Q-See QS1210 18 Camera Power Distribution Panel

by Q-See

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 11 x 9 x 4 inches ; 5.3 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000QSQS20
• Item model number: QS1210
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #13 in Electronics > Accessories & Supplies > Batteries, Chargers & Accessories > PDUs
  • #27 in Electronics > Security & Surveillance > Surveillance Video Equipment
  • #34 in Electronics > Security & Surveillance > Accessories
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 25, 2008

Product Description

Q-See 18-Camera Power Distribution allows CCTV installers and system integrators to consolidate all power connections to one central location. Features a heavy-duty metal case for surface mount with LED indicators for each output. Special Circuit Design provides more protection on the connected devices. Use with our RG-59 bulk cable for easy, clean installations.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What is this? Why do you need it?, December 24, 2008

By 

HMMWV "God, Country, Corps" (santa clara, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Q-See QS1210 18 Camera Power Distribution Panel (Electronics)

I bought a 16 channel DVR and a couple of speed domes along with some fixed IR night vision cameras after having such success at my commercial building with the same security equipment and installed them in my home.

Don't get me wrong - this is wonderful. To date (1 year) these have been used in 3 police investigations of B&E, arson, and hit & run. They are a visable deterrent to crime in the neighborhood.

They also quickly become a visable mess inside. Every camera comes with a plug in "wall wart" or box type power supply. Multiply by 16 cameras and you see the issue - power strip city. It's not a fire hazard because each camera uses about 7 watts, so 16 cameras use less power than my TV set does. BUT IT IS UGLY!

When you decide "The system is a keeper" you can buy this power supply box which allows you to power all of your 12 volt equipment from ONE supply instead of 16 (or more!). You'll need to wire in your products and be sure to separate ground from positive (a fluke T5 is great here as an install aid) Fluke T5-1000USA,Electic Tester 1000V,Continuity,.

You also realize efficiency with ONE power supply, one plug, and all your cameras getting their power from it. It uses less power overall than the 16 wall warts plugged into power outlet strips, and it looks better.

A last note, if you have other 12 volt items like battery conditioners Maha Powerex MH-C9000 WizardOne Charger-Analyzer which use a 12 VDC supply, you can wire them into this singular supply and clean up their mess of wall warts as well. Just be sure the product needs 12 volts DC (often abbreviated 12VDC or 12 with two lines, one sold above or below one dashed line)

Like this:

12V -----
_____ (engineers symbol for DC power)


Overall this is the greener solution for the environment because each wall wart wastes some power. By removing all of your 12 VDC wall warts from security cameras, routers, dsl modems, battery chargers, calculators, etc and using a singular supply you realize an efficiency gain at the power meter, which means less wasted power overall, a lower electric bill, and fewer emissions from the power plant. It looks nice and professional too, plus it is something you can do yourself.

If you have ALOT of 12 VDC equipment, you will want to measure the actual amperage used to ensure you do not exceed the singular supply's output. The fluke clamp-on meter model 337 measures DC and stores peak DC values - most clamp on devices can not measure DC so you end up having to buy a high end unit, but they are nice when troubleshooting car electric systems. The fluke 337 which amazon no longer sells is able to help you here. You might look at ebay for other clampon DC meters.

My system for attaching cords was to cut off the cable which came with my dsl modem power supply, battery charger, etc close to the wall wart, extend it if necessary, then run it into the distribution panel. For cameras it depended on the wire that fed the camera. Q-see and swann use female jacks to plug your wall wart into, and again cutting the original cable is easiest here. Otherwise you can cut the jack from the dc feedwire and attach an extension duplex wire to go into your panel. Unfortunately some of the q-see strainreliefs don't allow you to peal apart the power from the video signal, however if you use their bulk spool cable you can do this easily and have the video only part go to your DVR while the power part heads for the power panel.

Believe it or not, This is easily a DIY project. Start by setting up the new 12 volt supply then migrate your loads over to it. You can work at your own pace because the wall warts you have will continue to operate.

12 volts is non-hazardous (about the same as your outside yard lights from malibu) and q-see has a safety cover over the high voltage section to prevent accidental contact. It is also well fused to prevent fires, something your wall warts lack quite often. Should you get stuck, my email is in my profile and I respond within a day.

It's a well engineered product that is good for looks, good for the earth, and good for things other than just cameras!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dependable power supply, October 26, 2010

By 

H. Won (Michigan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Q-See QS1210 18 Camera Power Distribution Panel (Electronics)

I have used it for 7 months. The construction of the product is very sturdy. I bought this to replace two filmsy power supplies which came with my Q-see 16 camera DVR kit. The overload protection was PTC, not fuse. The PTC tolerated acctidental short circuits without blowing fuse. And individual pilot light help finding the circuit which is short circuited.

One drawback is that the noise of the cooling fan is noticeable. I don't recommned installing it in living space. I have a separate equipment room.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars owner, November 11, 2009

By 

James G. Harris - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Q-See QS1210 18 Camera Power Distribution Panel (Electronics)

We used this to replace a box that had a bad transformer. Would have been muck easier if we could have purchased just the transformer