Video intercoms for a private house: an overview of the characteristics of the best models

The need or desire to maximally control everything that happens on the territory of your site is the need of many owners of country houses. And in order to provide them with such an opportunity, special devices were once developed - video intercoms for a private house. Let's consider how they work, on the basis of which you need to make a choice, as well as some features of the installation of such a device.

Video intercoms for a private house: equipment and operating principle

A standard video intercom, intended for use on the territory of a private house, consists of the following elements:

• the base unit, which is located indoors and is equipped with a display;
• a panel that is installed outside and which includes a video camera;
• an electronic lock that is triggered by the impact of a key card.

The base unit is usually mounted on a wall in a hallway or any other room from which you want to have an overview. Many people prefer to install the device in the kitchen, claiming that this is more convenient. Control can be carried out in two different ways: using standard buttons or using the touch panel.

Interesting! The most expensive models of such devices are usually equipped with many additional features that make it even more convenient to use. For example, some devices have a feature that allows you to communicate with your visitors hands-free. In others, in addition to the image from the video cameras, other useful information can be displayed on the screen - date, time, etc.

As for such components as a video camera and a panel, you need to understand that these are two separate elements that are simply located in one housing. But often, in order to increase the available view, additional cameras are connected, located in other places, for example, behind the gate or just on the territory of the site.

Helpful advice!In order to increase the level of security, it is recommended to carry out masking CCTV cameras... This will prevent an attacker from locating and destroying them.

As for the calling panel, a special system is located on its surface, which is responsible for reading the digital code with which each key card is equipped. Nearby is a call button and a speaker for guests of the house. It is extremely important that the camera lens as well as the entire outdoor unit have a vandal-proof coating.

Varieties of electronic locks for video intercoms

Before you buy a set of video intercom, you need to pay attention to what type of electronic lock is provided in this case. There are only two options:

• an electromagnetic lock, which consists of a metal plate and a core. In this case, the door is locked using the magnetic field of the coil. Opening is performed only as a result of pressing the corresponding button or signal from the key. The operation of such a system does not stop due to the backup power system, even if the power supply to the device was interrupted;

• an electromechanical lock is a slightly different design, which is equipped with crossbars. This design allows the door to be opened using a conventional key. At the same time, the lock functions perfectly not only in the absence of power supply, but even if the operation of the uninterruptible power supply unit was disrupted.

It is worth noting that when it comes to installing a video intercom in a private house, users often prefer models with an electromechanical lock. Due to the absence of the need to install an additional power supply, as well as a higher level of reliability, this option takes the leading position. Electromagnetic systems are more often purchased for installation in apartment buildings, where the issue of an increased level of security is not so acute, and the door is opened many times more often.

How to choose the right one intercom kit for a private house

In order to buy a video intercom for a private house, first of all, you need to figure out what characteristics of this device are decisive, and what level of functionality you need. So, if there is a need to provide an overview of an area with several entrances, it is necessary to provide for the possibility of connecting additional cameras. This is ideal for large areas.

Helpful advice! If it was decided to install two cameras to control the main entrance, then one of them is located directly above the gates or doors, and the second is mounted slightly higher and shifted to the side relative to the main one.

Another important aspect that determines the functionality of the device is the monitor. When choosing, first of all pay attention to its size. Naturally, the larger the screen diagonal, the better and clearer you can see the interlocutor. For those who have vision problems, monitors with a diagonal of 7 inches or more are recommended.

You can also buy a color video intercom or black and white. On the one hand, black-and-white models cost much less and in most cases do quite well with the task - to determine the personality of the guest. But when it comes to the level of security, the advantage is indisputable for the colored ones, since only they allow you to accurately determine the color of the attacker's car or clothing.

Which video intercom to buy: wireless or wired?

The presence of the wireless communication function significantly affects the comfort of using the device. And although many people do without it, yet in some cases this add-on can be very useful:

• when it comes to installation in a two- or three-story house.In this case, the wireless unit can be presented as a tablet. You can easily carry it with you, which will save you the need to run on floors;
• in cases when there is a need to install several panels at once and at the same time reduce the total number of installed systems. For example, in this way, you can make a video intercom on 4 outdoor panels, spending a minimum amount of effort;
• in the case when installation on the gate of the site is required. Thanks to modern technologies, video intercoms are able to provide communication at a distance of up to 100 m.

