that let the ends of the wires touch, thus feeding full PoE power into the camera's data pins, frying the camera).

     

    If I do need to use a keystone in a housing, I'll just use a pre-made 12"-or-so patch cable from there to the camera. At the head end, I'll usually try to bring everything into a patchbay, although that's not always the optimal solution either.

     

    Personally, I don't find it difficult at all to terminate with an RJ45 plug... YMMV. I suppose if you can't remember your T-568x color codes, it's handy to have the keystones as they usually have the colors marked on the terminals.

     

    There are plug/tool systems that make it easier:

     

    36-1640.jpg

     

    (Combined with a special crimper that has a cutting blade to chop the ends off... and obviously this sample doesn't follow any T-568x spec!)

     

    I have found more problems with the feed though RJ-45 plugs then the regular plugs. I never use them however a couple I have had to go to a couple of jobs to troubleshoot cameras where they were used only to find that they have shorted out and blown ports on POE switches. Definitely should not be used if you are planning on powering the camera with POE.

  22. Posted

    12/09/2011

    v4.8.10.28429

    * Enhancement - Updated online help with new features.

    * Bug Fix - In Linux, Correctly determine if in wide screen on startup.

     

    12/02/2011

    v4.8.9.28364

    * Bug Fix - In exacqReplay, adjusted window height to accommodate ruler.

    * Bug Fix - In exacqReplay, reduced flicker of ruler when downloading frames.

    * Bug Fix - Display partial export message when export is limited by

    space.

    * Bug Fix - Reduced Search Panel's Fast Forward and Frame Forward button

    flicker when downloading video and playback reaches end of downloaded frames

    * Bug Fix - Fixed the bug that seems to randomly set the calendar when the

    start and end time are beyond the 1000 seconds (16.67min) limit.

    * Bug Fix - In Linux on Search, restored height of spin buttons and the

    ability to click down arrow.

    * Bug Fix - Switch to Play state if reach end of downloaded frames while Fast

    Forwarding

     

    12/01/2011

    v4.8.8.28325

    * Enhancement - Czech translation.

    * Bug Fix - Enable ps file only export in burn to cd/dvd profile.

     

    11/30/2011

    v4.8.7.28297

    * Bug Fix - Possible crash when saving a multiple camera image.

    * Bug Fix - F1/Help for Live and Search now go to the proper help pages.

    * Bug Fix - Resolved crash in linux when display exacqRecall Setup panel.

     

    11/30/2011

    v4.8.6.28287

    * Bug Fix - Increased TCP Receive Buffer size.

    * Bug Fix - Live video panel now honors mouse scrollwheel.

    * Bug Fix - Changed the progress status in export from indeterminate mode

    to percentage range from 0-100.

    * Bug Fix - With a Joystick, Don't enable Digital PTZ if not allowed.

    * Bug Fix - Config updates no longer cause config pages to scroll back to

    upper left.

    * Bug Fix - Client no longer jumps to another camera or parent config

    panel when editing the config of a camera and a config update comes in.

    * Bug Fix - On Mac, GUI artifacts are now removed during a full-screen

    double-click "1-by" to original layout transition.

    * Bug Fix - Find Systems List can now be properly sorted.

     

    11/23/2011

    v4.8.5.28215

     

    11/23/2011

    v4.8.4.28209

    * Enhancement - Truly dynamic ruler bar in Search.

    * Enhancement - Updated visual aesthetic in Search.

    * Enhancement - Save serial data with still image.

    * Enhancement - Support CHMSEE in Ubuntu 11.10 for viewing help file.

    * Bug Fix - Ensure bad PTZ Speed values do not get put into client settings.

    * Bug Fix - Do not create duplicate localhost and 127.0.0.1 entries in the

    Client ini file.

    * Bug Fix - Add default file extension to settings export.

    * Bug Fix - check the state of the cd/dvd media and viewer app to allow

    different export options.

     

    11/15/2011

    v4.8.3.28061

    * Enhancement - Time pickers respond to mouse wheel.

    * Enhancement - Client export of *.exe or *.ps includes OSD configuration

    data that is used by ePlayer.

    * Bug Fix - Finalize Playing alert sound in Event Monitoring.

    * Bug Fix - ExacqRecall now properly checks whether to allow expansion

    * Bug Fix - Some OSD font colors were not preserved through other font

    changes in Windows Clients.

    * Bug Fix - Allow IP Camera Time Server Override to be changed on servers

    without time configuration.

     

    10/19/2011

    v4.8.2.27767 - Dev

    * Enhancement - Added setting in Client Config to hide sunken borders on

    live and search video panels.

    * Enhancement - exacqRecall - support updated exacqRecall features.

    * Enhancement - Play alert sound in Event Monitoring.

    * Bug Fix - Pressing F1 (Help) on the Enterprise Notifications page now

    brings up the help viewer on the correct page.

    * Bug Fix - Fixed Mac Enterprise User crash when adding new user to fewer

    than all available systems.

    * Bug Fix - Schedule change XML only shows items whose schedule changed

    thus improving the audit of schedule changes.

    * Bug Fix - When modifying maps, sometimes a message shows saying that a

    system or set of systems have rejected the map update even though later

    investigation shows that the update was successful.

    * Bug Fix - Live maps will continue updating item status after switching

    to search or config modes and then back to live mode.

    * Bug Fix - Fixed calculations for placement of video panel.

    * Bug Fix - Client and ePlayer no longer display non-printable characters

    received from serial data source.

    * Bug Fix - For POS Profiles, always show new blank row for Mask and Keywords.

    * Bug Fix - On System Information Panel, stop time conversion to 24-hour

    mode if already in 24-hour mode

    * Bug Fix - Digital PTZ saved in a view work in Search again. Broken in 4.7.6

  24. Posted

    I've been lurking for a while and love the knowledge I am soaking up. Thank you!!

