What to do with DC Pigtails Outside

L

lserver30

n3wb
Jan 14, 2015
6
0
I'm just kind of curious what you guys do with your unused DC pigtails when you're using POE and the camera is outside? Do you cover them, tape them, cut them off, or just leave them and not worry about water or anything getting in?
 
As an Amazon Associate IPCamTalk earns from qualifying purchases.
  • Like
Reactions: n4gry
Mine are mostly just hanging there. In fact most of my RJ45 connections are just hanging there too, not wrapped with anything. All the cameras are under eaves, and none have ever been a problem.

If I have to mount something where water is likely to be a problem, I wrap the connections in a couple layers of electrical tape. This has worked fine even on top of a radio tower with no shelter whatsoever. I really should get a special purpose product for that wrapping, and not just rely on black electrical tape, but it will probably take the loss of a camera before that lesson sinks in.
 
Last edited:
I always install a weatherproof junction box to secure connections. Besides keeping the connection safe from weather or curious hands (yep, that happens) it also makes the job look more finished.
 
There is no need for desiccant packets... Unless you want to sign yourself up for a year maintenance hassle for zero benefit ... I would also avoid opening any camera you don't have to open... These cams are designed for outdoor use.. They will be just fine...
Just use coax seal...
 
It's impossible to assure that it extends the life of the camera.... I've been installing ip cameras since they became available, the failure rate is already extremely low, how you could know that the desiccant packs make any difference is beyond me... Even if there was a small benefit climbing a ladder once a year for every single camera and opening it up, re aiming the camera and hassling replacing these packets is ridiculous...

Sent via Taptalk
 
I see, so you installed hikvision ip cameras back in 60's....You tested this theory on the hundreds of cams you installed? Stop making the poor op waste his time.... Can you imagine the labor costs if large scale operations would go around changing desiccant packets?
And what is the Life of an ip camera? 5 years, 10? 20?
How long are you expecting the life to extend....

Sent via Taptalk
 
fenderman said:
I see, so you installed hikvision ip cameras back in 60's....You tested this theory on the hundreds of cams you installed? Stop making the poor op waste his time.... Can you imagine the labor costs if large scale operations would go around changing desiccant packets?
And what is the Life of an ip camera? 5 years, 10? 20?
How long are you expecting the life to extend....

Sent via Taptalk
Click to expand...
My apologies to UberOverLord, but I gotta agree with fenderman on this one. I don't doubt that there is some benefit to the desiccant packets, but it just isn't practical. We install systems with 20-50+ exterior cameras. While the idea is novel of having the packet absorb moisture away from the connection, the cost of maintaining such an operation every year wouldn't be cost effective for most installations, with the exception of perhaps maritime or military appliations that either need or think they need such a measure taken. In my professional opinion, there are best practices regarding how you use your conduit, boxes, gaskets, and connectors, plus installing in accordance with manufacturer's guidelines that will make the desiccant packets unnecessary.
 
The hikvision cameras are rated at 95 percent relative humidity. Please tell me where the humidity exceeds that level.
My recommendation is not based on "feelings" but rather actual real word experience with ip cameras....I have yet to see a failure or issue related to humidity...in fact failures are very rare mostly related to ir cut filters...
Say an ip camera will last at the low end, five years...and with desiccants you get it up to ten (which is NOT the case..there is no way you are going to double life span, but ill indulge you)...Take the average hikvision 2032 bullet camera...assuming there is room inside...you are looking a minimum of 30 minuets to remove the camera, open it, replace the desiccants, seal it and re aim it...in 10 years you have now spent 5 hours messing with the camera + the cost of the packets. Its an 85 dollar camera....all this for possibly extending the life of the camera..come on!
how much is your time worth?

I have a grandstream indoor dome camera installed outdoors because it has a built in mic and speaker (poor image, but it works for that location)... not a single problem.
Camera forums are full of folks who mount indoor cams outside without issue - for years...Im confident these outdoor cameras can handle the humidity.
As far as your link, im not surprised that a company the sells descendants recommends their use!
You are wrong in your assertion that the only way to experience this is to use desiccants. The alternative is to NOT use desiccants and you will find that that camera lasts its expected life span.....
 
TheUberOverLord said:
Please re-red my post. I never said or even suggested that the relative humidity would need to be exceeded more days than not.

http://www.ipcamtalk.com/showthread...Pigtails-Outside?p=26657&viewfull=1#post26657

My evidence is here and can be located on the Internet, where's yours, beside "Believe what I say".

Don
Click to expand...
Your "evidence" consists of an article written by the manufacturer of desiccants...need i say more.
I dont think the relative humidity has ever exceed 95 in new jersey (other then in the atmosphere where rain clouds form)...even if it did, using desiccants is a colossal waste of time for the remote possibility of extending a cameras life span. The evidence i have is in the many cams i have had up for years and are running just fine. You provided no study with respect to ip cameras. Your data is useless. We already established (in this and may other threads) that I could care less about your opinion - my goal here is just to prevent some newbie from wasting countless hours heading your "advice".
 
