A good home CCTV system helps you keep an eye on your gate, your family, and your belongings, even when you are at work or away. But the best setup depends on your house, your budget, and how you want to use it. This guide walks you through planning a home CCTV system in Sri Lanka, step by step.
Step 1: Decide what you want to protect
Start by walking around your property and listing the places that matter most:
- The main gate and the road in front of it
- The driveway and parking area, including vehicles
- The front door, where visitors and deliveries arrive
- Side and back entrances, which are common entry points
- The boundary wall, if people could climb over it
- Indoor areas, such as the living room, only if you want them covered
Most houses are well covered by four cameras: the gate, the driveway, the front door, and the back. Larger houses, or houses with several floors, may need more.
Step 2: Choose the right type of system
- Wired IP cameras with an NVR are the most reliable choice for a whole house. They record all day without depending on WiFi, and one cable can carry power and video to each camera. Read PoE for CCTV explained.
- WiFi cameras suit a flat, a small home, or a single room, where you want a quick setup. See our WiFi CCTV camera guide.
- A CCTV kit bundles cameras, a recorder, and the essentials in one package, and is often the simplest way to cover a typical house.
Step 3: Pick cameras that suit each area
- Resolution: 4MP or higher gives clearer faces and number plates than 2MP.
- Night vision: infrared for long range in the dark, or full-colour night vision where you want colour footage after dark.
- Outdoor rating: any camera outside needs to be weatherproof for rain and humidity.
- Camera type: bullet cameras suit gates and walls, while dome and turret cameras suit doors and indoor areas.
Where each camera goes matters as much as which one you buy. Read our guide to planning CCTV range and placement.
Step 4: Plan the recorder and storage
The recorder saves your footage to a hard drive. Choose a recorder with a few spare channels, so you can add a camera later, and enough storage for the number of days you want to keep. For homes, two to four weeks is usually enough. Our CCTV storage guide explains how to estimate it.
Step 5: Set up remote viewing
When the recorder is connected to your home internet, you can watch live video, play back recordings, and receive motion alerts on your phone. Recording itself does not need the internet. Read does CCTV work without internet?
Step 6: Protect the system itself
- Connect the recorder, PoE switch, and router to a UPS so the system keeps recording during power cuts.
- Place the recorder somewhere out of sight, such as a locked cabinet, so it cannot be taken along with the footage.
- Change the default passwords, and keep the cameras' firmware updated.
- Point cameras at your own property, and avoid your neighbours' homes and private areas.
What does a home system cost?
The cost depends on the number of cameras, their resolution and night vision, the recorder and storage, the cabling, and installation. Our CCTV price guide explains what affects the price, and we can quote exactly after a free site survey.
Frequently asked questions
How many cameras does a house need?
Most houses are well covered by four cameras: the gate, the driveway, the front door, and the back. Larger houses or houses with several entrances often need six to eight.
Should I put cameras inside my home?
You can, if you want to watch indoor areas such as a living room or an entrance hall. Many families choose outdoor cameras only. Never put cameras in bedrooms or bathrooms.
Can I install home CCTV myself?
You can install a simple WiFi camera yourself. For a wired system, a professional installation helps with cable routing, camera angles, and recorder setup, so the footage is clear when you need it.
Will CCTV work during a power cut?
Not unless the recorder, switch, and router are connected to a UPS. A UPS keeps the system running for a short time and protects the hard drive from sudden power loss.
Get a home CCTV system planned for you
Our CCTV installation service starts with a free site survey, and we send a written quotation with the full cost before any work begins. Browse our CCTV cameras and kits, or contact us.