Property marker LPR camera

[JPmedia]

After seeing the mailbox camera LPR thread, I had a thought to design a property marker post LPR installation at the end of the driveway using a varifocal turret camera hidden in a vinyl fence post designed to look like a number marker post.

Camera is a used Empire tech IPC-T54IR-ZE that I acquired from eBay for $30 that someone painted black (and did a cheap paint job). I've only started the project so there's still much to do. The camera body will be sandwiched between two plates and stand-offs with screws to lock it in place. They'll be about 15 to 20 degrees of adjustment in 360 degrees.

Attached are the beginning plan and photos of what is done so far. First is the drawing, next is the post and last is the front plate with camera placed behind, which slides into the post. Still need to make the back plate and standoffs to mount the camera

 

[bigredfish]

I like it!

 

[JPmedia]

I like it!

Thanks. Lets hope it works out the way it was designed

 

[JPmedia]

An update. Process is slow as it has been busy here with my business, so not a lot of time to fiddle with camera stuff. Anyway, number and camera surround is painted.

The numbers were printed on paper from MS Word and then affixed over masking tape. The numbers were then cut out by hand with a utility knife. The masking in the surround was removed and left in place where the numbers are, sprayed black and then the masking stencil was removed. Attached is today's progress

 

[JPmedia]

Latest update on the install. Wires run in conduit to the Marker camera and installed. Still have yet to run the cables to one of the current camera locations to use a splitter/combiner. Photo of the installation at the end of the driveway

 

[Ri22o]

Looking good. I am working on something similar, but it's meant to sit on top of one of those post sleeves.

Thread 'I need more hobbies.. Working on a PVC post discrete camera housing... (a better birdhouse)'

Jan 13, 2025

I want another view for anyone coming up the walk to the house and have wanted to add a camera at about 42-48" high on the approach to my front door. This has been something I have been thinking about for a while now. Originally I bought one of the small, wooden birdhouses and was going to use it, but have had a better thought... After having my neighbor 3D print some camera spacer rings for me I started considering getting my own printer. Walking around the house realizing all of the simple problems that having one could solve, I decided to order a Bambu P1S. The printer hasn't arrived...

• Ri22o
• Replies: 28
• Forum: Camera Installation Questions

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• 

 

[factor01]

Latest update on the install. Wires run in conduit to the Marker camera and installed. Still have yet to run the cables to one of the current camera locations to use a splitter/combiner. Photo of the installation at the end of the driveway

OMG I love this idea...

 

[d5775927]

If it rains will you be able to get a clear video, I mean, do you need a visor?

 

[JPmedia]

Looking good. I am working on something similar, but it's meant to sit on top of one of those post sleeves.

Thread 'I need more hobbies.. Working on a PVC post discrete camera housing... (a better birdhouse)'

Jan 13, 2025

I want another view for anyone coming up the walk to the house and have wanted to add a camera at about 42-48" high on the approach to my front door. This has been something I have been thinking about for a while now. Originally I bought one of the small, wooden birdhouses and was going to use it, but have had a better thought... After having my neighbor 3D print some camera spacer rings for me I started considering getting my own printer. Walking around the house realizing all of the simple problems that having one could solve, I decided to order a Bambu P1S. The printer hasn't arrived...

• Ri22o
• Replies: 28
• Forum: Camera Installation Questions

• 
• 

This is a T54IR-ZE in a post I purchased from Home Depot: Veranda 5 in. x 5 in. x 8 ft. White Vinyl Fence Post 73010700 - The Home Depot

It uses off the shelf PVC materials to sandwich the eyeball cam between two plates for mounting and adjustment.

 

[JPmedia]

If it rains will you be able to get a clear video, I mean, do you need a visor?

I currently have two turret cameras mounted on posts elsewhere on the property with no visors. Yes, they will get droplets on the face of the camera, but even the turrets I have that are under the eaves will get water on the face during many of our storms here in east central Florida because of wind-driven rain. I'm not too worried about it. The cameras dry off pretty quick after the storm

 

[d5775927]

I currently have two turret cameras mounted on posts elsewhere on the property with no visors. Yes, they will get droplets on the face of the camera, but even the turrets I have that are under the eaves will get water on the face during many of our storms here in east central Florida because of wind-driven rain. I'm not too worried about it. The cameras dry off pretty quick after the storm

I meant to ask other question, if it's raining for a few hours, will the camera be blind in that time?

 

[JPmedia]

Not really blind, more like vision impaired. You'll still get color and type of vehicle, but maybe not exact details. Still useful for observing and maybe recognizing subjects

 

[JPmedia]

I meant to ask other question, if it's raining for a few hours, will the camera be blind in that time?

And we usually get afternoon thunderstorms around 3ish, but they don't last long. Half hour usually. Hurricanes and tropical storms are a whole other thing, you wouldn't see anything in detail anyway with all the wind and torrential rain.

 

[JPmedia]

Not really blind, more like vision impaired. You'll still get color and type of vehicle, but maybe not exact details. Still useful for observing and maybe recognizing subjects

I will say, any cameras that I have that run IR at night, will essentially be blinded by the rain during that time.

 

[d5775927]

I will say, any cameras that I have that run IR at night, will essentially be blinded by the rain during that time.

I think that with visor the visibility is much better, but I may not remember correctly (I have one camera with visor and other without).

 

[JPmedia]

I think that with visor the visibility is much better, but I may not remember correctly (I have one camera with visor and other without).

Visor or no visor, rain at night with IR on pretty much most cameras, pretty much all you're going to see is rain falling

 

[JPmedia]

Update

I was able to connect everything today and review the outcome. I don't think LPR is going to happen with this camera as there is not enough zoom even with it zoomed all the way in. The other issue is that without enough zoom, the camera's FOV captures too much of the sky keeping the area of interest darker than I would like. May have to do some modification to the opening to get the view a little lower.

I'll keep futzing with it to make improvements, but I doubt the B54IR ZE will ever be a good LPR camera. May make a good recognize/identify camera with some tweaking - we'll see.

If I could get a B52IR Z12E in there, I would be set. May just have to accept that challenge down the road

 

[JPmedia]

Ok, so it would be a marginal recognize camera

 

[mat200]

Update

I was able to connect everything today and review the outcome. I don't think LPR is going to happen with this camera as there is not enough zoom even with it zoomed all the way in. The other issue is that without enough zoom, the camera's FOV captures too much of the sky keeping the area of interest darker than I would like. May have to do some modification to the opening to get the view a little lower.

I'll keep futzing with it to make improvements, but I doubt the B54IR ZE will ever be a good LPR camera. May make a good recognize/identify camera with some tweaking - we'll see.

If I could get a B52IR Z12E in there, I would be set. May just have to accept that challenge down the road

Nice job still .. great to see you sharing it.

 

[bigredfish]

Update

I was able to connect everything today and review the outcome. I don't think LPR is going to happen with this camera as there is not enough zoom even with it zoomed all the way in. The other issue is that without enough zoom, the camera's FOV captures too much of the sky keeping the area of interest darker than I would like. May have to do some modification to the opening to get the view a little lower.

I'll keep futzing with it to make improvements, but I doubt the B54IR ZE will ever be a good LPR camera. May make a good recognize/identify camera with some tweaking - we'll see.

If I could get a B52IR Z12E in there, I would be set. May just have to accept that challenge down the road

5442 Z4 would get you 3x the zoom may be enough