DIY gasket material for outdoor video cam?
- Thread starter NeverDie
- Start date
NeverDie
Senior Member
wkearney99 said:
How so? Did he cut a large hole (for wiring volume) into one and then glue or solvent-weld another with a smaller hole (to be covered by the light fixture) on the front? Or, I suppose he may also have screwed from the back piece into the front piece without it showing.
wkearney99
Senior Member
NeverDie said:
It was for actual on-wall lighting, not a camera. He basically laminated a couple of pieces of PVC lumber together and then cut out the necessary profile to fit over the existing lap siding. That and put a top cap to mimic the trim used over adjacent doors & windows. My being there's more than one way to solve problems like this, sometimes crafting a specific solution is better than accepting something inferior just because it's ready-made.
wkearney99
Senior Member
I usually try to post actual links to a source, barring that at least part numbers. Cool to see what folks have found!
NeverDie
Senior Member
wkearney99 said:
I usually do that as well, but I wasn't sure if anyone else was interested in links. Thanks for the feedback.
Here are the links:
http://www.amazon.com/Arlington-Industries-AA8161TR-Security-Mounting/dp/B007HWCRFK/ref=sr_1_23?ie=UTF8&qid=1401497122&sr=8-23&keywords=arlington+mounting
http://www.amazon.com/Arlington-Industries-SC5-Security-Camera/dp/B004VOL5W8/ref=pd_sim_sbs_p_5?ie=UTF8&refRID=1AV4H65FHVCMCGFSGHFX
The photos against the concrete background I took this afternoon at Lowes in the electrical department.
NeverDie
Senior Member
I have a few of these digital DHT22 temp/RH sensors laying around:
I got them for about $6 each earlier in the year from DX. I'm toying with the idea of tossing one in on top of the videocam and logging the temp/RH values with an arduino. That way, if the videocam does fail this summer, I'll have an exact measurement as to what most probably drove it over the edge. Would it be worthwhile, or not worth the hassle? It's easy to run a little extra wire to the sensor right now while everything is opened up. Later, after everything is buttoned back up, would be too late.
The Hikvision videocam is the chinese version. It's about $100 cheaper than the US version, and allegedly the only difference is the chinese language firmware (which can be upgraded to English through a hack, which I need to do soon!). Here's the review that sold me on this particular videocam (the one whose photo I showed in the OP): http://www.networkcameracritic.com/?p=2135
If I had it to do over again, I'd probably get the newer, more compact version, with the shorter profile, also reviewed on that website. It has similar 3MP specs but hadn't yet been released when I purchased the turret model. If the turret survives the summer sun and heat, then I'll probably get the more compact version next.
I got them for about $6 each earlier in the year from DX. I'm toying with the idea of tossing one in on top of the videocam and logging the temp/RH values with an arduino. That way, if the videocam does fail this summer, I'll have an exact measurement as to what most probably drove it over the edge. Would it be worthwhile, or not worth the hassle? It's easy to run a little extra wire to the sensor right now while everything is opened up. Later, after everything is buttoned back up, would be too late.
The Hikvision videocam is the chinese version. It's about $100 cheaper than the US version, and allegedly the only difference is the chinese language firmware (which can be upgraded to English through a hack, which I need to do soon!). Here's the review that sold me on this particular videocam (the one whose photo I showed in the OP): http://www.networkcameracritic.com/?p=2135
If I had it to do over again, I'd probably get the newer, more compact version, with the shorter profile, also reviewed on that website. It has similar 3MP specs but hadn't yet been released when I purchased the turret model. If the turret survives the summer sun and heat, then I'll probably get the more compact version next.
NeverDie
Senior Member
So, I'm reluctantly concluding my best option is to mount an old-work outlet box inside the soffit, pass the Cat6 into that and then seal the Cat6 penetration. At least I'll only need to do it once. If I change-out the camera for something else in the future, the new videocam will just hook up to the same terminated Cat6 in the outlet box.
pete_c
Guru
I am on the 4th under the eave camera today. The first three were analog and the current one is IP HD.
I utilized my cell phone to adjust the view the last time. The wire passes a hole into the aluminum soffit with a bit of that pliable putty on it. In the midwest the aluminum soffits are vented every few feet and here the temperatures go from one extreme to another.
