How to Solve Hik-Connect (Hikvision) Mounting Difficulties
Hikvision cameras, accessed via the Hik-Connect app, are known for their professional-grade quality. However, their mounting systems can sometimes seem more complex than typical consumer cameras, leading to installation challenges. If you're finding your camera hard to mount, this guide will help you achieve a secure, professional finish.
### Common Hikvision Mounting Challenges
Professional installers are familiar with these issues, and now you can be too:
- Junction Box Requirement: The camera base doesn't seem designed to mount flat on a wall.
- Crooked Image: The video from a turret or dome camera is not level with the horizon.
- Stiff Adjustments: The camera's positioning joints are very tight and difficult to aim.
- Cable Management: The thick pigtail of cables is difficult to hide or protect.
- Insecure Base: The camera mount feels like it could be easily tampered with.
Step-by-Step Professional Mounting Guide for Hikvision Cameras
Pro Tip: Most Hikvision mounting issues are solved by using the correct accessory, like a junction box or bracket.
### Step 1: Understand the Need for a Junction Box
This is the most common point of confusion.
- Why a Junction Box? Many Hikvision cameras are not designed to be mounted directly to a surface. The base is designed to attach to a matching junction box (sold separately). This box serves two key purposes:
- Cable Management: It provides a weatherproof enclosure to house the bulky cable connectors.
- Secure Mounting: It creates a solid, flat, and secure foundation for the camera.
- Installation: The junction box is first mounted securely to the wall or ceiling. You drill a large hole behind the box for the cables to pass into the wall cavity, and all connections are made inside the box. The camera then mounts neatly onto the front of the junction box.
### Step 2: Levelling and Orienting the Camera
A crooked image looks unprofessional and can cut off important parts of the scene.
- Turret (Eyeball) Cameras: These have a locking collar at the base. Loosen this collar, and you can then rotate the entire 'eyeball' part of the camera. Get the image level while watching a live view, then tighten the collar firmly.
- Dome Cameras: After removing the outer dome cover, you will typically see three screws holding the internal lens module. Loosen these screws slightly, and you can rotate the entire module to level the image. Re-tighten the screws and replace the cover.
### Step 3: Making Adjustments
Aiming the camera needs to be done precisely.
- Use the Right Tool: Many models have small hex screws for adjustment. Use the Allen key that came with the camera. Using the wrong tool can strip these delicate screws.
- Loosen, Aim, Tighten: Loosen the adjustment screw(s) just enough to allow movement. Use a live video feed on your phone or a monitor to get the angle perfect. Then, while holding the camera in place, tighten the screw(s) securely.
### Step 4: Securing the Installation
A properly mounted camera is also a more secure one.
- Use Appropriate Anchors: Do not rely on the included plastic plugs for plasterboard or other weak surfaces. Use heavy-duty drywall anchors or toggle bolts to ensure the camera cannot be easily pulled off the wall.
- Conduit and Brackets: For maximum security and weather protection, especially in commercial settings, consider using metal conduit to run your cables. Hikvision offers a range of wall and pole-mount brackets that are designed to integrate with their cameras and junction boxes for a clean and robust installation.
By thinking like a professional installer and using the right accessories, you can overcome the challenges of mounting a Hik-Connect camera, resulting in a clean, secure, and perfectly aimed surveillance solution.