How to Design a Security Camera System for a Mechanic Garage / Auto Repair Shop

Did you know that you can see our products and people in action on the television show Garage Rehab airing on Wednesdays at 10PM on the Discovery Channel?

Mechanics have a lot to think about including worker productivity, customers wait times for the sales office, and preventing theft or damage to the vehicles.

mechanic garage and auto repair shop security camera floorplan

Explanation

Goals: One of goal of this surveillance system is to monitor access to the property - especially after hours - in order to reduce theft of customer vehicles on both the inside and outside parking and reduce theft of expensive tools and equipment. Secondly, there's some objectives related to business operations, such as of management being able to monitoring the productivity of staff, especially when the owner is away, and for the sales staff to be notified of customers entering the sales office or conference room. Lastly, it is very important that there are images of the cars on the lifts, as they are worked on, to reduce liability and complaints that they car was damaged by the workers. In the case that a vehicle was damaged while on location, the employee needs to be identified.

The Green cones are the line of sight for our most commonly used camera: the Warrior 2.0. You will have a clear enough picture with these cameras to be able to ID someone at 50 feet, because they shoot in 1080P at 30 pictures per second and a 85 degree angle of view.

The Red cones are the line of sight for our second most commonly used camera: the Deputy 2.0. You will have a clear enough picture with these cameras to be able to ID someone at 40 feet, because they shoot in 1080P at 30 pictures per second and a 110 degree angle of view.

The Yellow cone is for either our Viking or Detective. Either camera has an adjustable lenses that can have up to 4x optical zoom. This camera was chosen because there's a metal wire fence (the blue line) right next to the parking, so two wider angle lens cameras (like on the top) wouldn't be very useful, as the shop owner doesn't care much what happens on the other side of the fence, but does care if someone jumps it.


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The Warrior 2.0 - 26BF2


The Warrior 2.0 - 26BF2 - 1080P Fixed Lens Mini Bullet Camera


Resolution

1080p HD

1080P @ 30 FPS; 1920 × 1080

Detect: 100 ft
Recognize: 50 ft
Identify: 25 ft


Processing Power and Compression: Not All 1080P Cameras are Created Equal


Weather

weatherproof

IP67
Full protection from dust, rain, snow, dew, frost, and sprinklers.

You can even submerge it for a few minutes.


Temp

temperature rating

Temperature rated from -31°F to 140 °F

Humidity rated between 10 and 95%.


Lens

fixed lens

Fixed: 4mm
85° of coverage

Digital Zoom Only

Learn about Digital vs Optical Zoom


Day/Night

night footage

Infrared night vision up to 100 FT

Larger image sensor for low light

Color video possible until 0.02 lux

How to get the best footage at night


Special

special features

Digital Wide Dynamic Range

Seeing in shadows: Understanding WDR

The Warrior is our most popular camera model. It is tied with the Deputy in terms of how easy it is to install and position, since neither camera requires you to remove any part of the camera to screw it into the wall/ceiling/soffit. This makes it ideal for outdoor use as you don't have a tendency to trap moisture in the lens, as is common with dome cameras, where you have to remove the outer glass dome to mount them. The 81 degree lens is great balance between covering a large area and identifying faces and license plates. Although you can use this camera inside or out, the most common use of the Warrior models (the camera comes in 2MP, 4MP, or 8MP) is to cover the side of buildings or large sections of yards.

Sample Photos taken by the Warrior 2.0. Click to enlarge the images. Press ESC key to close.

10 FT 20 FT 50 FT 75 FT 100 FT
view at 10 feet from a 4mm 85 degree FOV lens 1080P security camera view at 20 feet from a 4mm 85 degree FOV lens 1080P security camera view at 50 feet from a 4mm 85 degree FOV lens 1080P security camera view at 75 feet from a 4mm 85 degree FOV lens 1080P security camera view at 100 feet from a 4mm 85 degree FOV lens 1080P security camera

detection

Detect someone up to 100 feet

"Detecting" a face means being able to tell that a human face is in the picture.

recognize

Recognize someone up to 50 feet

"Recognizing" a face refers to being able to say "I have seen that person before" - even if you don't know or can't place who it is.

identify

Identify someone up to 25 feet

"Identification" refers to being able to make out identifiable marks with enough certainty to make a sketch or claim.


The Deputy 2.0 - 26DF2



Resolution

1080p HD

1080P @ 30 FPS; 1920 × 1080

Detect: 75 ft
Recognize: 40 ft
Identify: 20 ft


Processing Power and Compression: Not All 1080P Cameras are Created Equal


Indoor/Outdoor

weatherproof

IP67
Full protection from dust, rain, snow, dew, frost, and sprinklers.