The main disadvantage of such a solution is that it will definitely not work cheaply to install a video intercom of this type. To buy a high quality wireless video intercom for a private house, you will need to shell out a decent amount. In addition, the quality of their work largely depends on weather conditions, as well as distances and the presence of obstacles that can interfere with the direct transmission of the signal.

Taking into account all the above reasons, experts do not recommend purchasing such models for small houses, where you can freely do with a wired device. Of course, if the building is located at a distance of 20 m or more from the fence, then there is a reason to purchase a wireless video intercom, but otherwise it is quite possible to do without it.

Additional criteria for choosing a video intercom

All other selection criteria, although not considered basic, nevertheless, must also be taken into account. For example, not only the type of lock plays a significant role, but also the case of the outer panel itself. In addition, the device can be equipped with a tube, or maybe without it.

It is extremely important that all parts of the intercom, which are located on the outside of the house, have sufficient resistance to external factors, since they will have to face not only rains, but also severe frosts.

If we talk about the configuration of the interior of the device, then the presence of the tube will allow you to talk to the visitor so as not to notify the whole house about the subject of the conversation. Although many still prefer push-button or touch controls, since, thus, less effort is required to communicate with the guest.

How to connect a video intercom: installation rules

To install a video intercom in a private house, specialists are most often invited, who quickly and efficiently carry out all the necessary work, and then, having tested the result, provide the owners with a completely finished system for use.

But there are those who, having familiarized themselves with the price of installing a video intercom, undertake to solve the problem on their own. Of course, this requires a special tool, as well as experience, but everyone can try. Moreover, now you can easily find a lot of instructions and recommendations on how to connect a video intercom yourself. Let's consider the main stages of this procedure:

1. Choosing a suitable place for the call panel. As a rule, the most convenient location is on the right side of the visitor at a height of about 150-165 cm from the ground. Thus, a person of any height, and even a child, can use the device.
2. Installation of the panel and additional cameras, if they were provided.
3. Installation of internal components of the system. If the unit and tubes are installed separately, you need to think over and implement this at this stage.
4. After that, it remains only to connect all installed devices using power sources.

If the panel is to be installed on a fence, then a special wiring diagram is used.In this case, the cable is laid underground. Moreover, it is protected by a special shell. In addition, the installation of an uninterruptible power supply is provided.

It goes without saying that these recommendations only apply to wired models. If we are talking about wireless video intercoms for a private house, which are much more expensive to buy, then this issue automatically loses its relevance.

Helpful advice! In order to protect the panel and the electric lock, it is recommended to purchase a special protective cabinet, the protection class of which corresponds to IP65.

Wiring diagram for video intercom with electromechanical lock

When deciding to independently connect a video intercom for a private house with an electromechanical lock, you need to be ready to spend 1 to 3 hours on this. How much time it will take for all the necessary work depends on what kind of experience you have in this type of work, as well as on the type of lock to be installed. Installation of overhead mechanisms is quite simple, but with built-in ones you will have to try.

The most common solution is to use a T-shaped corner for this purpose, which serves as a connecting element between the profile and the frame. To do this, it is necessary to prepare all the tools and apply the appropriate markings, marking the places where the fasteners will be located. Then, in the marked places, holes are made for screws of the corresponding diameter.

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This is followed by the installation of the hole through which the cable will be laid through the door and leading to the outer panel. All the same operations must be repeated from the outside of the door. After that, the cable is led to the junction box, inside which there is a call button and a key reader.

Important! If in the process of laying the cable there are places where it bends, then it is necessary to place it in a specially designated channel for this to prevent damage.

After that, it remains only to fix the mating part of the device and connect all the elements. In fact, it is very easy to connect the outdoor panel to the video intercom if you use a twisted pair as wiring, since the system initially has several pairs of twisted cores. If it is necessary to connect the devices to each other over a long distance, then a combined cable is used for this purpose, which is capable of simultaneously transmitting electrical power, as well as audio and video signals.

