All-Sky-Cam

[Altocumulus]

As per the Title!

Ok, I've managed to cobble something up that works, though not without its issues.

I chose to place the cam on a tripod 30 metres away from the house. An ethernet cable takes the data back to a router near the house. It gives a sensible alternative to active USB cable, but I had to place the PC at the cam end.

The cam is run by a 5V 2A PC Stick, but I also have a 12V heat band to keep the you know what off!

There's a heathrobinson setup with the power supply - RCD protected mains cable runs to a waterproof junction box where there is a double socket. One socket has a phone charger attached for the PC, the other has a 12V adapter from something long gone. :eeks:

It works, but it's unsatisfactory and I'm looking ahead to a MarkII perhaps in the quieter Summer months.

Now we no longer have the benefit of a Tandy / Maplin here in the UK, can anyone offer a sensible solution to the need for a mains to DC converter that will satisfy both 5V and 12V output. Is such a thing available as a single unit, or is it a case of 240>>12V and another for the 12V>>5V.

One disadvantage of being environmentally aware during the last 30 years is the desire to grow trees! 30 metres gets me away from the house and the trees.

 

Warmly Geoff

[DaveL59]

hi Geoff

I went a slightly different route to start and used spare CCTV IP modules in a modified housing attached to the side of the shed. Downside is shutter speed is too fast really at 1/10s slowest, but it kinda works. As I had network out to the shed anyway it seemed the easiest way to go and no remote PC needed. Others use Rasberry Pi's I think so they can drive a USB camera. I had a play recently with a webcam on a network-USB server and that seemed to work, so a future option perhaps as I've a spare one kicking around. Sadly that was from Maplin who are as you said no more.

As for power, I guess you could run a single 12v of suitable amps and feed it via a splitter to a 12-5v buck converter so that you have a single supply but both 12v and 5v. Otherwise a PC PSU would do it, tho they tend not the be high amps on the 12v rail.

 

[Gina]

PC ATX PSUs go up to 30A or more @ 12 v.

[CedricTheBrave]

i have used one of these https://ebay.us/jt624V with one of these for the 5v https://ebay.us/VZbNDN

[Altocumulus]

On 22/12/2019 at 13:04, Gina said:

PC ATX PSUs go up to 30A or more @ 12 v.

Thanks Gina - but one of those wouldn't fit inside my 'little' cam box