How to use Hikvision Audio and Alarm IO connections

[Del Boy]

Will O work if you have the camera on 24/7 recording?

 

[midniterebel]

Yes I & O are working fine with camera recording 24/7 for over 9 months now.

 

[bijalshah01]

Hello,I'm getting Hikvision DS-CD2732FI-S cameras for my home. I was told that it supports two way audio. I'm not sure what do I've to buy to configure two way audio. Would you please recommend any option that are compatible with this camera? Thanks Bijal

With some of the Hikvision camera range there is an S option which gives Audio and Alarm I/O capabilities. Frustratingly I have been unable to find detailed information online or in the manuals on how these work so I bought one and had a play.

An example of such a camera is DS-2CD2532F-IS which comes with a pigtail cable with a green connector block. This has four screw down connections labelled from left to right as I, O, GND and A.

Click to enlarge the picture

The narrative below explains what each of these are and how they can be used.


I : Alarm Input

This allows an external device to tell the camera to start recording. An example of such a device could be a PIR which might be used in preference to the camera's motion detection which is notoriously sensitive to changes in sun, clouds, heavy rain and lightning flashes.

The alarm input can be triggered by simply shorting the I input to GND (ground) as could be done by a simple on off switch - you do not need to feed any power into it.

Of course if you wish to use a PIR you will need to feed the PIR with power in order for it to function and switch the alarm input. Irritatingly there is no power output available on the DS-2CD2532F-IS which means potentially means a separate power supply and cabling.

If instead of using POE (Power Over Ethernet) you are running a power cable to the camera (it has a power connector for non-POE users) you could tap in to this for low voltage power using a CCTV power splitter cable which you can source on ebay or on specialist CCTV web sites . Just make sure you have checked the voltages and power consumption of the devices you want to power are compatible with the power supply you have bought to power the camera. Most of the HikVision IP cameras are 12V but I found one that was 24V.

Remember you will need to configure in the camera whether the alarm input is expecting Normally Open (NO) or Normally Closed (NC) connections along with a schedule of when the camera should accept such inputs or ignore them. NO connections are basically like an on-off switch where the switch is normally OFF and when something like a PIR detects movement it is switched to ON. NC connections on the other hand are basically like an on-off switch where the switch is normally ON and when something like a PIR detects movement it is switched to OFF.

If you are going to use a PIR you may want to consider a 12v one designed for an alarm system as the better ones are much more advanced (less likely to give a false alarm) than the mains powered ones used to switch outdoor lights. Also if using the PIR outdoors make sure it is rated for outdoors use. I found this article quite helpful as it gives you an idea of the outdoor PIR types available and who makes them http://www.benchmarkmagazine.com/intruder_tests_detail.php?testsID=37 The downside is that these don’t come cheap and they can be quite large.

If like me you use Synology Surveillance Station to control and monitor your cameras do be aware that alarm inputs alerts are tagged differently from motion detection alerts and so you have to explicitly configure Surveillance Station to trigger on these (SS> Management > IP Camera> edit camera > schedule). I lost a day and some hair before I found this out...


A : Audio Output

This allows you to feed an audio signal into an amplifier and then to a loudspeaker. You cannot attach a speaker directly to the camera. The audio will come from a microphone attached to a PC which is then routed over the IP connection to the camera. With the DS-2CD2532F-IS it has a built in microphone so this setup would allow a CCTV operator to have a conversation with someone near the camera which would be useful if it were located near to an entrance door. The camera's Live View page on its web interface is one way of using this capability.

While I have not used the audio output it would be my expectation that you would feed the amplifier's input with the A and GND outputs. Remember you will need to use screened audio cable to prevent noise. Given the size of the screw down connectors make sure you use a small diameter cable.

Again you would have to feed power to the amplifier.

For testing purposes you may want to play with the camera indoors and try and feed the audio into an external audio input on a TV or portable radio or a music player dock. For a more permanent solution you should be able to find suitable low powered amplifiers and loudspeakers at the likes of ebay, or Maplin in the UK, or Radio Shack in the US. Search for “Mono audio amplifier” or “amplified speaker mp3”. Make sure you get something which allows you to adjust the volume (gain). If you are going to use the speaker outside (even if under cover) then you need to make sure it is rated for outdoor use otherwise you will end up with some very soggy cardboard that will fall apart.

O : Alarm Output

This allows you to signal an alarm condition to an external device if say the camera's motion detection has spotted a movement.

