Outdoor Equipment & Cold Temperatures

[Lagerhead]

Looking for ideas... I have a Panasonic HCM331 outdoor-rated camera that is good down to -4F (operating and storage). Temperatures now are heading below zero for the first time in several years. The camera can't be de-installed in any practical way. I have thought of boxing the camera and placing a small light bulb in the box. Whatever I do, it means working on an extension ladder in an awkward location, with snow underneath, in mid-teen temperatures, and probably in the dark (and that's the best case). Are there smarter or better solutions?

 

[Helheim]

You can get some cameras with built in heaters or even just enclosures with heaters.

 

[roussell]

How about wrapping it with some of the electric heat tape that's made for water pipes?

Terry

 

[WayneW]

Depends upon how cold it is going to really get? You might assume that the minimum temp rating is conservative and no harm will come to the camera to go a few degrees below the rating.

 

[CollinR]

Depends upon how cold it is going to really get? You might assume that the minimum temp rating is conservative and no harm will come to the camera to go a few degrees below the rating.

I can all but assume you thats the case. I am far more concerned about max temp then min.

My buddy in Edmonton says no problems with my LL bullets at -40. Their spec is nowhere near that!

Also "cold startup" is usually the concern assuming the camera is always powered up I doubt you'll have an issue.

 

[Monk]

Looking for ideas... I have a Panasonic HCM331 outdoor-rated camera that is good down to -4F (operating and storage). Temperatures now are heading below zero for the first time in several years.

Hi Lagerhead. A concern for me is that the pan / tilt mechanism (Toshiba IK-wbxx) could be damaged. It got down to -1 today and all still work but I have instructed the family not to move the views unless really necessary.
FWIW its rated "Working Temperature" is -4F to 122 and the "operating temperature" is 14F to 122 not entirely sure what the difference is supposed to be.

 

[Neurorad]

Just replace it with one with a heater if it dies.

Not worth risking your neck.

 

[CollinR]

Mechanical cameras are somewhat different, I wouldn't move it while below it's specified temperature.

Someone did mention you can insulate the camera as it does generate heat on it's own just make sure you remove it before summer. If this is an IP camera the encoder actually creates quite a bit of heat.

 

[Monk]

I tend to agree with CollinR -
Not sure that I would heat-tape it but at least cease the pan-tilt action till it is warmer.

 

[Lagerhead]

Thanks for the great comments. I tend to agree that the most serious impact of the cold would be on the mechanical pan/tilt components. I can disable the automatic (event-triggered) movements just by disconnecting the trigger wires in the house (and I have done this) so I feel better about that. The camera draws only 6 watts so it is not a source of heat by itself. This camera was $500+ when new and a replacement is not in the budget. Will keep an eye on the temperature forecast but will try not do anything stupid.

 

[JeffCharger]

I may be wrong, but I have had cameras for about 5 years..... running all year with minimal protection from the elements. I have some in enclosures to "cover" them. At first I heated with a small light bulb, but found that others that weren't heated didn't seem to have any problems.

I live in Ontario so get pretty cool winters and a fair amount of snow. We are enduring some pretty cold weather right now.... about -34 C..... about -30F. I have never had a cold related problem. I have about 10 cameras of lots of different styles.

 

[jrmahler]

Thanks for the great comments. I tend to agree that the most serious impact of the cold would be on the mechanical pan/tilt components. I can disable the automatic (event-triggered) movements just by disconnecting the trigger wires in the house (and I have done this) so I feel better about that. The camera draws only 6 watts so it is not a source of heat by itself. This camera was $500+ when new and a replacement is not in the budget. Will keep an eye on the temperature forecast but will try not do anything stupid.

I don't know much about this, but can you put relays on the trigger wires and have them automatically shut-off if the outdoor temperature is below a certain point? This way you wouldn't have to fret over it constantly.

Also, connecting a small light bulb in the enclosure and placing the camera in an insulate box seems as though it would do the trick.

 

[Lagerhead]

can you put relays on the trigger wires and have them automatically shut-off if the outdoor temperature is below a certain point?

Actually I look the leads OFF the relay in my M1. Hate to say it but this was an easier and more certain way to temporarily disable the triggered motion than finding and disabling all of the possible rules (I am over 80% rule space used and IIRC approaching 200 rules).

Also, connecting a small light bulb in the enclosure and placing the camera in an insulate box seems as though it would do the trick.

Yes, I will do something like that in a makeshift manner if it gets severely cold. But I take the sensible advice of the group here, that I probably don't need to worry about the electronics until well below the rated min temp, which did not nearly occur overnight and is not in the forecast.