Wire length in junction box?

Hi there. So l ran cat 6 wire for my 6 cameras. Took me a LONG while to fish the wires thru the walls, do l left lots of wire at the end where the camera installs on my outdoorbrick..

l had an installer come to install my cameras dahua A21CG02 (analogue HD) to a dahua junction box mounted to my brick. l specifically requested that he leave as much wire in the junction box as possible in case l wanted to convert system to an IP camera system and so would need to put an ethernet jack on the end of the wire. He kept complaining about how he couldn't do this, how space is tight due to baluns, power etc.. just giving me lots of attitude.

He left about 5 inches of the cat6 in the box..3 inched with the insulation on it maybe 2 inches of the wire with the outer insulation stripped where the wire attaches to the video balun and the power connector.

1. My question is what length of cat6 wire do you guys usually leave in the junction box?

2. My fear is that the amount of wire might be kinda tight if l want to get rid of the current HD analogue cameras and update to an ip camera system where l will need to install an ethernet jack on the end of the current wire.

Also, l am worried that maybe these NON IP cameras will be obsellete in say to 20 years down the road when l need to replace the cameras, and l.may not have enough spare wire to install an ethernet jack on the ends of the wire. l would hate to run new wire as pretty much my basement would be finished at that time, and it would be a pain to run new wires.

IN retrospect l think l should have gone with the ip cameras, but l spoke to an installer who strongly advised me against them due to poor vision at nighttime.


Thanks!

Mah1 said:

IN retrospect l think l should have gone with the ip cameras, but l spoke to an installer who strongly advised me against them due to poor vision at nighttime.


Thanks!

Click to expand...

This installer is a liar or inept. Both IP cameras and analog cameras can be great or terrible at night. Most of it depends on the sensor size and aperture. See for example the dahua 5442 series starlights. He didnt need to leave it in the box, he could have pushed it back in the wall, lazy.
You will still be able to crimp it but you will need to be very careful because there is little room for screwing it up.
You will need to replace your cameras way earlier than 20 years from now. Hd over analog will not be obsolete but they limit your options.

fenderman said:

This installer is a liar or inept. Both IP cameras and analog cameras can be great or terrible at night. Most of it depends on the sensor size and aperture. See for example the dahua 5442 series starlights. He didnt need to leave it in the box, he could have pushed it back in the wall, lazy.
You will still be able to crimp it but you will need to be very careful because there is little room for screwing it up.
You will need to replace your cameras way earlier than 20 years from now. Hd over analog will not be obsolete but they limit your options.

Click to expand...

thanks for taking the time to read and provide feedback

Why in this day and age did you go for analog instead of IP? Are there specific use cases where analog would be the only option?

IAmATeaf said:

Why in this day and age did you go for analog instead of IP? Are there specific use cases where analog would be the only option?

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You are right. ..the only reason I went analogue was because he suggested it over IP due to what he said was problems with seeing things with IP cameras in low light conditions... l think that there is just enough wire in the box to either install an ethernet jack or crimp an ethernet connector on the end, if l change to IP cameras in the future.

Was he selling the cameras you bought?

Yes, but he said he could get either cameras as he does lots of businesses with ip cameras

I went IP and POE and I'm glad I did. It cost me a little more that I initially thought because I needed to get a POE switch but now I think it was worth it. Luckily, I found this forum and was able to use the WIKI to get a suitable PC and optimized Blue Iris.

I did a lot of reading here, probably asked a load of stupid annoying questions then decided to buy all the stuff I wanted from Andy here on the forums and then got a guy to run the cabling and mount the cams.

Setup of BI I did all myself, the installer just made sure that the cable and connections were good.

If you have a few inches of cable the it should be possible to put a network connector on the end. You don’t need much as most cams come with tails thereby giving you some slack even if the cable end is short.

IAmATeaf said:

If you have a few inches of cable the it should be possible to put a network connector on the end. You don’t need much as most cams come with tails thereby giving you some slack even if the cable end is short.

Click to expand...

thanks!

Mah1 said:

Hi there. So l ran cat 6 wire for my 6 cameras. Took me a LONG while to fish the wires thru the walls, do l left lots of wire at the end where the camera installs on my outdoorbrick..

l had an installer come to install my cameras dahua A21CG02 (analogue HD) to a dahua junction box mounted to my brick. l specifically requested that he leave as much wire in the junction box as possible in case l wanted to convert system to an IP camera system and so would need to put an ethernet jack on the end of the wire. He kept complaining about how he couldn't do this, how space is tight due to baluns, power etc.. just giving me lots of attitude.

He left about 5 inches of the cat6 in the box..3 inched with the insulation on it maybe 2 inches of the wire with the outer insulation stripped where the wire attaches to the video balun and the power connector.

1. My question is what length of cat6 wire do you guys usually leave in the junction box?

2. My fear is that the amount of wire might be kinda tight if l want to get rid of the current HD analogue cameras and update to an ip camera system where l will need to install an ethernet jack on the end of the current wire.

Also, l am worried that maybe these NON IP cameras will be obsellete in say to 20 years down the road when l need to replace the cameras, and l.may not have enough spare wire to install an ethernet jack on the ends of the wire. l would hate to run new wire as pretty much my basement would be finished at that time, and it would be a pain to run new wires.

IN retrospect l think l should have gone with the ip cameras, but l spoke to an installer who strongly advised me against them due to poor vision at nighttime.


Thanks!

Click to expand...

HI @Mah1

1 Q / issue ) l specifically requested that he leave as much wire in the junction box as possible in case l wanted to convert system to an IP camera system and so would need to put an ethernet jack on the end of the wire. He kept complaining about how he couldn't do this, how space is tight due to baluns, power etc.. just giving me lots of attitude.
1 A) Use IP PoE and there would be no balun taking up space. Also leave extra cable in the attic / basement so you can pull a couple of feet extra out and push back in as needed, so you always have a little extra.

2 Q / Issue ) My question is what length of cat6 wire do you guys usually leave in the junction box?
2 A ) I like to have about 1-2 feet to work with. I will push some back into the wall or conduit or attic if needed.

3 Q/issue ) My fear is that the amount of wire might be kinda tight if l want to get rid of the current HD analogue cameras and update to an ip camera system where l will need to install an ethernet jack on the end of the current wire. ( 3 inches with the insulation on it maybe 2 inches of the wire with the outer insulation stripped )
3 A) Yes, 3 inches way too little imho. THIS IS WHY I LIKE TO DO THIS MYSELF, many incompetent or careless or not caring of quality contractors.

4 Q / issue ) Also, l am worried that maybe these NON IP cameras will be obsellete in say to 20 years down the road when l need to replace the cameras, and l.may not have enough spare wire to install an ethernet jack on the ends of the wire. l would hate to run new wire as pretty much my basement would be finished at that time, and it would be a pain to run new wires.
4 A ) Some of us already believe non-IP cameras are obsolete.

5 Q / Issue ) IN retrospect l think l should have gone with the ip cameras, but l spoke to an installer who strongly advised me against them due to poor vision at nighttime.
5 A) Yes. The installer was a incompetent / inept / corruption - or did not properly communicate with you. This is why you have to be careful of what you get. Wished you'd have stopped by here first before committing to this installer.

l think 3 of the important 6 cameras l will switch over to ip the recorder is hybrid. just looking for decent 4k daua turrets so l can use the same recorder and junction boxes..l think l can get an ethernet end on the end of the 3 inch cable that is left in the box. will have to bite the bullet on the cost of those 3 analog cameras..

does anyone have any problems with the ethernet jacks and rust/corrosion with the conbs inside the junction box, or it is pretty much sealed to the elements..