I did change out the included lens for a wider angle 28mm lens which was easy to do. I have had bird do their stuff on the lens and it always washing away with a windy rain. I have no more view now from the trees growing on the right hand side. I have another IP HD camera though that faces the house also with a wide angle few but it doesn't see through the trees. That said there is a third camera from the center of the two garage doors that do get the view in the front. All together though its four cameras that face each other at different angles.
I have seen some spider webs and dead insects but no deterioration. If I look at the area while in the attic I do see light coming from the soffits.
Having the camera mounted on a box is easier to deal with if you need to switch cams. I did brick the first camera after a few months and in an attempt to update the firmware. Thinking though it was the camera that messed up the firmware update and not me.
My IP HD camera is tucked way in the corner where the eave meets the wood trim.
Recently in FL I had to have some work done. The roof is terracotta and where the tiles meet the end of the roof line I had to have that area resealed. The soffit there is sealed with no vent holes. The terracotta roof though has some vents. What had happened though was birds did get into the attic space so I called a roofer and he said that the roof needed to be sealed and I had him do that. The soffits / eaves are all wood. I had them painted / primed a few times before hanging the aluminum gutters during initial construction in 2000. (tear down and new build)
That said the old wood from the old house build in around 1955 had pretty much rotted and was being held together by the paint. Had been fixing it since around '87-8 and it got to be too much here and there fixing so it was decided in the 1990's to tear the house down and start all over again. The old house was at ground level and the new one is elevated some 8-10 feet relating to FEMA new construction codes. The new home though is mostly cement outside with a coating over it.
I utilized my cell phone to adjust the view the last time. The wire passes a hole into the aluminum soffit with a bit of that pliable putty on it. In the midwest the aluminum soffits are vented every few feet and here the temperatures go from one extreme to another.
I did change out the included lens for a wider angle 28mm lens which was easy to do. I have had bird do their stuff on the lens and it always washing away with a windy rain. I have no more view now from the trees growing on the right hand side. I have another IP HD camera though that faces the house also with a wide angle few but it doesn't see through the trees. That said there is a third camera from the center of the two garage doors that do get the view in the front. All together though its four cameras that face each other at different angles.
I have seen some spider webs and dead insects but no deterioration. If I look at the area while in the attic I do see light coming from the soffits.
Having the camera mounted on a box is easier to deal with if you need to switch cams. I did brick the first camera after a few months and in an attempt to update the firmware. Thinking though it was the camera that messed up the firmware update and not me.
My IP HD camera is tucked way in the corner where the eave meets the wood trim.
Recently in FL I had to have some work done. The roof is terracotta and where the tiles meet the end of the roof line I had to have that area resealed. The soffit there is sealed with no vent holes. The terracotta roof though has some vents. What had happened though was birds did get into the attic space so I called a roofer and he said that the roof needed to be sealed and I had him do that. The soffits / eaves are all wood. I had them painted / primed a few times before hanging the aluminum gutters during initial construction in 2000. (tear down and new build)
That said the old wood from the old house build in around 1955 had pretty much rotted and was being held together by the paint. Had been fixing it since around '87-8 and it got to be too much here and there fixing so it was decided in the 1990's to tear the house down and start all over again. The old house was at ground level and the new one is elevated some 8-10 feet relating to FEMA new construction codes. The new home though is mostly cement outside with a coating over it.
NeverDie
Senior Member
Argh!! If I use a typical old work box, the hole will be so large the camera won't be getting much support at the points of attachment.
Conclusion: Punt! This is the wrong camera for this location. It's better suited to a soffit location that's open to a vented attic. Then all these prickly issues disappear, and no air sealing will be required.
I'm going to order one of these (the camera on the right) instead for the dead-air soffit:
It has similar specs, but it's much smaller, and it looks like it will be easier to air seal against the dead-air soffit:
Its small size will also mean it's more discrete, and so it's probably better overall for my situation.
Conclusion: Punt! This is the wrong camera for this location. It's better suited to a soffit location that's open to a vented attic. Then all these prickly issues disappear, and no air sealing will be required.
I'm going to order one of these (the camera on the right) instead for the dead-air soffit:
It has similar specs, but it's much smaller, and it looks like it will be easier to air seal against the dead-air soffit:
Its small size will also mean it's more discrete, and so it's probably better overall for my situation.