Connection diagram of a video intercom with an electromagnetic lock

The connection diagram of the video intercom outdoor panel is usually attached by the manufacturer to the device, so it is best to use it as a guide. If the kit does not include connecting cables, and you have to purchase them yourself, then it is best to use those with wires in multi-colored insulation. This will greatly simplify the task.

If video communication is not provided, then you can use a four-core wire, which will have the following distribution:

• general purpose vein;
• power core for the electronic part of the device;
• a core that serves as a signal wire;
• a vein that provides power to the castle itself.

If it is also necessary to connect video communication, then this will require one more core. The cable can be laid underground or on special supports.In the first case, you need to use a special pipe or corrugation as protection, and in the second, the cable is tied up with a steel wire or cable, which is pulled between the supports. This must be done, since the cable itself is quite fragile and easily damaged.

Important! Due to the fact that the intercom with an electromagnetic lock is powered through a transformer, the level of safety and reliability of such a device is much higher.

It is extremely important to pay attention to the quality of the interface unit for the video intercom, which will be used. Since any malfunctions in its operation will lead to the fact that the entire system will not function properly.

Wired and wireless intercoms for a private house: review of the best models

In order not to get confused in a large selection of a wide variety of models from various manufacturers, it is useful to familiarize yourself with some of the most popular devices in advance. Let's consider which video intercoms are the most popular this year.

• Falcon Eye FE-4HP2 is an excellent representative of the simplest devices, which are not crammed with all kinds of technologies, but at the same time they perfectly cope with all basic tasks. The functionality of this model is really minimal, so the screen is correspondingly black and white. The control is carried out using mechanical buttons, and in order to communicate with the visitor, you must use the tube. This option is great for a small house or summer cottage, especially since its cost does not exceed $ 50, which means that it is available to almost everyone;
• Commax CDV-35H is a more advanced model, which is already equipped with a 3.5-inch color screen. In this case, a speakerphone is used for communication. For the operation of this device, an electric lock of absolutely any type can be used, and it is also possible to connect a second camera or an entrance audio intercom;

• Falcon Eye FE-35WI is one of the cheapest wireless video intercom models for a private house. Installation of one or two additional cameras is allowed, as well as free movement of the device around the house and the ability to install it in any room. The maximum permissible distance from the call panel can be 150 m, if there are no serious obstacles in the way that could interfere with the free movement of the signal. It should be noted that this video intercom with a motion sensor, the reaction of which provokes the inclusion of the system;
• Tantos Neo GSM is an excellent model for those who want to stay informed of what is happening even when they are not at home. Thanks to a special built-in module, information in the form of photographs can be received directly on a mobile phone. In addition, this video intercom with recording, so if you buy a memory card of sufficient capacity, then everything that happens in the yard and outside will be saved. Another incredibly useful feature is the adjustment of the signal volume level in accordance with the time of day;

• Slinex SL-10IP is already one of the most high-tech models, which allows its owners to view images obtained immediately from 4 CCTV cameras... Of course, the cost of such a device is quite high, but users get the following benefits:
• the ability not only to record video, but also to do it on a schedule;
• large screen with a clear image;
• support of communication with mobile phones of owners.

Moreover, the intercom can also be controlled using a mobile phone. You just need to download a special application and the smartphone can also be used as a remote control.The only real inconvenience associated with the use of this model is that the control of the device settings is carried out exclusively manually, using a mouse, which must be specially connected.

Helpful advice! If you decide to purchase a video intercom with a motion sensor recording, then you need to know that this element must be installed at a height of at least 2 m and there should be no elements next to it that can prevent it from detecting movement in its range of visibility, which is usually 120 degrees.

Summing up, we can say that choosing a suitable device and installing a video intercom with your own hands is a feasible task for everyone who has a desire to refuse the help of specialists in this matter. Moreover, reviews can help to determine the best option and carry out the installation correctly. Video intercoms appeared in our country relatively recently, so users are happy to discuss this topic, share their experiences and recommendations.