CCTV and security systems
CCTV, security lighting and door entry installed and set up so it works when it is needed.
In short
A CCTV installation is only as good as its camera positions and its lighting. Cameras are sited to cover the actual approaches to a property, at a height that captures a recognisable face rather than the top of a head, recording to a local NVR or DVR with remote access from a phone. Most systems that disappoint do so for predictable reasons: cameras too high, pointed at a driveway with the sun behind them, or recording at a resolution and frame rate that turns anything moving into a smear.
Cameras that produce footage nobody can identify anybody from are worse than no cameras, because they give the impression of cover that is not there. The useful questions are where somebody would actually approach from, what you want to be able to recognise, and what the lighting does at three in the morning.
Security work we install
- CCTV for homes and business premises, with remote viewing on a phone
- Camera positions planned for identification, not just for coverage
- Recording to a local NVR or DVR, wired rather than dependent on wifi
- Security and PIR lighting, including to sheds, side gates and dark approaches
- Video door entry and doorbell cameras, wired to a permanent supply
- Power and containment for alarm systems and networking
What the job involves
Every property is different, but the shape of the work is usually the same. Here is how a typical cctv and security systems job runs.
Walk the site
The property is walked to work out how somebody would actually approach it, which is often not where people assume, and what the lighting does after dark.
Plan the positions
Cameras are positioned for recognisable images: at a height and angle that captures faces and plates, not into direct sun or a floodlight.
Cable it properly
Cameras are wired back to the recorder rather than left depending on wifi, with cable routed and clipped tidily instead of looped across a wall.
Set it up and configure
The recorder, storage, motion zones and remote access on your phone are all set up and tested, including what happens at night.
Show you how to use it
You get shown how to review footage and export a clip, because the day you need it is not the day to be working it out.
Want someone to take a look?
Call 07557 448945 or send a photo on WhatsApp and you will get a straight answer on what it needs.
CCTV and security systems near you
S. Sparham Electrical covers Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. Pick your area for local detail, or call 07557 448945 if you are not sure whether you are in range.
Frequently asked questions
How many cameras do I actually need?
Fewer, well positioned, beats more badly positioned. Most homes are covered by two to four: the main approach, the rear, and any side access or vulnerable outbuilding. It is worth walking the property before deciding rather than buying a boxed set of eight.
Is wired CCTV better than wireless?
For a permanent installation, yes. Wired cameras get power and data down one run, do not drop off the network, and do not need batteries changing. Wireless has its place where cabling genuinely cannot be run, at the cost of reliability.
Will CCTV work at night?
Cameras with infrared will produce a usable monochrome image in darkness, within range. Beyond that range you get nothing useful, which is why lighting and camera position matter as much as the camera specification. Existing security lighting can work for or against a camera depending on where it points.
Do I have to tell people I have CCTV?
If your cameras capture anything beyond your own property boundary, such as a pavement or a neighbour’s garden, UK data protection law applies to you as the operator. In practice that means signage, keeping recordings no longer than needed, and being able to respond if somebody asks for footage of themselves. The ICO publishes plain guidance for domestic users.
Can you add cameras to a system I already have?
Usually, if the recorder has spare channels and the cameras are compatible. Mixed systems can be awkward, so it is worth checking what you have before buying anything new.
Who is doing the work
Before anyone works on your electrics it is worth knowing what they are trained to do. This is what Stephen Sparham holds.