You can even submerge it for a few minutes.


Temp

temperature rating

Temperature rated from -31°F to 140 °F

Humidity rated between 10 and 95%.


Lens

fixed lens

Fixed: 2.8mm
110° of coverage

Digital Zoom Only

Learn about Digital vs Optical Zoom


Day/Night

night footage

Infrared night vision up to 100 FT

Color video possible until 0.02 lux

How to get the best footage at night


Special

special features

Digital Wide Dynamic Range

Seeing in shadows: Understanding WDR

The Deputy is our second most popular camera model. It is tied with the Warrior in terms of how easy it is to install and position, since neither camera requires you to remove any part of the camera to screw it into the wall/ceiling/soffit. This makes it ideal for outdoor use as you don't have a tendency to trap moisture in the lens, as is common with dome cameras, where you have to remove the outer glass dome to mount them. The 110 or 118 degree lens is best used to cover an entire room at once (by installing it in a corner) or to cover a wide area of a smaller yard, as wider lenses always decrease how far away you can identify a person of license plate. Although you can use this camera inside or out, the most common uses of the Deputy models (the camera comes in 2MP, 4MP, or 4K variants) are to install the camera in the corner of a room or to cover front doors and porches outdoors. Two Deputies are often installed back to back to make a 220-236 degree view, such as in the middle of a wall. (This two camera solution has less of that dizzying "fisheye" look that is common with 180 degree cameras and is also usually cheaper.)

Sample Photos taken by the Deputy 2.0. Click to enlarge the images. Press ESC key to close.

10 FT 20 FT 50 FT 75 FT 100 FT
view at 10 feet from a 2.8mm 110 degree FOV lens 1080P security camera view at 20 feet from a 2.8mm 110 degree FOV lens 1080P security camera view at 50 feet from a 2.8mm 110 degree FOV lens 1080P security camera view at 75 feet from a 2.8mm 110 degree FOV lens 1080P security camera view at 100 feet from a 2.8mm 110 degree FOV lens 1080P security camera

detection

Detect someone up to 75 feet

"Detecting" a face means being able to tell that a human face is in the picture.

recognize

Recognize someone up to 40 feet

"Recognizing" a face refers to being able to say "I have seen that person before" - even if you don't know or can't place who it is.

identify

Identify someone up to 20 feet

"Identification" refers to being able to make out identifiable marks with enough certainty to make a sketch or claim.


The Viking 4.0 - 26BV4



Resolution

4MP UHD Quality

4MP @ 25 FPS: 2560 x 1440

Detect: up to 175 ft
Recognize: up to 125 ft
Identify: up to 75 ft


4MP vs 4K


Weather

weatherproof

IP67
Full protection from dust, rain, snow, dew, frost, and sprinklers.

You can even submerge it for a few minutes.


Temp

temperature rating

Temperature rated from -31°F to 140 °F

Humidity rated between 10 and 95%.


Lens

varifocal lens

Motorized Varifocal: 2.8 - 12mm
91° - 27° of coverage

Digital Zoom and Optical Zoom

Learn about Digital vs Optical Zoom


Day/Night

night footage

Infrared night vision up to 100 FT

Color video possible until 0.02 lux

How to get the best footage at night


Special

special features

Alarm Input and Output

Audio Input and Output
Audio Input/Output FAQ

Micro-SD Card Slot

True WDR (up to 120 dB)

Seeing in shadows: Understanding WDR

The Viking has a motorized telephoto lens that allows you to optically zoom in to see a distant area more clearly. You can adjust the angle of view with our apps, over the web, or via your SCW NVR. Just like with a point-and-shoot camera or a pair of binoculars, when narrow the field-of-view, you zoom in on an area and you can see more detail in that area. Although the Viking is a very popular camera for homes that have a mid-range (35-100 foot) points of concern like gates, roads or driveways, this camera is also frequently used is corporate environment such as long and narrow warehouse aisles.

Sample Photos taken by the Viking 4.0. Click to enlarge the images. Press ESC key to close.

