Simple Guide to CCTV Camera Wiring Color Code for Beginner

Nobab
4 min readNov 23, 2020

It’s super tough without the proper knowledge to mount security cameras as a DIY project. In addition, a lot of surveillance quality is determined by the wiring technique and efficacy.

CCTV Camera Wiring Color Code

It’s super difficult, however, to find the right technique online.

There are 5 types of wires, and for these online, you won’t find any simple instructions.

We’re here to save your back, no worries. We’ve covered everything about the color code methodology for security camera wiring.

So with those yellow, black, and white cables, you’re not going to get all confused.

Now without wasting any more time, let’s get to the details.

Disclaimer Before Details

Before going all-in on this topic, we’d like to clear things out. We’ll talk about Siamese cables here. In other words, the wiring color code of 3+1 cables and power cables will go through here.

Most color codes, however, are the same for all sorts of wires. So in most situations, for different types of cables, the color code won’t vary. So, you won’t have to worry whether you’re using a Video Power Cable or a Twisted Pair Cable.

What is the Color Code of CCTV Camera Wiring?

Your CCTV camera usually uses wires to pass the data to a central center. To do this, various colored wires are used by the cameras. Each of these wires now has various functions. And you have to set it all up based on those features.

Or else it won’t work on your surveillance camera device.

So let’s look at the color code — the color code,

Color Codes

In total, there are 5 cables running a CCTV camera. 1 for yellow, 2 for red, and 2 for black. In certain instances, with the whole box, you can find a white wire.

So let’s start with the color code of 5 wire security camera cables.

Yellow wire

The yellow wire surveillance camera comes in first. This wire is concerned with transmitting video data. But for video, it is just the positive wire. That one is the video-positive wire in technical terms.

Red Wire

Let’s go over the two red wires next. These wires are both electrical wires. These are made specifically for a positive current of DC 12 volts. We call it DC 12V + wire in technical terms. With a 12 Volt DC power source, you can connect these two up together. You must note, however, that only the red wire goes to the positive.

Black wire

The negative wires are black wires. But here is a catch —

For video transmission, one of the black wires here and another is for power supply. One will hook up with the negative end of the power supply. And with the RCA video plug (Negative), the other will hook up.

There’s a simple test, however, to decide which is which.

Wire Determining Test

Take your camera to a low area of light first. Take both the wires in your hand now. Now plug one of those wires into the negative end of the DC 12 volt power source.

Link the wire to the negative RCA video socket. So before doing this you have to know the positive negative of the rca plug.

Now, see if the camera’s LED lights start glowing. If the lights start to shine, you’ve found your Negative power supply cable, congratulations.

The Negative video transmission wire would be the other wire. Often for that video plug, it is also used as the negative ground cable.

It is a flexible cable, to be honest. The other Negative 12 volt black wire may also connect some of these wires.

Tip for Pro

By trial and error, it is easier to locate the wires. You can understand, in this way, how the connection works.

Moreover, re-installing the whole system in a new house would be simple for you.

But if you do stuff quickly, then we recommend that you do the wire color security camera diagram 2 red 2 black 1 yellow.

The bottom-line

It becomes super quick to wire other cameras until someone gets hold of this color code.

When wiring the camera, however always retain safety measures. And if there is something you’re curious about always reach out to an expert. Your machine can be destroyed by even minor errors.

Now, take another look at the color code for the whole security camera wiring and get to work.

--

--