Privacy Button 2020-Present

Overview

The privacy switch is a customizable solution for placing VALT cameras in privacy mode. The instructions below will outline how to configure a privacy switch that will stay illuminated while the switch is in the OFF position. Flipping the switch to the ON position will extinguish the light and engage privacy mode. The switch and LED are independent and the behavior can be customized. See the variations section in the Manual Privacy Rules article for more information.

These instructions are written for use with a camera with 4 I/O ports (6 pin phoenix connector). Port 1 and 2 (pins 3 and 4) are reserved for use with the VALT Recording Start/Stop button.

Compatible Cameras

The privacy switch should be usable with any AXIS camera with at least one free input and one free output. The camera must be running firmware version 5.50 or higher.

• Axis P5514
• Axis P5515
• Axis P5414-E
• Axis P5415-E
• Axis F41
• Axis P3364/65*
• Axis P3374/75-V*
• Axis P3235-LVE*
• Axis Q8414-LVS*
• Axis M5525-E
• Axis P5635 MKII

* These cameras have 4-pin I/O phoenix connectors, which means they only have 2 I/O ports. They can only be used with a single ancillary device (ie: Button OR privacy switch).

Required Parts and Tools

• VALT Privacy Switch and Face Plate
• Mud Ring or Single Gang Box
• Wire Cutters/Strippers
• 22/4 solid unshielded plenum cable
• Jab Saw (used to cut hole)
• Wire fishing poles or tape

Wire Diagrams by Camera

Axis P3235

Axis P3245

Axis P3364/P3365

Axis P3374/P3375

Axis F41

Axis P5414/P5415

Axis M5525

Axis P5635

Axis P5655

Axis V5914/V5915

Axis Q8414

Installation Instructions

1. Cut a hole in the wall where the privacy switch will be mounted.
2. Insert the mud ring into the hole, and attach it.
3. Run 22/4 from the camera to the hole.
4. Strip the outer insulation from both ends of the 22/4.

   

5. Strip approximately 1/4 inch of insulation off of each wire in the 22/4 on the camera side

   

6. Insert the wires into the IO connector on the camera according to the chart below. (For a camera with a 4-pin I/O phoenix connector, use pins 3 and 4 instead of 5 and 6.)

   

   Pin 1: Green

   Pin 2: Red

   Pin 5: Yellow

   Pin 6: Black

   See the chart at the end of this section for a direct mapping between the switch and I/O connector

7. Strip approximately 1/2 inch of insulation off each wire in the 22/4 on the switch side.

   

8. Splice the wires to the switch according to the chart below.

   

* Connections should be made with B connectors

1. Attach the switch to the mud ring.

Wiring Map

Privacy Switch	Lead Color	Phoenix Connector
Switch	Green	Pin 1
+	Red	Pin 2
Switch	Yellow	Pin 5
-	Black	Pin 6

Configuration

Prior to configuring the cameras for use with the privacy switch, make sure that the cameras have already been set up with a valid IP address, and are configured according to VALT Specifications.

Load Rules

• If you prefer to configure the camera for Privacy manually, skip to SET PRIVACY MASK.

1. Download the camera rules, using the links below:

   P3364: https://ivs.box.com/shared/static/b4wbmbyzwi3laz030hb33lidsmz64btp.cfg

   Fixed: https://ivs.box.com/shared/static/wr8sx4oxruykuhpftj0o8ff80s3y7lap.cfg

   PTZ: https://ivs.box.com/shared/static/2yleyfngk6erpoxki06a1u1e84hxlmxd.cfg

1. Open AXIS Device Manager.

   If you do not have AXIS Device Manager go to the website and download it here.

2. Click on the Add Device from Address icon or Add Devices from IP Range.

   

3. Enter the IP address of the camera or the IP range using a * for the last quartet if adding multiple.

   

4. Click OK.
5. Enter the username and password for the camera(s).

   

6. Click OK.
7. The camera(s) should now appear in the list of devices.

   

8. Right click on the camera(s), and select Configure Devices. Configure from the menu.

   

9. Click the Configuration File button.

   

10. Browse to where configuration file is saved, and select it.

    

11. Click Open.
12. Click Next.

    

13. Click Finish.
14. When the rules have successfully loaded, a message will display at the bottom of the window.

    

Set Privacy Location for PTZ Camera

If the camera is a PTZ, you need to set a Privacy Location. This can be done through the API or through the web browser of the camera.

Via API

1. Open a web browser.
2. Copy and paste the following link into the address bar. Replace ipaddress with the ip address of the camera:

   http://ipaddress/axis-cgi/com/ptzconfig.cgi?setserverpresetname=Privacy&home=yes

3. Press Enter to submit the address.

Via Web Interface

Perform these steps only if configuring the mask via API fails.

1. Open a web browser.
2. Navigate to the IP address of the camera.
3. If prompted, enter the username and password for the camera.
4. Click on Setup in the upper right hand corner of the window.

   

5. Click on PTZ.

   

6. Click on Go to to navigate to the home preset.

   

7. In "Current position", type "Privacy", then click Add.

Set Privacy Mask

This can be done through the API or through the web browser of the camera.

Via API

1. Open a web browser.
2. Copy and paste the following link into the address bar. Replace ipaddress with the ip address of the camera:

   http://ipaddress/axis-cgi/privacymask.cgi?action=add&name=mask1&width=100&height=100

3. Press Enter to submit the address.
4. The mask should now be created. This can verified by browsing to the IP address of the camera. The live view should show a black screen.

   

5. Copy and paste the following link into the address bar. Replace ipaddress with the ip address of the camera:

   http://ipaddress/axis-cgi/param.cgi?action=update&Image.I0.Overlay.MaskWindows.M0.Enabled=no

6. This should disable the mask created. This can be verified by browsing to the IP address of the camera. The live view should show a live view from the camera.

   

Via Web Interface

Perform these steps only if configuring the mask via API fails.

1. Open a web browser.
2. Navigate to the IP address of the camera.
3. If prompted, enter the username and password for the camera.
4. Click on Setup in the upper right hand corner of the window.

   

5. Click on Video & Audio.

   

6. Click on Privacy Mask.

   

7. Click Add.
8. Enter Privacy in the Mask name field.
9. Expand the box slowly using a mouse until it covers the entire image.

   

10. Click Save.
11. Click on the Privacy mask just created.

    

12. Click Enable/Disable.

Add Recipient(s)

Some of the rules point to a recipient at a specific IP address, so the camera must have a recipient set up, even for itself. In the case of a room with multiple cameras, the master camera will need a recipient set up for all other cameras in the room as well.

1. Click on Setup in the upper right hand corner of the window.

   

2. Click on Events.
3. Click on Recipients.
4. Click on Add.

   Add Self in the name field

   In Recipient, type

http://127.0.0.1/axis-cgi/param.cgi

or

http://IPADDRESS/axis-cgi/param.cgi

1. Type in the login credentials for the camera.

   Click Test.

   Click Close.

Manual Set up of Privacy Rules

If you are complete with this page, and you did not use a config file, continue by selecting the firmware of your camera. In the case of multiple cameras, the steps on the following pages should only be done for the main camera; the recipient cameras do not need rules built.

Manually Set Up Privacy Switch Rules for 6.x Firmware

Manually Set Up Privacy Switch Rules for 8.x Firmware

Manually Set Up Privacy Switch Rules for 9.x Firmware