     

    At my facility I am integrating an existing 16ch analog system (All Pelco) with 16 additional IP cams.

    I have tentatively chosen the following:

    Exacq 1608-48-2000-R2 Hybrid server (to use the existing cams runs and add IP)

    GVI NHD-2151 2MP outdoor cams

    ACTi ACM-3701 indoor cams

    Sony SNC-DH220 indoor cams

     

    My main question lies around the Exacq. The boss is having me look into ACTi's software that comes with the cams, build our own NVR (he's a Dell diehard) and use only ACTi cams. But will this be a robust solution for a large IP install? This would obviously assume that we ditch the analog cams and build back an all ACTi system to which I am not inclined to do.

     

    Any thoughts on the process would be appreciated.

     

    You don't have to buy the Exacq hardware. You can use a dell server to make your boss happy along with any supported encoders from Sony, Axis, or Acti and create your own hybrid server. I would not recommend using the ACTi software as you are locking yourself into ACTi only product. As for your camera chocies GVI is no longer so I would not buy any GVI product and not sure if you can even get GVI product anymore. I have used both ACTi and sony cameras before and I would choose Sony over ACTi every time. Best image quality on the market.

  25. Posted

    I'm running unshielded copper cat 5 from the camera back to the building (above ground along the fence). ...

    A 16AWG will do nothing for a lightning strike. The wire will burn up and the current will have no where to go but through other equipment rather then to ground. For correct lightning protection you need lightning rods grounded with a #6 to ground. The purpose of the lightning rods to to prevent the strike from ever getter to the equipment. Any previsions you take at the equipment for lightning strikes will never be enough.

     

    From an article entitled "Protecting Electrical Devices from Lightning Transients" in Electrical Engineering Times, an 18 AWG (lamp cord) wire will conduct approaching 60,000 amps without melting. However, we usually use 12 AWG or larger to conduct lightning harmlessly to earth on signal wires. 6 AWG or larger for AC electric.

     

     

    I would never use a 12AWG to connect a lightning rod to ground. I have seen some lightning rods with upto a 4/0 copper conductor to a ground grid consisting of 4 10' ground rods. You might use a 12AWG to bond a telephone line to ground but where I am from you can't even do that anymore as you require a #6 as a minimum.

     

     

    Lightning does not strike a highest point. Lightning locates and conducts through a best conductor from cloud to earth. If that path is through a CCTV camera, then the camera is damaged. If the best connection is from a camera, through Cat 5, then through a switch, to earth inside the building, then the switch is probably damaged.

     

     

     

    You are correct to say that lightning takes the path of least resistance; however, the path of least resistance is the highest point as air is one of the best insulators out there.

     

     

     

    Protection is never about stopping a surge. Protection is always about connecting lightning (and all other surges) to earth on a path that is not destructive. For example, this professional's application note demonstrates entitled "The Need for Coordinated Protection" demonstrates the concept:

    http://www.erico.com/public/library/fep/technotes/tncr002.pdf

     

    Two structures demonstrated. Both must have their own single point earth ground. Any wire entering either structure must first connect low impedance (ie 'less than 10 foot') to that single point ground before entering.

     

    In your case, a camera remote from the building would be a separate structure much like that antenna tower. A Cat5 wire entering that camera must first be earthed. All eight wires must connect to the camera's single point ground before connecting to the camera. Since none of the wires can connect directly, then a surge protector does what a wire would otherwise do. An example of a CAT5 protector that has a green wire for earthing. A dedicated wire that must connect low impedance (as short as possible) to the earth ground before that wire rises up to connect to the camera:

    http://www.tripplite.com/en/products/model.cfm?txtModelID=151

     

    Does not matter if Cat5 wire is overhead or underground. It will still carry a surge into the building (or camera) if not first connected (every wire in that cable) to single point ground.

     

    Same solution applies to other wires entering a building. If any wire does not make that short connection to earth, then all protection is compromised. Protection means no energy is inside a building (or camera). Once energy gets inside, then it hunts for earth destructively. Your solution is always about earthing that energy before it gets inside.

     

    In a similar situation, FIOS boxes were destroyed by a lightning strike. How can this be when FIOS if fiber optic? Simple. The homeowner had all but invited lightning to enter the house. So it found earth destructively via a FIOS ONT box. Incoming on AC mains. Destructively through a computer and printer that were on a power strip protector. Then destructively through a router and FIOS boxes to earth.

     

    Once that energy is permitted inside, then nothing can stop a destructive hunt for earth. In this case, the strip protector bypassed protection inside the computer and multifunction printer. I repaired that multifunction printer by literally removing semiconductors in that surge path. Restored the printer by following the incoming and outgoing surge path from protector to FIOS interface boxes.

     

    That is how you avert surge damage. Any path that might connect to earth via electronics must be earthed BEFORE it gets to electronics. Best earthing is from each cable with a short as possible wire (12 AWG or larger). Any conductor that cannot be earthed directly by a wire (telephone, AC electric, Cat5) must be earthed by a protector.

     

    If the application note does not make it obvious, each structure must have a single point ground. All earthing must be to the same electrode. To make those two earth grounds better, the note suggests a buried ground wire interconnecting tower and building grounds. You might do same with an interconnecting ground wire between the building's single point ground and the distant camera's single point ground.

     

    This is just introductory concept. Far more may be necessary as installation details are made apparent. But the concept applies to all surge protection. Either the surge is earthed harmlessly by the lowest impedance connection. Or that surge goes hunting for earth destructively via electronics. Protection is always defined by a connection to and quality of earth ground. A protector is only a connecting device. Does what a direct wire connection might otherwise do.

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