With regard to the alarm output (O and GND) be very careful. I have not played with it and don't know for sure how it works let alone what the voltages are and what the maximum output current is. I suspect you can directly hook this output to alarm panels and to CCTV recording devices, but whether you can connect it directly to things like Raspberry Pis I do not know. You certainly will not be able to connect anything like a light bulb or a buzzer without using a relay. How you wire relays up so they do not damage the circuitry in the camera is outside my area of expertise although the words Back EMF and Diodes ring distant bells in my head.

If anyone has expertise on the above please do comment as I would be interested.


GND : ground
This is used in conjunction with the above connections to complete the circuit.


Hope this information helps a little and that I haven’t made too many mistakes. Do keep in mind you use this information at your own risk. I am not an electronics expert so I don’t warrant its accuracy.

 

[midniterebel]

you need a speaker, that is all, hook it up to A and GND.

 

[Hawko777]

Hi All,
This is my virgin post. I have been scouting the internet and the forums to find out as much as possible and have made the plunge and bought the following;
1 x Hikvision DS-2CD2135F-IS Dome 4mm
1 x Hikvision DS-2CD3345-I 4MP Turret 4mm
2 x Hikvision 3MP DS-2CD2232-I5 6mm
1 x Hikvision DS-7608N-E2/8P NVR

I'm very interested in connecting the pigtails to an external PIR and have microphone http://www.jaycar.com.au/CCTV-%26-Surveillance/CCTV-%26-Surveillance-Cameras/Camera-Accessories/Microphone-Amp-for-CCTV-Cameras/p/QC3434 and speaker. This is for the front door.
I realize I will need a relay for the PIR and Speaker. I have 2 seperate pigtails, one for Audio and one for Alarm. I cannot find anywhere online where it demonstrates how to connect this or the best way to go about finding the best equipment.
This camera is the latest model so there isn't much on it.
Do you think it would be possible with the audio connected that I could utilize my smart phone/tablet to not only view the camera's via IVMS 4500HD ( or similar, what ever is better) but to also hear and speak to people at the front door?

I am not tech savvy and after days of searching, reading etc, my fn brain aches.
I'm in Perth, Western Australia and noticed other sandgropers on this site, sooo, cooooeeee cobbers.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[moa999]

Which camera do you want to connect, and do you have a photo of the pigtails. Would have thought the post a couple above of a pigtail should help

 

[Buggah]

I'm planning on buying a DS-2CD2142FWD-IS but I'm wondering, since it has Audio, does it also record video with audio than?

 

[fenderman]

I'm planning on buying a DS-2CD2142FWD-IS but I'm wondering, since it has Audio, does it also record video with audio than?

yes, if you attach a mic..

 

[JoshCCTV]

Ive connected a pir to my 2132 before. You first need power going to your pir sensor typically 12v than you need 2 wires going to your camera. That's about it. I think the tough part is getting the power to your pir. I bought a power box off ebay.


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[Buggah]

yes, if you attach a mic..

hmm. I thought they had an internal mic as well.
Maybe this pdf is usefull for someone else; http://overseas.hikvision.com/ueditor/net/upload/2015-06-10/adb2bcea-e809-4728-a937-917b98c57a21.pdf

 

[MartyO]

Why do they make that break out block so big, great for hooking up sure, but making a hole big enough or fitting in something, its huge.

 

[JoshCCTV]

Anyone know of hikivision makes a bullet or dome varifocal with the Alarm input?? Looking to buy a few. Thanks


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[Søren Birkholm Eriksen]

The 3MP versions are: Bullet 2632f-is or dome 2732f-is.

There are 4MP versions also or about to be released (not released yet where I live) called 2642 or 2742.


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[JoshCCTV]

How much you think the 4mp version is going to be? Varifocal with alarm. The 3mp bullets with alarms are about 175


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[ibuyufo]

I ordered 3 of the 2742 dome cameras. I don't have it yet.

 

[Søren Birkholm Eriksen]

How much you think the 4mp version is going to be? Varifocal with alarm. The 3mp bullets with alarms are about 175


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Sorry, dont know.


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[Buggah]

yes, if you attach a mic..

I just got one and you don't need to attach an external mic to have audio in the video.

 

[fenderman]

I just got one and you don't need to attach an external mic to have audio in the video.

Are you saying there is a built in mic in the 2142? The specs dont mention it and i have never seen a hikvision camera with a built in mic other than the mini domes and cubes...

 

[Buggah]

I'm sorry, I bought a 2CD2532F, totally forgot about 2142

 

[fenderman]

I'm sorry, I bought a 2CD2532F, totally forgot about 2142

Ok that makes sense.