Ok this is totally unrelated to e-bikes, so I thought best to post it here..I just hope some knowledgeable types see it ;-)
I just bought one of those IP/WiFi webcam thingies which is intended as a low budget CCTV system which you can pan and tilt remotely..you know the type of cheapo chinese tat, you can pick up on eBay for around £33 ;-) Well it does the job at close range reasonably ok, but my problem is the camera is operating beyond its intended range from my flat window, so I want to put it outside in my shed... there's no way to get power down there, so I'm going to have to look at some battery power arrangement.
The camera uses 5V DC and nominally requires 500mA, so it doesn't need much.. but I want to run it for as long as possible between battery charges to avoid keep going down to shed.. Anyone any suggestions or ideas for power?
I'm thinking perhaps the small 6v 4.5Ah lead acid batteries for RC you can pick up on eBay cheap, maybe 2 in series? Buy two sets of two and keep rotating? Anyone know how long those would take to charge and how long it would likely last (or 2 of them in series)?
I did consider some solar panel set-up to charge the battery, which could go on the shed roof, but due to the communal nature of the sheds and being overlooked by other flats, probably not a smart idea..(plus there's no ruddy sun this time of year!).
Note: this is a covert CCTV setup, I'll have the camera lens looking through the air vent on the back wall of the shed facing my building entrance! We're trying to nail some anti-social/drug-dealing/using types who occupy the flat below me, and need some evidence. The camera also has InfraRed/Night Vision which works very well (indoors at least) only problem is, the IR led's around the lens all light up RED. Not very bright, but in pitch black darkness, certainly noticeable. I'm hoping they won't show through the air vent, else I guess I can just switch them off (you can disable IR from the Web control panel). But if I can't use the IR and assuming the light is not good enough from the street lamp a few yards away, does anyone have any suggestions for IR light or something I can through the air vent to illuminate about 7 feet?
I just bought one of those IP/WiFi webcam thingies which is intended as a low budget CCTV system which you can pan and tilt remotely..you know the type of cheapo chinese tat, you can pick up on eBay for around £33 ;-) Well it does the job at close range reasonably ok, but my problem is the camera is operating beyond its intended range from my flat window, so I want to put it outside in my shed... there's no way to get power down there, so I'm going to have to look at some battery power arrangement.
The camera uses 5V DC and nominally requires 500mA, so it doesn't need much.. but I want to run it for as long as possible between battery charges to avoid keep going down to shed.. Anyone any suggestions or ideas for power?
I'm thinking perhaps the small 6v 4.5Ah lead acid batteries for RC you can pick up on eBay cheap, maybe 2 in series? Buy two sets of two and keep rotating? Anyone know how long those would take to charge and how long it would likely last (or 2 of them in series)?
I did consider some solar panel set-up to charge the battery, which could go on the shed roof, but due to the communal nature of the sheds and being overlooked by other flats, probably not a smart idea..(plus there's no ruddy sun this time of year!).
Note: this is a covert CCTV setup, I'll have the camera lens looking through the air vent on the back wall of the shed facing my building entrance! We're trying to nail some anti-social/drug-dealing/using types who occupy the flat below me, and need some evidence. The camera also has InfraRed/Night Vision which works very well (indoors at least) only problem is, the IR led's around the lens all light up RED. Not very bright, but in pitch black darkness, certainly noticeable. I'm hoping they won't show through the air vent, else I guess I can just switch them off (you can disable IR from the Web control panel). But if I can't use the IR and assuming the light is not good enough from the street lamp a few yards away, does anyone have any suggestions for IR light or something I can through the air vent to illuminate about 7 feet?
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