One of my IP security cameras uses separate 5v and 12v mains power bricks for the camera and heater/fan. But with loads of 12v car batteries nearby, it seemed logical to use them instead. With the addition of a cheap switched mode voltage regulator, the whole unit is now solar powered.
By Julian
Youtuber, shed dweller, solar charge controller aficionado
Take some info about energy on Avasva . It was very helpful to me 😀
Why is a heater even necessary in the first place?
you hit your head, mate?
hi julian just wanting to know does the volts when changing the battey go up to around 15v can't that hurt the cctv cam ? will it fry because i was thinking of doing that but 3v is more for the cam right ? will it fry or not
thank you
Love you're vids
Images of the intruder would have been captured and written to the server before the cable could be cut – in theory! The camera points at the only access location (over the gate). The previous cables were easily reachable from the ground in any case.
The internal LiPo idea would certainly help – unless the bad people decided to whack the camera with a baseball bat.
The camera has worked reliably for nearly 10 years, but deterrent value is mainly what it offers.
You're right – winter will be a problem! The camera draws about 10W continuously. I should have looked at the resistor value, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's another 10W or so.
So I'm going to have to put some charge into the batteries from the mains for 3 months or so over the winter, but that's got to be better than all year round.
Your RasPi idea sounds excellent, but 500m sounds like a stretch for WiFi. My RasPi has sat in it's box ever since I bought it – no idea what to do with it!
That's cool Julian, just one little concern though. Isn't the camera's power now much more vulnerable to being meddled with? (since the cable now is outside and reaches the ground.) I suppose you could enclose it in a heavy duty conduit. Or what about installing a little LiPo or NiMH pack in the camera case (just for the 5 volts) and having that trickle charged by the 12v supply?
Interesting. Any idea how much current does it draws; camera, fan. heater? I'm thinking it could add up in winter.
I've been thinking of using a Raspberry Pi and a coupe of small web cams with solar power and wifi to the AP about 500 meters away. To keep power use down it would only upload stills every 5-min or so then shut down, but could possibly be set to provide video at times of usual activity on site.
Just looked on eBay for "CCTV enclosure heater" and several came up. I deliberately got a plastic one because I thought a metal case might block the wireless signal.
brilliant! are them cases with the heater cooler quiet common?