Turrets Mounted to Soffit

[adawg88]

I am building a new home and will be installing my own cameras after the low voltage contractors run the lines.

I am using James Hardie soffits. I had planned to have the builder add some 2x6 blocking above the soffit in attic and then attach my Dahua turrets directly to the soffit, bypassing the junction block. Would make for a solid mount, but curious if this would work and why the junction block is needed? My wife thinks it is ugly and doesn't want a ton of cameras to start with -- so trying to make her happy.

At this house I have the turret attached to blocking through aluminum soffit and haven't had a problem.

Thx!

 

[CCTVCam]

Cement board soffits. Be careful drilling due to silica.

Also, cameras monted to soffits are too high unless they're purelyt over view. Cameras should be at 6-8ft high.

 

[looktall]

Cement board soffits.

In Australia that's the standard in virtually every house.

I used these for mounting my cameras to fibre cement (and then just use the screws that come with the anchors to mount your camera)

Hollow Wall Anchor Flush Finish - Ramset

Ramset Hollow Wall Anchors Flush Finish are all metal, light duty, cavity fixing for plasterboard and other hollow wall materials. A low profile head allows for low profile fixing and large flange prevents the head from pulling into the substrate. The collapsing legs and the integral nut flush...

ramset.com.au

Save yourself the heartache and buy the setting tool as well.

Hollow Wall Anchors Setting Tool - Ramset

Hand Setting Tool – Gun.

ramset.com.au

You can also use wall mates.

WallMate™ Anchors - Ramset

Ramset WallMate Anchors are the original self-drilling plasterboard anchor with quick and easy installation applied with a #2 Phillips Head screwdriver. They have a flush finish and positive grip and can be easily removed without losing the anchor inside the cavity.

ramset.com.au

I've used them on one camera. I prefer the hollow wall anchors.

 

[Heavyopp]

I am building a new home and will be installing my own cameras after the low voltage contractors run the lines.

I am using James Hardie soffits. I had planned to have the builder add some 2x6 blocking above the soffit in attic and then attach my Dahua turrets directly to the soffit, bypassing the junction block. Would make for a solid mount, but curious if this would work and why the junction block is needed? My wife thinks it is ugly and doesn't want a ton of cameras to start with -- so trying to make her happy.

At this house I have the turret attached to blocking through aluminum soffit and haven't had a problem.

Thx!

The only real issue I see is the much larger hole you need to drill for the wiring.
If you use a junction box you just need a hole large enough for the cat6 cable. Then terminate the cable once installed. All wiring will fit in junction box.

No junction box and you have to stuff all the wiring up into the soffit. Much larger hole needed to get camera connector up there.

The PFA 30E is not ugly and fits the turret perfectly. A little bit of a PIA to install but manageable.

EmpireTech PFA130-E Water-Proof Junction Box Bracket

Neat & Integrated design | Material: Aluminum | IP66 junction box

empiretech01.com

 

[mat200]

The only real issue I see is the much larger hole you need to drill for the wiring.
If you use a junction box you just need a hole large enough for the cat6 cable. Then terminate the cable once installed. All wiring will fit in junction box.

No junction box and you have to stuff all the wiring up into the soffit. Much larger hole needed to get camera connector up there.

The PFA 30E is not ugly and fits the turret perfectly. A little bit of a PIA to install but manageable.

EmpireTech PFA130-E Water-Proof Junction Box Bracket

Neat & Integrated design | Material: Aluminum | IP66 junction box

empiretech01.com

I really like junction boxes .. for Dahua I prefer the pfa 121 and pfa 122 as the base is the same . And lids are for either 4 screw or 3 screw bases

For new construction I would do tests once the framing is up to see if I can get the view I would expect.

Can I only install cameras on soffits to achieve what I want ? No.

It gets more nuanced ..