How To Run Security Camera Wires Through Soffit?

We all know that the most important part of any surveillance system is the outdoor security devices. If placed correctly, they allow you to see what goes inside, comes outside, and give you time to act on time.

However, potential burglars can destroy the system if your CCTV system is exposed. That’s why you have to mount your cameras high and hide the cables to prevent cuts. The soffit is the best option for this method.

So, can you run wires through the soffit?

Well, yes. It is the best way to ensure the wires are hidden and safe. The soffit allows you to completely hide the cables and minimizes the exposure that compromises the system’s effectiveness.

And the hardest part of installing security systems is running their wires through them. In this article, you will know how to run security camera wires through a soffit.

Running Security Camera Wires Through Soffit

You can comfortably proceed with the installation and wiring once you ensure that they are working well. Then you can disconnect the wiring process and choose the perfect place to set up your security system.

Following are the steps you can undertake to install your security cameras:

1. Select the perfect location

When it comes to installation place for the camera is of utmost importance. Because you only end up seeing heads when you mount a security camera too high. Instead of selecting a random spot, you need to consider a place to work easily in the installation process.

2. Drilling through soffit

Can I drill through the soffit?

Of course, you can! How else would you run the wires through walls, soffit, and the attic?

You must have a drill at hand since you are boring the wall and ceiling with several holes. If you follow the technique, we’ll explain next then you’ll be able to work with any soffit material like vinyl and aluminum.

First, the tools and cables you need to use are:

• Camera Wires
• Drill and bits
• Fish rod
• Flashlight or headlamp
• Screwdriver
• Electrical tape

Now follow these steps to drill through the soffit in order to run the wires through it:

Step 1 – Before you install a new camera, remove the Vinyl from the place you want to mount the camera. Then measure its width to cut a piece of wood. The piece of wood will help you in mounting through the soffit.

Step 2 – Make a hole in the wood piece using the drill to feed the camera’s wires. You can make a larger hole with a hole-saw bit that fits all the wires.

Step 3 – Make the camera’s mounting screws into smaller holes [on wood]. To ensure maximum accuracy, you may use the template sticker provided with the security camera. Make those smaller holes on the wood for the camera’s mounting screws.

Step 4 – You might have wondered about the finishing rod. What has a fishing rod got to do with wiring through a soffit? How to fish cable through soffit? This is the step where that comes into use.

Grab the finishing rod and tape one end of the wire to its head. Now push the rod through the hole into the attic space. Now pull the other end of the rod where the attic space is accessible inside the house. This is how you run the wire from the soffit to the attic.

Step 5 – Bring the recording machine to the attic and connect the cable to its port. Repeat the steps for other security cameras as well to complete the system. But if the recorder is somewhere else, you’ll need additional wires and make a larger hole for the wire to pass through the attic floor to the recorder machine.

Related post on how to hide security camera wires outside?

How can I run a wired camera without drilling?

If you do not have a drill at hand there is an alternate way of wiring. This process allows you to run the cable without boring the ceiling or wall. In this way, you’ll be running the cables from the attic to the soffit through the gable vent. For this process, the system hub has to be in the attic.

For this process to work you’ll need the following things:

• Screwdriver
• Fiberglass fish tape
• Camera wires
• Electrical tape

Step 1 – First remove the vinyl near the gable vent and those places where you want to put the cameras.

Step 2 – Now if your soffit is directly connected to the attic the job becomes much easier. You don’t even have to use the gable vent. Instead, just pierce a hole with the screwdriver to create a simple path for the wiring to pass through.

Step 3 – Do the same as before with the help of a fishing rod. Then seize the fish tape rod and ensure the cameras start to one end. Then move the rod into the attic where you will find your surveillance hub through the hole.

Step 4 – Grab the rod from the other end. Repeat the same process for other cameras as well.

You can use the various soffit vents to reach the cables in the camera location when you have several cameras. Just keep in mind to replace the vents to maximize airflow in the underside and attic surfaces.

How Can You Run Power to Outdoor CCTV Camera?

Now it’s time to think about how to power the cameras after wiring them through the soffit. In order to avoid power problems, it is better to mount CCTV cameras near electrical outlets.

Step 1 – You might buy extension power cords upon necessity. Make sure to check the camera voltage before purchasing the extension cord.

Step 2 – When you connect the cord with camera wire make sure that they are hidden in the soffit or behind the walls.

Step 3 – Finally connect the camera’s power cable to the extension cord to turn the cameras on.

This process works only on fully wired security cameras and not on wireless security cameras.

What Do You Require for The Camera Installation Setup?

The camera installation setup requires all the wiring requirements. Fortunately, the majority of the security firms usually pack their systems with cables and fittings as a complete kit.

So, only your household instruments like screwdrivers, ladders, and a drill are what you need.

How to Connect Both the Cameras and NVR?

Running the wires of the security cameras to the NVR is the most important step. This NVR or DVR device manages the whole system and stores all the footage. The cameras are connected to this device using a BNC cable or ethernet cable.

The process of connecting both ends is as follows:

Step 1 – In their respective ports, connect all the cables in DVR/NVR. Keep in mind that there are two wires for each cable, one for the power supply, and the other for the video recorder.

Step 2 – Connect an external monitor to DVR/NVR in order to see directly on the monitor the live camera that your camera captures. Some security camera systems have a mobile app that keeps you close to your property.

Step 3 – Connect the cable directly to the power supply. When you run your camera system, look at the footage and live stream and find out whether further adjustments are needed.

How Do You Know Your Security Camera System Is Prepared for Service?

You can determine how your safety cameras connect to the hub. The unique design of each type of CCTV system is suitable for particular environments and systems.

In addition, you have to connect a single Ethernet cable for power and video transmission via an IP POE security camera system. This means that the cable is much faster than the BNC analog connection that needs two wires; video and power.

A Siamese BNC cable is available two-in-one but the video head is still necessary for the DVR unit. The powerhead connected to the wall discharge is near the DVR.

In the meantime, the only thing the cameras require is a power cable, which can be easily plugged into an outlet in the attic or the nearest room.

Final Words

The method described here considers the most popular way of using soffit to manage security cameras. Some homeowners use various items to run wires in the soffit. Use screws to place the bar and mount your camera from both sides afterward.

Of course, the installation process is not easy, particularly when the cables pass through the basement attic. Furthermore, when fishing the wires from the shelf, you must be very careful because the floor is mainly covered by drywall. It will not support your weight, therefore, and you could fall.