Dahua DH-HAC-HDBW2501EP-0280B-S2 5MP Starlight Pro HDCVI Vandal Dome,WDR,ICR,2.8mm lens

Model: DH-HAC-HDBW2501EP-0280B-S2

Who This Is For

When upgrading an existing coaxial cable infrastructure without ripping out cabling is the priority, the Dahua DH-HAC-HDBW2501EP-0280B-S2 is built for exactly that scenario. Installers working on schools, retail shops, strata buildings, and small commercial premises will find this 5MP Starlight Pro HDCVI Vandal Dome a direct drop-in upgrade over legacy analog systems - no new Cat6 runs, no network switches, no IP configuration. The 2.8mm fixed lens delivers a wide 132-degree diagonal field of view, making it suited to corridor ends, room corners, and entry points where broad coverage from a single ceiling mount matters. The IK10-rated housing handles deliberate knocks, and the IP67 rating means it copes with covered outdoor locations such as undercover car parks or sheltered entries. For any site already running coaxial cable to an XVR, this camera delivers 5MP resolution over that same existing infrastructure.

What This Camera Actually Does

Who Buys This Model

• Strata and building managers: Upgrading common-area cameras in apartment blocks or commercial buildings where coaxial cable is already run through conduit and replacing it would be disruptive and expensive.
• Retail installers: Fitting ceiling-mounted cameras over checkouts and stockrooms where the 2.8mm wide-angle view covers the full counter width, and the 120dB WDR handles the contrast between shopfront glass and interior lighting.
• School and childcare facility operators: Specifying IK10-rated cameras in corridors and common areas where accidental or deliberate impact is a realistic risk, and where the vandal-resistant dome profile sits cleanly against a ceiling without protruding hardware.
• Security integrators doing staged analogue-to-HD upgrades: Replacing one camera at a time on an existing DVR using the TVI or AHD output mode before transitioning the whole site to a Dahua XVR in a later stage.

Honest Assessment

This camera does two things particularly well: it delivers a meaningful resolution jump on sites where coaxial cable is fixed infrastructure, and its Starlight sensor handles low-light environments that would produce grainy, unusable footage from a standard 2MP HDCVI dome. The IK10 rating is confirmed and appropriate for semi-public installations. The 2.8mm fixed lens gives a genuinely wide view, which is an advantage in compact spaces but means you cannot tighten the field of view after installation without physically swapping to a 3.6mm unit. This camera does not support IP networking, onboard storage, or AI-based event detection such as perimeter intrusion classification - those capabilities require an IP camera instead. For sites starting from scratch with no existing coaxial infrastructure, an IP camera system with PoE will likely offer a better long-term path. The DH-HAC-HDBW2501EP-0280B-S2 is available through Security Australia and suits coax-committed sites that need a direct resolution and low-light upgrade.

Before You Buy

Quick Fit Check

• Good match if: You are replacing an existing dome camera on a coaxial run and need 5MP resolution with IK10 vandal resistance - the HDCVI signal transmits at full 5MP up to 700 metres over the existing cable.
• Good match if: The install location has challenging lighting - a lobby with bright windows, a dimly lit stairwell, or a car park with mixed light - where the 120dB WDR and 0.001 lux Starlight sensor address conditions a standard dome cannot handle.
• You may need a different model if: The site has no existing coaxial infrastructure, or you need AI-based detection, remote access via IP, or onboard edge storage - in those cases, an IP dome camera over a PoE network will be more capable and better suited to future expansion.

Key Features & Technical Specifications

Real-World Scenarios

How It Compares

• Choose this if: Your site already has coaxial cable installed and you need a direct 5MP upgrade with confirmed IK10 vandal resistance and Starlight low-light performance - the HDCVI transmission keeps the existing cable investment intact.
• You may need a different model if: You are building a new system from the ground up, or the site requires AI perimeter detection, two-way audio, or integration with a VMS over IP - an IP dome camera over PoE will offer substantially more capability for those requirements.
• Pairs well with: A Dahua HDCVI XVR with PoC-enabled BNC ports for single-cable power and video, or a Dahua HDCVI XVR with multi-format input for sites running mixed camera brands on the same recorder.

Common Questions

1. Will this camera work on my existing coaxial cable and DVR?

   Yes, in most cases - with one important check. The camera outputs CVI, CVBS, AHD, and TVI formats switchable via the OSD menu, so it can feed most HD analog recorders. The native output is CVI, which requires a Dahua-compatible XVR for full 5MP resolution. If your existing DVR only decodes up to 1080p or 4MP, you will see video but not the full 5MP output. Confirm your recorder's maximum supported resolution per channel before purchasing.

2. Does this camera support PoC (Power over Coaxial)?

   Yes. The DH-HAC-HDBW2501EP-0280B-S2 supports PoC, allowing a compatible Dahua XVR to deliver both power and video signal over a single coaxial cable. This eliminates the need for a separate power supply at the camera location. PoC only functions when paired with a Dahua XVR that has PoC-enabled BNC output ports - standard DVRs and passive baluns will not provide power this way.

3. What does IK10 actually mean for this dome camera?

   IK10 is the highest impact protection rating under the IEC 62262 standard, indicating the housing can withstand 20 joules of impact energy. In practical terms this means a deliberate strike with a blunt object - a fist, a ball, or a short length of pipe - should not breach the dome or dislodge the camera. This rating is confirmed in the product specifications and makes the camera appropriate for publicly accessible locations. As stocked by Security Australia, this is one of the few HDCVI 5MP domes with both IP67 and IK10 confirmed together.

4. How far can I run the coaxial cable from the camera to the recorder?

   Up to 700 metres for 5MP HDCVI video via coaxial cable, and up to 300 metres via UTP cable with an appropriate active balun. These figures are verified by Dahua laboratory testing. Cable quality and connector integrity will affect real-world performance - use RG59 or RG6 coaxial cable in good condition and avoid sharp bends or compression damage from cable clips.

5. Will this camera work outdoors?

   Yes, for sheltered outdoor locations. The IP67 rating means the housing is fully dust-sealed and protected against water jets from any direction, making it suitable for covered outdoor areas such as undercover car parks, building overhangs, and sheltered entry points. The operating temperature range of -40°C to +60°C covers Australian climate extremes. It is not designed to be mounted in a position where it receives direct prolonged rainfall without any overhead protection, though it will tolerate rain and humidity.

6. Does the 2.8mm lens give me enough detail to identify people at the door?

   At close range, yes - at longer distances, no. The DORI identification distance for the 2.8mm lens is 6.4 metres, meaning a person needs to be within approximately 6 metres of the camera for their facial features to be identifiable in recorded footage under standard DORI criteria. The recognition distance is 12.7 metres and the observation distance is 25.4 metres. If you need identification capability at distances beyond 6-7 metres, a 3.6mm lens variant or a camera with a longer focal length will be more appropriate for that specific requirement.

7. Does this camera have two-way audio?

   No. The DH-HAC-HDBW2501EP-0280B-S2 does not have a built-in microphone or speaker confirmed in the product specifications. HDCVI technology does support audio transmission over coax on certain models, but this unit does not have a built-in audio component. If two-way audio or audio recording is a requirement, you will need a camera model with a confirmed built-in microphone, or an external microphone connected to a compatible audio input on the recorder.

Downloads & Resources

No downloads available for this product.