Using strong magnets to hold IP cameras to steel awning. You think this will cause interference?

S

SmartCountryNerd

n3wb
Nov 24, 2025
27
23
Illinois / Missouri
I’m hanging 4 cameras for a friend at his business. The only placement for the cameras to hit the angle we want is on a 4 inch thick metal awning. It’s pure steel and HEAVY duty.

It’s going to be next to impossible for me to drill the junction boxes for the cameras to the awning. I had the idea of using super strong rare earth magnets that are threaded to mount to the junction boxes and use that to mount them up. They will be mounted to the front so horizontally.

The ones I found on Amazon say 55lbs horizontally. I figured if I installed two that would be way overkill (which is good).

Any thoughts if this will cause issues with POE? Canera issues? Both care fixed UNV cameras (LPR and a 180 degree cam)
 
SmartCountryNerd said:
I’m hanging 4 cameras for a friend at his business. The only placement for the cameras to hit the angle we want is on a 4 inch thick metal awning. It’s pure steel and HEAVY duty.

It’s going to be next to impossible for me to drill the junction boxes for the cameras to the awning. I had the idea of using super strong rare earth magnets that are threaded to mount to the junction boxes and use that to mount them up. They will be mounted to the front so horizontally.

The ones I found on Amazon say 55lbs horizontally. I figured if I installed two that would be way overkill (which is good).

Any thoughts if this will cause issues with POE? Canera issues? Both care fixed UNV cameras (LPR and a 180 degree cam)
Click to expand...
I mount this Wifi camera on my stump grinder with rare earth magnets without any problems. Farming HD Backup 1080P Camera for Agri Industry 7" LCD
 
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+1^^^.
Just insure that the magnet (and any holder) is rustproof if exposed to the elements. :cool:
 
SmartCountryNerd said:
Any thoughts if this will cause issues with POE? Canera issues? Both care fixed UNV cameras (LPR and a 180 degree cam)
Click to expand...
About five years of retaining some cameras with magnets I have seen no POE issues traceable to magnets.
Other ethernet issues like getting to close to conduit sure, but not the magnets.

SmartCountryNerd said:
The ones I found on Amazon say 55lbs horizontally. I figured if I installed two that would be way overkill (which is good).
Click to expand...
No idea if 55 lbs magnets are strong enough or not.

Although not rare earth what I have used is magnets out of microwave oven magnetrons.
Magnets do not stick good to Andy junction boxes, magnets do stick good to scrap sheetmetal, and I prefer more leverage.
For turrets I bolt a piece of sheetmetal same width as junction box, to junction box.
For bullet cameras I bolt a piece of sheetmetal about three times as wide as junction box, to junction box, for more leverage.
If along roof line, I bend sheetmetal ninety degrees to go several inches horizontally along rooftop.
At least three magnets for each turret camera, bullets I like six magnets.
Also for safety a hole is drilled in sheetmetal bracket for metal cable anchored to cinderblock on roof.
Outside, weather happens, do not just think weight of camera, think wind.
If you have to realign camera after a storm, you need more magnets.
 
Photon Farmer said:
About five years of retaining some cameras with magnets I have seen no POE issues traceable to magnets.
Other ethernet issues like getting to close to conduit sure, but not the magnets.


No idea if 55 lbs magnets are strong enough or not.

Although not rare earth what I have used is magnets out of microwave oven magnetrons.
Magnets do not stick good to Andy junction boxes, magnets do stick good to scrap sheetmetal, and I prefer more leverage.
For turrets I bolt a piece of sheetmetal same width as junction box, to junction box.
For bullet cameras I bolt a piece of sheetmetal about three times as wide as junction box, to junction box, for more leverage.
If along roof line, I bend sheetmetal ninety degrees to go several inches horizontally along rooftop.
At least three magnets for each turret camera, bullets I like six magnets.
Also for safety a hole is drilled in sheetmetal bracket for metal cable anchored to cinderblock on roof.
Outside, weather happens, do not just think weight of camera, think wind.
If you have to realign camera after a storm, you need more magnets.
Click to expand...
I bought a bunch of the 185lb magnets which are actually 55lb on a vertical surface. I’ll add 2-4 of them. They are treaded so they will physically bolt to the junction box.
 
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