Overlord can you point me to actual data that indicates an improvement for outdoor designed electronics with desiccant installed?
My knee jerk reaction is to think you are just ignorant about the absorption volume of these small consumer packs, but I'd like to give you the benefit of doubt.
 
ServiceXp said:
Overlord can you point me to actual data that indicates an improvement for outdoor designed electronics with desiccant installed?
My knee jerk reaction is to think you are just ignorant about the absorption volume of these small consumer packs, but I'd like to give you the benefit of doubt.
Click to expand...
Your reaction is spot on.
 
TheUberOverLord said:
It's not relevant to me that you have no respect for U.S. military training.

You have stated that U.S. military training, does not impress you. Many times in the Forum.

Yet you eagerly are always willing to "Trash-Talk" U.S. military training as not impressing you much.

Don
Click to expand...
How dare you try to spin this as though I cast any negativity towards the military or its training. You slid that remark in during one of your many edits in the hopes that it would go unnoticed. Shame shame shame on you.
I have never nor will ever "trash talk" US militarily or its training. I am saying that I am not impressed with YOU or YOUR knowledge....nor am I impressed with training you received in the 1960's its outdated. There are dolts in the military just there are dolts in the private sector, that fact that you served does not make you some infallible expert in the field.
You keep demanding that i prove you wrong..i cannot prove a negative without 20-40 years of testing maybe more...you stated that using desiccants can increase the life of a camera four fold...so maybe we can start experimenting today and know in 20-40 years...:rolleyes:
I also cannot prove that rubbing the camera with olive oil does not extend its life...doesnt mean its a good idea to do so.
 
TheUberOverLord said:
I dare fenderman.

You have stated many times in this forum that you are not impressed with my military training. I have links.

If you are even 1/2 right about this subject matter fenderman, then you would be able to quickly find a respected source on the Internet making the claim that desiccant has no value for extending the life of electronic equipment. Locating information like that does not take 20-40 years.

Don

Don
Click to expand...
Yes I said im not impressed with YOUR training. There are lots of dolts in the military just as there are in civilian life. You are one of those dolts. Any training you did properly absorb is outdated anyways. You dont get a free pass to write manifestos containing utter nonsense because you served in the military.
It does take 20-40 years to prove that desiccants cannot increase the life of a camera fourfold given a 5-10 year life of a cam. The boards and components used 20 years ago are not the same. You need to compare apples to apples. Your measly one year in 1960's USAF training had NOTHING to do with ip cameras - one year of training does not an expert make...times change...get with it.
 
TheUberOverLord said:
Fenderman.

I'm waiting for your corroborating evidence that desiccant cannot extend the lifespan of outdoor electronics and no amount of adding more of your speculating and conjecture based words on top of the mountain of speculation and conjecture based words you already have presented on this subject matter will change that.

Don
Click to expand...
I am waiting for you to understand, that we are talking specifically about ip cameras. There is no way to prove this unless you do long term tests..im telling you that i have hundreds of installed cameras in the field, most outdoors - your suggestion is laughable. EVEN of you were correct, which you are not, the camera would be obsolete before any benefit would be realized...who are you kidding here.
 
I just can't take it any more.... In the old days company's like IQinVision (IQeye) use to recommend putting a desiccant packet on top of the lens of their Sentinel cameras to help (help being the operative word) prevent fogging. Did it work? In some cases YES and others NO! Was it worth the time and effort? Yes, to make sure that you were doing the best you could to install the cameras correctly.... But you never changed the packet. Ever! Unless you were servicing the camera for some other reason then it was recommended.
I am a college graduate with a EEE degree in electronic engineering & design.
Now a days you have cases that for the most part totally water proof. Most cameras are IP66 rated and though not an air tight seal it is sealed against water fairly well. http://www.budind.com/blog/2014/02/the-mysteries-of-ip-rated-enclosures-explained/
Can that be improved upon? YES! But I don't think the solution is filling the case with desiccant packets...
The IQeye, having the packet on top of the lens, is the only IP camera that I know of that ever used a packet to control moisture.

Just my thoughts on the subject... Even IQinVision newer cameras has NO recommendation to use such packets

BTW: I will not be running out to buy stock in Desiccant packets...
 
Last edited by a moderator:
TheUberOverLord said:
Rule #1

Don't confuse the use of desiccant packets for the purpose of trying to reduce lens fogging with anything to do with or to have any connection with extending the life of electronic circuit boards and connectors. Because the two subjects are apples and oranges.

Directly associating the failure of desiccant to reduce or eliminate lens fogging with any inability to extend the lifespan of electronic equipment, because of that failure to reduce or eliminate lens fogging. Is beyond absurd.

Secondly. You seem to also have quantity issues. Because nobody suggested filling anything with desiccant packets.

Don
Click to expand...

You are right!! Todays circuit boards are mostly impervious to water, and that little packet is only good for a very, very, very small amount of moisture. Rice would almost be better.....
 
It all comes back to that one document... That for some reason YOU think is the bible to electronics. It is not and is nothing more than advertising for their product.... Not that you will ever see through that...

I think you just like to argue! About anything and everything... So I am out of here and will not be seeing your posts again thank you......
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom