Power conditioning and proper power protection

Power and Surge Protection Quick Setup Guide

• Installation Order:

Isolated-Ground or Dedicated Wall Outlet > UPS > Power Conditioner > Equipment

• Sizing of UPS /Line Conditioner – use a 'kill-a-watt' to measure your power usage on all equipment that will be protected. Make sure to take readings during periods where your equipment is running at maximum capacity. Add up the usage for all of your equipment. This will give you a good baseline. Add 10-25% to your number to account for peak usage and also equipment you may end up adding to the circuit in the future. Keep in mind that these devices are usually measured in Volt-Amps, not Watts. This is because they're rated based on 'Apparent Power', rather than 'Actual Power'. To get an 'Apparent Power' rating, use RMS Voltage & multiply by current draw

( P = V [ R M S ] * I ).

• Make sure to install proper surge protection for all devices in your security system. Protect all sources of surges – any incoming wire is a potential source for surge damage. Common surge entry points: Power Circuit, BNC/Coax, Telephone/Modem/ISDN/DSL, Ethernet, Serial/COM, Speaker, Alarm / Sensor Inputs.

• Purchase the best quality surge protector, UPS and Line Conditioner that you can afford. Less expensive units generally fail sooner and offer less protection.

• Remember to protect your incoming camera lines with coaxial or IP surge protectors!

• Put a rubber grommet between your camera mounts and any metal surface. This will reduce your likelihood of lightning-related damages. Also, install a lightning rod onsite.

• Make sure that you are not under-powering your circuit by purchasing a UPS or Line Conditioner that cannot handle all of the connected equipment. Always give yourself some 'wiggle' room by purchasing the UPS & Line Conditioner that will more than meet your power requirements. More is better when it comes to sizing your UPS /Line Conditioner.

• Whenever possible, use an Isolated-Ground receptacle (preferred), or at the very least, a dedicated outlet with only your security system devices connected.

• Consult a qualified electrician if you have any questions or concerns, or to verify that your site meets all the requirements necessary for a solid security system installation.

• Consult the Power Protection: UPS , Power Conditioning and Surge Suppression guide for further details and installation tips.

For installers, the key word in 'Security System' is SYSTEM. Without power conditioning, UPS and surge protection, your system is incomplete. Without proper protection, it's not a matter of IF your equipment will fail, it's a matter of when, how often, and how badly. Make the investment – it will pay for itself in reducing the amount of damaged gear, downtime and technical support calls you will incur. Power related damages may not be covered by your manufacturer's warranty.

Protect Yourself and your Customers!