DrunkenLizard
Active Member
I'm looking for recommendations and advice on cameras for use in cold weather. It's typical to see temps in the -20's during the winter getting down below -30 to even below -40 some years.
Cold Weather Camera Advice
- Thread starter DrunkenLizard
- Start date
pete_c
Guru
I have purchaed Pelco outdoor dome cameras with heaters although I have never connected them. Mine have worked to about -10 F where I am S/W of Chicago. One day though while very cold had to go into the attic. I moved one of the RG6 cables and the sleeve crumbled in my hand.
I too am using a separate 8 channels of 12VDC power supply just utilized to power the outdoor cams but to date with temperature extremes in the MW never seen the need for cam heaters.
I too am using a separate 8 channels of 12VDC power supply just utilized to power the outdoor cams but to date with temperature extremes in the MW never seen the need for cam heaters.
Outdoor cameras that work well with the cold weather that we get in Minnesota and Wisconsin can be a tricky thing!
I have used box cameras with heated environmental enclosures many times and they general work fine in any temperature. A negative is that they usually are big and clunky looking, which is fine for industrial and commercial applications but doesn't look really great in residential or fancy commercial settings. One thing that I have seen over the years is that many installers don't run a separate power source for the heater and just use the same power source as the camera. CCTV power supplies are separated into channels so that each camera has a separate fuse. An 8 channel, 8 amp power supply would have 8 fuses of 1 amp each so that if one camera had a problem it would blow one fuse. I feel that it is better to run the heater on it's own channel because often the required current for the camera plus the required current for the heater is at or near the fuse rating, which can cause problems down the line. So if I was installing 4 outdoor cameras with heated enclosures on a job I would put in an 8 channel power supply. I am sure some will disagree but it works for me.
I have used some other cameras for cold weather use. Bosch has an extreme series (Used to be Extreme CCTV until Bosch bought them) and I have used the WZ16. It is a bullet camera with IR and is rated to -20. It is a good camera and has held up well. My favorite cameras are made by Digital Watchdog. They have a series of dome and bullet cameras in their Starlight series that are excellent. They all have some of the best low light capabilities I have seen, are very rugged and have great optics. The DWC-V3363DH is a dome with built in heater that is rated to -40 and they have a couple bullets that are rated to -10. The Digital Watchdog Starlight series has several models to fit just about any indoor or outdoor situation and I use them a lot on installs. Of course, the downside of these cameras is that they can be a bit pricey!
On the other hand, I have used 8 IC Realtime EL-1000 cameras that are only rated down to 14 degrees on a job and they have gone through 2 winters now and even when it got to -20 to -28 they never failed! They are outdoor rated but do not have a heater but yet still seem to be able to handle the cold, so go figure!
I have used box cameras with heated environmental enclosures many times and they general work fine in any temperature. A negative is that they usually are big and clunky looking, which is fine for industrial and commercial applications but doesn't look really great in residential or fancy commercial settings. One thing that I have seen over the years is that many installers don't run a separate power source for the heater and just use the same power source as the camera. CCTV power supplies are separated into channels so that each camera has a separate fuse. An 8 channel, 8 amp power supply would have 8 fuses of 1 amp each so that if one camera had a problem it would blow one fuse. I feel that it is better to run the heater on it's own channel because often the required current for the camera plus the required current for the heater is at or near the fuse rating, which can cause problems down the line. So if I was installing 4 outdoor cameras with heated enclosures on a job I would put in an 8 channel power supply. I am sure some will disagree but it works for me.
I have used some other cameras for cold weather use. Bosch has an extreme series (Used to be Extreme CCTV until Bosch bought them) and I have used the WZ16. It is a bullet camera with IR and is rated to -20. It is a good camera and has held up well. My favorite cameras are made by Digital Watchdog. They have a series of dome and bullet cameras in their Starlight series that are excellent. They all have some of the best low light capabilities I have seen, are very rugged and have great optics. The DWC-V3363DH is a dome with built in heater that is rated to -40 and they have a couple bullets that are rated to -10. The Digital Watchdog Starlight series has several models to fit just about any indoor or outdoor situation and I use them a lot on installs. Of course, the downside of these cameras is that they can be a bit pricey!
On the other hand, I have used 8 IC Realtime EL-1000 cameras that are only rated down to 14 degrees on a job and they have gone through 2 winters now and even when it got to -20 to -28 they never failed! They are outdoor rated but do not have a heater but yet still seem to be able to handle the cold, so go figure!
AutomatedOutlet
Senior Member
A lot of cameras now come with built in heaters. What style of camera are you looking for and what do you want to see?
I have cameras made by Axis that were operational last winter in -40 celsius. The models I use are the Axis 225FD dome cameras and they have performed reliably for almost 4 years.
When I first got them I noticed at about -25 celsius I would lose video and they would turn off, after checking the power panel I have the fuses were blown and I have since changed them to 800mA 250v and they have worked perfect since then..last winter we dropped to -58 C with the windchill..the cameras operated fine this day.
http://www.edmontonsun.com/news/edmonton/2...3/12141366.html
**Note these cameras are not rated for this extreme of weather but seem to work fine in my situation, possibly because of the fuses I am using in my 12 volt panel..never have had a problem since changing fuses to that type. I purchased both of mine from Ebay new in the box for approx. $500 each
Image of Driveway at 11:00 am today
Image of Driveway last night, time was 12:34 a.m with no lights turned on..light is from street lights
When I first got them I noticed at about -25 celsius I would lose video and they would turn off, after checking the power panel I have the fuses were blown and I have since changed them to 800mA 250v and they have worked perfect since then..last winter we dropped to -58 C with the windchill..the cameras operated fine this day.
http://www.edmontonsun.com/news/edmonton/2...3/12141366.html
**Note these cameras are not rated for this extreme of weather but seem to work fine in my situation, possibly because of the fuses I am using in my 12 volt panel..never have had a problem since changing fuses to that type. I purchased both of mine from Ebay new in the box for approx. $500 each
Image of Driveway at 11:00 am today
Image of Driveway last night, time was 12:34 a.m with no lights turned on..light is from street lights
