Thursday, October 6, 2011

Video Balun Types

Video baluns are great connecting tools that allow you to use existing wiring to create longer and better signal transmission. They allow signals to piggy back on the telephone wiring already available in buildings or provide a different way to carry a transmission between a camera and a monitor. Using a special connector, they can plug into a variety of devices. Different types are useful for different purposes. Here is a look at what they can do.

Power transferring video baluns work on one side or the other to convert power. Monitor-side baluns bridge power input to 18V-24V DC from the wall. As power gets closer to the camera, the current signal weakens as you might expect. Baluns on the camera side work as a power regulator and convert higher current down to a 12V DC signal to send to a monitor. Besides just these two, there are also video baluns that can send AC power to a camera.

Two types exist for different uses: active and passive. Composite video signal generally carries a single volt peak to peak signal. Passive connectors don't change the intensity of the transmission. Rather, they simply send it from coaxial cable to Cat5 cable or vice versa. The problem with this is that over a long range, the signal quality is reduced. Active baluns are helpful to increase the signal and send a more powerful transmission to the receiving balun. If the receiving end is using an active tool, the received weakened signal will be intensified by a going to a video surveillance appliance. Over long ranges, the signal can be boosted by up to five volts. You can find these in long, medium, short, and adjustable ranges. However, a quality DVR will allow for signals from 0.3 volts up to 5.0 volts.

Active and passive baluns work in three different configurations. If both the camera and the monitor sides are active, the signal intensity doesn't change or become amplified. In this set up, the maximum length allowed between the two devices is 1000 feet. With a passive camera side and active monitor side, the receiving balun is able to amplify the weaker signal and transfer a new, stronger message to the surveillance application. The maximum length for this design is 4000 feet. And finally, with both the camera and the monitor using an active setup, the sending apparatus is able to send an enhanced signal to the receiving end, which boosts the signal even more before sending it to the surveillance device. This configuration allows the longest transmission length at 6000 feet.

As you can see, video baluns are a useful connecting tool. Be sure you know exactly how you need to put your system together when choosing between active and passive, as they have different effects on the signal strength. However, any of these may be a great solution to wiring without needing to install new cables. In fact, the use of pre-wired materials is one of the things that makes this option so cost effective, the lack of setup. Get started today on your connecting.

 

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Follow your eyes to the best looking cable supplier.  BestPriceCables is proud to supply a huge inventory and selection of Video Cables at your service.  Connect devices such as PVR's, Xbox 360's, Blu-Ray with cable connectors including HDMI, RCA, DisplayPort, S-video and many more!

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