Whether you install your security camera indoors or outdoors, it needs protection from certain elements. A security camera cover will be a perfect option since it is a cover designed to protect your camera from weather, tampering, and other issues. This cover goes on your security camera to protect while ensuring proper surveillance where needed.
Stick with us as we explore the types, benefits, and guides to choose and maintain your security camera cover.
Types of Security Camera Cover
There are two main types of covers available for security cameras. These include dome covers and weather covers. These can be used as indoor and outdoor security camera covers according to the camera type and location where they are installed.
Security camera dome cover
As the name says the dome covers are made in the shape of a dome and they are used for specific types of security cameras. This type has two further categories: vandal dome and turret dome covers. The vandal dome covers protect the dome camera against vandalism.
Meanwhile, the turret dome cover is for turret cameras, also known as mini domes, so they are usually smaller. Regardless of their small size, they offer flexible coverage and protection against environmental elements.
Security camera weather cover
The second type of security camera is weather cover, and these covers are specially designed to protect security cameras from weather conditions like rain and snow. There are 3 further types which are:
- Bullet cover that is specifically designed to protect the bullet-style camera from rain and snow. These covers have a hood or visor to protect the lens from sunlight and rainfall.
- Rain cover protects camera components from rain and provides clear visibility during rain or snow. These are universal for multiple camera types and come with a minimalist design.
- The outdoor security camera cover is made to protect the camera from weather conditions and vandalism to ensure proper functioning.
Benefits of Security Camera Cover
Using a security camera with and without a cover will make a huge difference, and owners can feel a significant difference in their performance and life. So, if you use your security camera with its cover, you will get the following benefits.
Improved image quality
When it rains, snows or the sun shines toward your camera; its protective cover will protect the lens. Since there will be no obstructions for the lens, this cover will improve image quality in all conditions.
Privacy enhancement
If you don't want to get surveillance in a specific area, you can install a security camera cover that blocks views of that place. It is very helpful in indoor places where you need privacy.
Increased security
Since the cover protects the security camera from damage and weather conditions, you will always have increased security with added peace of mind.
Increase camera duration
Your security camera will last longer since you are protecting it from weather damage, physical damage, vandalism, and all other elements that can shorten the life of your camera.
How to Choose a Security Camera Cover?
Since multiple types of cameras are available, picking the right security camera privacy cover will not be easy. We have discussed all the important points you must focus on when selecting a protective cover for a security camera to ensure maximum benefits.
Weather resistance
The cover must be safe from the impact of the weather and appropriate for your environment. Find covers that protect you from rain, snow, and exceptionally chilly temperatures according to the weather in your area.
Material
Choose a security camera cover that is made of environmentally friendly materials that are also resistant to ultraviolet rays. These materials include plastic, polycarbonate, and metals. The material you choose must protect it against outdoor elements and prevent quick degradation as time passes.
Compatibility
Ensure that your chosen cover is appropriate for the camera model. It means that the cover must fit perfectly and not interfere with the camera’s lens in any way or hinder its operation.
Visibility
Choose a cover that doesn’t impact the visibility of the lens negatively. A good choice for a security camera cover would be the one with clear or tinted windows that allow seamless surveillance.
Vandal resistance
If you install your camera outdoors, then vandalism will be one of your concerns. So, look for tamper-resistant covers. Some covers are designed to protect your camera from vandalism in the form of physical damage or attempts to disable it. Going for them will provide additional peace of mind.
Mounting Options
Make sure that your security camera cover is mounted onto the position that you have chosen. It can only be mounted easily and securely if it supports that specific mounting option. In the best case, you will get a security camera cover that comes with adjustment brackets for use as needed.
Ventilation
Winter can cause condensation, and hot days can cause overheating inside the cover, but it depends on how it is ventilated. You need to look for the covers which also provide ventilation as a built-in function. It will protect you from condensation to block your camera’s view or overheating to damage the electronics. However, remember to ensure that this ventilation does not come at the cost of losing weather resistance.
Infrared compatibility
If your security camera has an inbuilt Infrared feature for night visibility, you must ensure that the cover you selected does not block IR. This is an important factor since it ensures that the obstructions do not make dark light footage, which will technically make the night vision feature useless.
Aesthetics
You should consider the aesthetics of your security camera cover, especially if you are mounting it in a visible location. It must blend with the surroundings to keep the camera somewhat hidden.
How Do You Maintain the Security Camera Cover?
For maintaining your security camera cover effectively, four main things should be considered as discussed below:
Cleaning dust and debris
The first important practice is wiping down surfaces regularly using a clean and soft cloth to eliminate dust and debris.
Removing snow
Second, the cover should be cleared from time to time in cold areas where it is snowing frequently. It is because too much weight from snow on a cover can damage it, and frequent clearing will save you future costs.
Checking for replacement requirements
Third, regular inspections for signs of wear and tear or vandalism are important to know if you need a replacement.
Ensuring a secure fit of the cover and camera
Lastly, providing a tight fit and securing the cover is essential to prevent loosening and avoid impact on the camera by external weather.
Completion of all these steps will guarantee the best working and long-lived security camera cover.
FAQs
1. Can I DIY a security camera cover?
If you have a security camera installed at your place that you want to protect from rain for the time being, then using a plastic box or bag as a DIY security camera weather cover may work.
However, it is not a reliable option, and it is better to invest in professionally designed security camera covers. Those options provide better weather protection and vandal-proof benefits.
2. How do I protect my outdoor security cameras?
After installing your outdoor security camera professionally, you must protect it from weather elements and vandalism. Choosing a compatible outdoor security camera cover and installing it on your security camera will be the best way to protect your camera.
3. How do I protect my security cameras from the sun?
You need to protect the lens of your security camera from sunlight since that can affect the surveillance and lens quality. The best way to protect yourself from the sun is to get a cover with a good visor that prevents rays of sunlight from getting on your security camera lens directly.
Conclusion
A protective cover for your security camera will be a great addition to your investment in security cameras. It not only protects the camera from all types of physical damage but also ensures longer camera life and better image quality. So, suppose you are planning to get security cameras installed at your place. In that case, installing a security camera cover for each one will be a great idea to maximize its benefits.