
DIY Security Systems
No matter how big or small your home may be, finding the best ways to keep safe and secure should be your utmost priority. Moreover, with a wide array of products and services now available, people can easily customize their home security system. So, if you’re planning to install home security cameras, learning the basics is essential. For instance, many people are unaware of how storage works and the options on how to store recordings. So, do security cameras record all the time?
What is a Security Camera or CCTV?
CCTV or closed-circuit television is a monitoring device that utilizes video cameras to transmit signals to a specific and limited set of monitors. The cameras that are part of a CCTV system are used for surveillance and security purposes, while the recording of footage is used to help prevent crime or to help capture a suspect if an offense happens. Cameras may transfer the footage to monitors where another person can watch it in real-time or be recorded for future viewing.
What is the Use of a CCTV?
- Business
CCTV cameras are commonly installed in areas to lower the risk of incidents such as burglary, fire, or vandalism. The usual areas are near entrances and exits, by the cash registers, in storage rooms, or hallways or alleyways. The CCTV cameras are also beneficial in monitoring areas of a building, laboratory, or industrial facility that are not safe for unauthorized people to enter. - Home applications
CCTV cameras help monitor blind spots around the house that can’t be seen from windows. They can be used to help identify late-night visitors without ever having to answer the door, and they can also be used to help keep an eye on caregivers, pets, or children at home.
How Long Do You Have to Keep a CCTV Recording?
CCTV cameras do not require any length of time for the footage to be kept. Most home and business owners decide how long they’ll save the footage based on the storage space of their hard drive and how much footage they must store. The amount of footage you can save also depends on how many cameras are recording, what resolution the cameras are recording, and much more. Generally, most security footage is stored for 30 to 90 days.
Do Security Cameras Record All the Time?
There are three types of security camera recording methods:
- 24/7 Video Recording
As straightforward as it sounds, this option allows your CCTV to record 24/7 as long as your storage will enable you to. This type is most helpful in securing and monitoring businesses. - Schedule recording
For this type, you can record the videos based on your preference. You can choose how many days or hours you would want your camera to record and monitor. - Motion detection recording
This option is best for home use. Your security cameras will start recording only when there is motion or any movement.
Basically, the answer to the question do security cameras record all the time would depend on the need of the person installing the cameras. They will record as long as you need then to, given you have enough room for storage
Other Factors to Consider
When answering the question, do security cameras record all the time, the following factors come to mind:
- Features your Camera
Although some people use additional devices or services to save their security footage long-term, most cameras have at least some memory to help keep the footage. Before purchasing a CCTV, be sure to find out how much storage it allows and which services and devices it is compatible with. - Local Footage Storage
Another option is to store your footage locally. It means you will need to purchase an SD storage card to store your footages. Moreover, these files can be deleted or saved depending on the owner. The amount of footage you can save depends on the storage capacity of the storage card. - Cloud Storage
On the other hand, if you don’t feel like working around SD cards, there is the option to use the Cloud to store your footage. Although most companies charge a fee for this service, this is the quickest and easiest way to keep track of your footage and access it in an instant. Relatively inexpensive, depending on the package purchased, you can store some footage or virtually all of your footage for days, months, or even years at a time. - Make sure your CCTV camera can capture the details you need
Now assuming that you are reviewing the recording videos taken by your security cameras, you can only see blurry footage without the details you need, such as license plates and peoples’ faces. To capture what you want, like license plates or faces from a specific distance, you need at least 2MP Full HD security cameras, 4MP, and even 5MP CCTV cameras with an optical zoom capacity to identify details from far-away objects.
Conclusion
Security cameras guarantee safety for your home or business. That is why most people prefer to install them for convenience. For first time users, you might have a lot of questions in mind, including do security cameras record all the time? We hope that this article answered all your questions to help you determine the things you need to know when installing security cameras. Find out more about Security Cameras.