- Knowledge Centre
- Cameras & Hardware
Camera installation, placement and best practice
Overview
Centrad camera systems are designed for real-world fleet environments—vibration, temperature swings and long duty cycles. This guide focuses on practical installation best practice so you get consistent footage quality, reliable evidence, and fewer support tickets.
Prioritise coverage and clarity for incident review and claims.
Repeatable installs with checklists and standard placements.
Balanced FOV and mounting guidance for real roads, not demos.
Camera options
- Forward-facing for road context and collision reconstruction.
- Cab-facing for driver protection and coaching (privacy policies apply).
- Nearside/offside for vulnerable road users and junction incidents.
- Rear for reversing events and tailgating evidence.
Recommended placements
Placement should be consistent across vehicle types to make footage review faster. Use the same angles, heights and lens orientation wherever possible. For buses and coaches, prioritise doors and nearside coverage; for haulage, prioritise trailer coupling areas and blind spots.
Forward-facing (windscreen)
- Mount high and central to reduce glare and wiper sweep distortion.
- Avoid mounting behind tinted bands if it impacts low-light performance.
- Confirm the horizon line is level before final tighten.
Side cameras
- Mount to reduce mirror occlusion and protect from spray.
- Angle to include kerb line and door area where relevant.
- Keep cable runs away from moving parts and pinch points.
Wiring & power
Power stability is the #1 cause of intermittent camera issues. Use fused circuits and ensure clean grounding. Where possible, avoid sharing power with high-noise loads.
- Use the recommended fuse rating for each camera and DVR channel.
- Route cables with strain relief and avoid tight bends at connectors.
- Verify ignition sense input behavior matches the fleet’s duty cycle.
Recording quality & retention
Set expectations with stakeholders: higher bitrate improves clarity but increases storage use. For claims-heavy operations, prioritise clarity on key channels (front, nearside, rear).
- Confirm timestamp accuracy for evidence chains.
- Validate day/night exposure and IR behavior at depot handover.
- Run a sample export and playback on the tools your team uses.
Maintenance & cleaning
Clean lenses as part of routine vehicle checks. A thin film of road grime can significantly reduce plate readability. Use non-abrasive cloths and avoid harsh chemicals.
Troubleshooting
No video / black screen
- Check power and ground continuity.
- Inspect cable seating at both camera and DVR ends.
- Swap ports to isolate channel vs camera issues.
Intermittent feed
- Check for pinched cables at door frames or hinge points.
- Validate supply voltage under load.
- Confirm connectors are strain-relieved and not vibrating loose.