Wires used in sound & security systems
Sound and security systems can come in more or less advanced options, hence requiring different types of wiring. So what kind of cable do you need for your security cameras, video recorder, or audio system? Keep reading to find out.
CCTV cables cover a huge range of wires designed for use in a CCTV system to power it and transmit video between the camera and the video recorder. Here are some of the most common CCTV wires listed below.
Video power cables consist of two types of cables, namely a coaxial wire and a DC power carrier cable. The coaxial cable covers video signal transmission while the other one handles system power. This wiring option is affordable but not the best choice in terms of preserving video quality.
Siamese cables, similarly to video power wires, are composed of a coaxial cable as a video signal carrier and a power cable. However, the siamese wires offer better capabilities, like working with any analog security camera and higher power carrying capabilities.
Coaxial cables are usually made of twisted wires and are braided — the combination of these characteristics makes coaxial wires extremely durable and not susceptible to the majority of mechanical damages. This wiring is most often used in older CCTV systems and shows excellent video signal transmission, especially over long distances.
Cat3 cables are the most suitable to serve as phone wiring. Cat3 wires consist of twisted pairs — the more pairs, the more phone lines the wire can handle. However, Cat5E and Cat6 cables are a better choice for more complex and sophisticated systems.
Cat5 & Cat5 Ethernet cables are the most suitable for digital video transmission and IP camera systems, but they can work with analog cameras with a proper converter, too. Power-Over-Ethernet (POE) is also available with Cat5 or Cat5E cables to avoid using an additional power cable. Cat5 and Ethernet wires are great for long-distance video transmission without sacrificing the quality of the video.
Cat6 cables are an upgraded version of Cat5 Ethernet cables and show a better performance in terms of the speed of video signal transmission. Besides providing POE and being suitable for IP camera systems, these are also compatible with Cat5 cable ports.
Alarm wire is designed for alarm systems in both private and commercial installations. The alarm cable is sheathed well so that there are no losses in the connection in case of any damage, which makes it long-lasting and protected from frequency interference.
An optical wire is a go-to choice for digital audio transmission between devices, which includes uses in electronic systems. Optical cables can also be used for other applications that require data exchange, like cable television and the Internet.
Access control systems feature a lot of wiring options as well. Here are the most popular cables for these types of systems.
Twisted pair cables most often come in 18/6, 18/2, and 22/4 options, where 18 stands for the gauge and 6 is the number of conductors. Paired cables for access control are an affordable wiring choice, especially in sites where signals need to be transferred to long distances with no quality losses.
Composite cables consist of 4 different cables, particularly for the card reader, door, exit request, and power, that are twisted with each other. So you get one wire that performs all the access functions.
Buying sound and security cables
To choose a high-quality wire that will meet the needs of your security project and last you long, it's worth checking out the catalog of a reliable supplier. Nassau National Cable, for example, has a vast range of cables for various applications, including security and sound systems.
