HP webcam

[paracelsus]

Has anyone any experience of the HP 1080p webcam HD4110. Specs are: 1280 x 720 with 13 megapixell stills. At £34 (PC World) this seems a much better deal than the Microsoft HD Lifecam but would it need complicated surgery to adapt it to scope work.

[focaldepth]

Hi, a late reply.

I just bought a HD4110 today an took it apart.

The video is 1920x1080 (full HD) like most web cams the 13mp is a lie.

It is a 2mp camera with interpolation to give a pointless 13mp image.

It looks good for planet work though, that is why I bought it.

So far I have disassembled it. All very easy if you have a tiny cross-head screwdriver.

The only hairy part is removing the lens/focuser from the CCD chip. A small soldering iron and more than 2 hands are needed to break the glue while heating the solder.

Mine still works after the massacre.

The resulting PCB assembly will fit inside a 1" ID tube with space to spare.

Next I need to mount it in an Orion 1.25" extension tube (on order from SCS sorry FLO).

At the moment I do not know how I will mount it in the tube.

I have taken lots of pictures of the disassembly and will post them somewhere one day soon.

I am busy with other things at the moment but will get it ready for use soon and then all I need is a clear sky (can't remember what those look like) and I will give it a try.

[focaldepth]

Just in case anyone discovers this dead thread, here are my pics of HD4110 disassembly.

Firstly the Hewlett packard HD 4110

Remove stand/clip.

Remove Gimbal.

Remove Hidden screw.

Unplug USB cable and separate case.

[focaldepth]

Unscrew main PCB from bracket.

Unscrew bracket from front section of camera.

Unlug main board from CCD board.

unplug switch cable from main board.

Warm the 2 solder joints for the focuser motor and prize off the glue to remove lens/focus assembly.

At last the CCD chip.

[focaldepth]

Close up of CCD

Keep Main board, CCD board and USB cable. Dispose of the rest in an environmentally friendly manor.

Size of CCD board.

Testing it still works.

The next phases is to mount in eyepiece extender and take some pictures.

[focaldepth]

Next phase.

Carefully measure the internal diameter of the extension tube (or Barlow or whatever you will use for a housing) and decide where to cut the HD4110 casing to be a snug fit. You can always sand a bit more off but you cant put it back on again.

The cut with a tool of your choice, I used a Dremel.

Note: remember you are cutting through the internal black ring of plastic as well.

Both ends done and a nice snug fit.

Time to remover the LED. Just cover it with solder and it will come off easily.

Start to reassemble.

Refit part of the gimble to hold it all together

Slide the camera into its new home.

The finished planetary CCD camera. (It still needs some hot glue to hold it in place but this will do for testing and a cable tie to take strain off the cable)

Now it needs to be put into action.

[benjii]

Good job! I like DIY threads with pictures, always makes an entertaining read.

[UnderTheRain]

Great guide thanks

[RogerTheDodger]

looks like it performs quite well...

wai_h54_iPI

[Hawkeye]

Have you got any pictures taken with this webcam ?