2.8mm at 4MP - the widest angle (91 degrees)
10 FT 20 FT 50 FT 75 FT 100 FT
view of person at 10 feet from a 2.8mm 91 degree FOV lens 4MP security camera view of person at 20 feet from a 2.8mm 91 degree FOV lens 4MP security camera view of person at 50 feet from a 2.8mm 91 degree FOV lens 4MP security camera view of person at 75 feet from a 2.8mm 91 degree FOV lens 4MP security camera view of person at 100 feet from a 2.8mm 91 degree FOV lens 4MP security camera
12mm at 4MP - fully zoomed in, smallest angle of view (27 degrees)
10 FT 20 FT 50 FT 75 FT 100 FT 125 FT
view at 10 feet from a 12mm 27 degree FOV lens 4MP security camera view at 20 feet from a 12mm 27 degree FOV lens 4MP security camera view at 50 feet from a 12mm 27 degree FOV lens 4MP security camera view at 75 feet from a 12mm 27 degree FOV lens 4MP security camera view at 100 feet from a 12mm 27 degree FOV lens 4MP security camera view at 125 feet from a 12mm 27 degree FOV lens 4MP security camera

detection

Detect someone up to 175 feet

"Detecting" a face means being able to tell that a human face is in the picture.

recognize

Recognize someone up to 125 feet

"Recognizing" a face refers to being able to say "I have seen that person before" - even if you don't know or can't place who it is.

identify

Identify someone up to 75 feet

"Identification" refers to being able to make out identifiable marks with enough certainty to make a sketch or claim.


The Detective 4.0 - 26DV4



Resolution

4MP UHD Quality

4MP @ 25 FPS: 2560 x 1440

Detect: up to 175 ft
Recognize: up to 125 ft
Identify: up to 75 ft


4MP vs 4K


Weather

weatherproof

IP67
Full protection from dust, rain, snow, dew, frost, and sprinklers.

You can even submerge it for a few minutes.


Temp

temperature rating

Temperature rated from -31°F to 140 °F

Humidity rated between 10 and 95%.


Lens

varifocal lens

Motorized Varifocal: 2.7 - 12mm
91° - 27° of coverage

Digital Zoom and Optical Zoom

Learn about Digital vs Optical Zoom


Day/Night

night footage

Infrared night vision up to 100 FT

Color video possible until 0.02 lux

How to get the best footage at night


Special

special features

Micro-SD Card Slot

True WDR (up to 120 dB)

Built in Microphone

Seeing in shadows: Understanding WDR

The Detective has a motorized telephoto lens that allows you to optically zoom in to see a distant area more clearly. You can adjust the angle of view with our apps, over the web, or via your SCW NVR. Just like with a point-and-shoot camera or a pair of binoculars, when narrow the field-of-view, you zoom in on an area and you can see more detail in that area. Although the Detective is a popular camera for homes that have a mid-range (35-100 foot) points of concern like gates, roads or driveways, this camera is even more frequently used is corporate environment such as long and narrow warehouse aisles.

Sample Photos taken by the Detective 4.0. Click to enlarge the images. Press ESC key to close.

2.8mm at 4MP - the widest angle (91 degrees)
10 FT 20 FT 50 FT 75 FT 100 FT
view at 10 feet from a 2.8mm 91 degree FOV lens 4MP security camera view at 20 feet from a 2.8mm 91 degree FOV lens 4MP security camera view at 50 feet from a 2.8mm 91 degree FOV lens 4MP security camera view at 75 feet from a 2.8mm 91 degree FOV lens 4MP security camera view at 100 feet from a 2.8mm 91 degree FOV lens 4MP security camera
12mm at 4MP - fully zoomed in, smallest angle of view (27 degrees)
10 FT 20 FT 50 FT 75 FT 100 FT 125 FT
view at 10 feet from a 12mm 27 degree FOV lens 4MP security camera view at 20 feet from a 12mm 27 degree FOV lens 4MP security camera view at 50 feet from a 12mm 27 degree FOV lens 4MP security camera view at 75 feet from a 12mm 27 degree FOV lens 4MP security camera view at 100 feet from a 12mm 27 degree FOV lens 4MP security camera view at 125 feet from a 12mm 27 degree FOV lens 4MP security camera

detection

Detect someone up to 175 feet

"Detecting" a face means being able to tell that a human face is in the picture.

recognize

Recognize someone up to 125 feet

"Recognizing" a face refers to being able to say "I have seen that person before" - even if you don't know or can't place who it is.

identify

Identify someone up to 75 feet

"Identification" refers to being able to make out identifiable marks with enough certainty to make a sketch or claim.


If this is your exact scenario, you would need to modify our pre-made systems slightly. This is very easy to do.

We've listed a 16 channel premade system below. You could add that to the cart, which will break it up into its individual parts, and then modify the numbers of each camera. You would also want to add Viking cameras, as needed. If all of this seems like to much trouble, we can also send you a custom quote as well.

*If you a point of interest further away than 100 feet, you may want to consider the Archer or Sharpshooter models.

Not sure what you need?

Lean on the experts

We'd be happy to work up a custom quote or take your floorplan and create a security coverage map.

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