Low power consumption 24/7 video recorder?

**nobb** · 07-12-2009, 01:32 PM

I just made a mount to clamp the camera on my rear view mirror using some bolts and a strip of metal. I like my sony CCD camera because it included a 6mm lens or a 16mm wide angle (that's the lens I am using right now). I think on eBay you might be able to get an even wider viewing angle lens. I made my camera enclosure out of a dental floss case, which looks terrible...but oh well

And yes, unfortunately I have a crack in the windshield right where the camera is pointed. That's what you get for sitting on your windshield trying to wax the roof =(

**HiJackZX1** · 07-12-2009, 02:06 PM

Originally Posted by nobb

I just made a mount to clamp the camera on my rear view mirror using some bolts and a strip of metal. I like my sony CCD camera because it included a 6mm lens or a 16mm wide angle (that's the lens I am using right now). I think on eBay you might be able to get an even wider viewing angle lens. I made my camera enclosure out of a dental floss case, which looks terrible...but oh well

And yes, unfortunately I have a crack in the windshield right where the camera is pointed. That's what you get for sitting on your windshield trying to wax the roof =(

OHHHHHH, so the camera is like one of those cams that just a circuit board with unscrewable lens? Thats cool, all my rear facing cameras will be these:

I also bought illuminators to make the night viewing distance longer since I am deleting my mirrors.

The Front cam wouldnt have to be I/R because the head lights light up the way. Plus I/R do not work good behind glass, it would reflect off of it.

Is this what I am going after?

**nobb** · 07-12-2009, 11:02 PM

Im not sure if those little IR leds are going to make night vision that much better for a vehicle. It seems those cameras are designed mostly for night vision in small rooms, not for a large area.

The second picture you posted above is the exact camera I have. Although I would try to get something that has the enclosure included.

**tempgp** · 07-12-2009, 11:08 PM

proper IR illumination can get range of up to 200m w/ lenses
one on pix most likely 10-15m range

You really need 0.001 Lux camera that is sensetive to regular light and not IR

**soundman98** · 07-12-2009, 11:30 PM

just to give you a idea, 18 ir leds, will go a distance (according to the manufacturer) listed as 100ft, but with a wide angle lens, you will only see a short distance. also, ir leds are very directional, so with a wide angle lens, you end up with tunnel vision. so you might be better off with muliple ir illuminators aimed in different directions in front of the car.

also, cheap cameras have higher lux ratings, making them produce alot of noise in dark images.

**PaulF** · 07-13-2009, 12:17 AM

How cheap is cheap? I have a sheeva plug which runs on 5 volts and on the battery side of the regulator it only pulls 4 watts. So add whatever a USB camera's power consumption is which can't be more than .5 amps at 5 volts so assuming 90% efficiency, that's only adding .23 amps on the 12 volt side, so we're up to .6 amps on the 12 volt side. So you would need a roughly 14.4 AH battery to power it for 24 hours.

**HiJackZX1** · 07-13-2009, 01:07 AM

Originally Posted by soundman98

just to give you a idea, 18 ir leds, will go a distance (according to the manufacturer) listed as 100ft, but with a wide angle lens, you will only see a short distance. also, ir leds are very directional, so with a wide angle lens, you end up with tunnel vision. so you might be better off with muliple ir illuminators aimed in different directions in front of the car.

also, cheap cameras have higher lux ratings, making them produce alot of noise in dark images.

Well I was going to add illuminators, maybe I should buy a second one? The camera has 36 IR, and the illuminator has about 36 also.

**HiJackZX1** · 09-10-2009, 08:37 PM

I have a question.... How are you guys powering the Securmate? I cannot power it on my PSU, so it needs its own regulated 5V power. I have an adapter that has 4.5v regulated. Will that be enough to power the DVR?

**tempgp** · 09-10-2009, 08:39 PM

so after all what DVR is the best for the money?

**HiJackZX1** · 09-10-2009, 10:59 PM

lacning74 uses the secumate..... It seems to work perfectly. One thing I like is that if you turn off the car, and then turn it back on, it starts recording again. I do not know if the others do that.