Dahua SD50225U-HNI - Starlight

[richtj99]

Hi,

I bought the above camera from Andy from this board (shipped very fast). I purchased in in June 2018 - this is my second SD50225U - I like the camera very much.

The June 2018 unit I purchased sat in my office plugged into a POE switch for about 3 months, then I deployed it on a tree (80 feet high) replacing a Sunba 601 camera which actually worked fairly well & was compatible with both Geovison and BI.

Last night around 3am the camera went dead (based on when the recordings stopped). No bad weather - a bit cool at 30F but it has been down to 0 in the last few weeks and the camera worked fine.

I am using a POE injector (same injector as the Sunba & has worked for the Dahua for months). I swapped out two other working injectors & nothing. I left the power off for 10 minutes - also reterminated the Cat6 to make sure the connectors looked good.

I have a tree person coming out to pull the camera off the tree in the next few days - i will have the conduit with the Cat6 lowered to check on the issue.

Just curious if there is anything else I can try (not being a tree person myself)? My plan is to swap the sunba back onto the tree but was ready to deploy it elsewhere.

Thanks,
Rich

 

[looney2ns]

Did you use solid copper cable and not CCA?
Is the cable bury rated?
How was it buried? In conduit or ?

 

[richtj99]

I will check the box but it was honeywell blue cat6 - Without the plastic thing in the middle of the cable.

The cat6 was run in a conduit & was sitting on this tree for 2 years (all in a conduit).

 

[awsum140]

My experience with tree mounted cameras is that they can, not always, fall victim to the constant flexing of wire that the natural sway of a tree can produce. I'd also suggest that the cable should be a "direct Burial" cable as a backup to the conduit Conduit can leak and that can produce problems using CMR or plain PVC jacketed cable. If you have a cable tester, when the conduit is down test the cable first for continuity.

 

[richtj99]

Thanks - I will keep that in mind. I do have a tester & that will be the first thing I do, second thing will be to take a POE camera, plug it in, then take the old camera & plug it into another device & see if it is still dead.

I would imagine getting warranty service on that will be expensive & timely. Might not be worth it. Bummer - the first one is going on 2 years outside.

 

[awsum140]

If it is the camera, check with Andy. It's worth asking the question anyway.

Out of curiosity, and being somewhat of a "tree person", why a camera at 80 feet?

Another thought on the cable...leave a flex loop at the base, or at least use SealTite at the base and maybe even for the full run up the tree. That will let the SealTie flex and leave enough room for the cable to remain fairly stable.

 

[jmcu]

My direct burial cable for my tree cam needed to be replaced after about 2 years. It was not in conduit but I was surprised that it stopped working in such a short time. And after inspecting it, water had made it's way into it. I also leave plenty of slack for the tree swing.
I also prefer to run non POE power to a run like that, for me it is easier to troubleshoot.

Also curious - what the heck is that cam looking at 80' up in a tree...??
Andy normally has a 1 year warranty on his cameras, but it wouldn't hurt to ask..

 

[richtj99]

So this morning, somehow the camera is working again. Fortunately for me it started snowing yesterday so the tree guy couldnt make it. Now it works. While I tried different injectors, can someone recommend a good Amazon or Ebay link for a better injector?

I have a pool at my place - the camera covers the pool, driveway, house - I am a little bit off the road so its a nice view - also I back up to a wooded area (several hundred acres) the camera with PTZ allows me to 'chase' the wildlife - plenty of deer, coyotes, even a bobcat.

 

[Q™]

Test the cable.

Is the cable gel-filled?

 

[awsum140]

From what you're describing it is probably a cable problem and not a camera problem.