How to connect a camera to TV in 7 steps? Detailed tutorial

If you need the simplest solution for video surveillance, you can mount it yourself. It’s about the symbiosis of an inexpensive analogue camera and a TV. Our article is about how to connect a camcorder to a TV. I will also tell you how to connect a webcam to a TV. There is a lot of useful information here.

Why connect TV and camcorder?

Connecting the camera to an existing TV is advisable in everyday life. The most common purpose is to monitor the apartment’s front door or the gate when entering a private household. You can also watch the car in the yard using a similar system.

There is no need to buy a separate monitor or turn on your computer every time the doorbell rings if you always have your TV on. It may play the role of a monitor well. To do this, you need to switch the channel using the remote control. It’s simple. 

If you ignore TV in your life as a means of communication with the outside world, this method will be irrelevant.

Also, a similar system is often used in monitoring a small room (with one entrance) with the involvement of a security operator (construction site, lobby, warehouse).

What equipment can be connected to the TV?

For the symbiosis “TV + video monitoring device” Composite Video Baseband Signal technology equipment, or CVBS for short, is suitable. This is the official name for an ordinary analogue video camera.

Simultaneously, it will not be possible to apply analogue cameras operating on HD-TVI, HD-CVI and AHD technologies (the equipment is incompatible with a household television device). It would be best to have cameras with 480/540/600 specifications or 700 TV Lines.

For image quality, it is essential to select an appropriate device for image output. Even the most expensive camcorder, connected to a low-quality small screen, will produce a blurry and fuzzy picture.

A set of necessary components

How to connect a camera to a TV? Before starting the process, you need to make sure that the necessary components are available: 

• analogue camera and TV; 
• coaxial cable (RG59). It is essential for simultaneous transmission of power and video signal; 
• a connector (BNC) that can be used at both ends of the coaxial cable; BNC to RCA adapter to adapt inputs; 
• plug adapter to connect power; 
• power supply source.

Step-by-step connection tutorial

So, let’s get down to practical steps. Follow the step by step tutorial.

Step №1

Determine the targets and area of ​​surveillance and the focal length of the equipment using the formula. Purchase a camcorder suitable for TV and some of the aforementioned system components. You should not save on the quality of equipment or buy it on Aliexpress. The reasoning is here.

Step №2

Install the video camera in the surveillance area. Remember that illiterate installation can nip the system in the bud. Read the article “How to kill a video surveillance system during installation? 6 common mistakes “.

Step №3

Take care of connecting the cable (CCTV) to the camcorder. The key is the details: make sure the cable sheath does not touch the centre conductor.

Step №4

Connect the P4 input to supply power to the video monitoring equipment. It is important here to pay close attention to the polarity of the cables. If an error occurs, the camcorder may be damaged.

Step №5

Then you need to connect the power supply to the camera. Correct polarity must also be observed here. It will take you no more than 1-2 minutes.

Step №6

It’s time to connect the camcorder to the TV. You will need a BNC to RCA adapter. Then connect the camera to the TV using a standard video output (AV input).

Step № 7

Turn on your TV. Select “AV input” from the menu. An image from the video camera should appear on the screen. The system is ready for use. Now you know how to connect your camera to your TV.

Is there a cheap alternative?

What do you think about getting a modern video monitoring system, minimally dependent on the power supply, without financial costs?

Consider an alternative surveillance option that relies on the free Faceter mobile app and two smartphones. Moreover, one or both phones may be old, unnecessary, and with minimal technical requirements:

• camera from 1.3 MP;
• Internet access from 3G;
• working processor, screen and charger socket.

Are you interested? How to mount the system in 15 minutes independently is written here.

The application can be downloaded from Google Play or App Store, depending on the mobile phones’ operating system. For home use, choose the free “Basic” plan. Set one phone as a camera, the other will work as a monitor.

It is IMPORTANT that you will not need: 

• to buy an analogue camera and components for connection; 
• to install a TV and camera; 
• to update the system periodically (it is updated automatically); 
• to monitor the security of data storage (the cloud system provider takes care about it); 
• to depend on the power supply, as phones can be charged by car cigarette lighter or power bank. 

Details are on the website https://faceter.cam/en.

Instead of a conclusion

Of course, the symbiosis of a TV and an analogue video camera has the right to live. In many cases, this type of video surveillance can bring a lot of benefits. This system is often used to monitor a home’s front door, monitor a car in the yard, and monitor a small facility. We hope this article was useful to you.