LPR / Security Cam duty

[wittaj]

You need to either run 24/7 B/W or switch color to B/W via the schedule in the cam or the sunrise/sunset utility someone on here developed in order to get plates at night.

Because of the shutter speed you need to run at night, it needs to be able to focus on something with enough light out or you will get blur all night long.

I run mine as a fixed manual shutter speed of 1/2000. When I ran the shutter time range like some do here, for my setup it was causing headlight ghost/blur type stuff.

It is rare to find anyone that can run color at night and get plates - the amount of available light needed at that shutter speed is crazy. Looking at your pic I doubt you will have enough to run color at night.

 

[bigredfish]

Good points @wittaj

I'm back to fixed shutter speed. I did try the shutter ranges a few months back and while I understand the concept allowing it to decide how long to open, I ended up with a loss of focus on too many occasions as I assume the shutter was changing due to conditions (headlights) and then lost focus when the image went black again with nothing to focus on... ? At least thats my theory

 

[pbc]

Does the Dahua software have something like BI where it dynamically adjusts for dawn/dusk times (Hikvision does not)? Or are you manually just changing it a few times a year? In my situation cars will be at a full stop or a rolling stop in any event, so looking forward to what this camera can capture.

 

[wittaj]

Unfortunately you have to manually change the times a couple times a year. Or if you are running a PC and BI instead of an NVR, use the utility.

For almost a year I ran mine 24/7 B/W on my night settings just to not have to deal with the schedule. I finally went to the utility and now run color during day and B/W at night.

Dahua day/night switch utility - DahuaSunriseSunset

I wanted to use stronger noise reduction at night and weaker during the day, but Dahua seems to have made a mess of the profile management. On most cameras, there doesn't seem to be a way to have the camera switch automatically between Day and Night profiles when the camera changes between...

ipcamtalk.com

 

[bigredfish]

Im adjusting manually a few times per year. Not that big of a deal for me as I can VPN into the 4 LPR cams from my desk at home.

 

[wittaj]

Good point @bigredfish, I bet with his straight on angle, that could be enough time at varying shutter speeds to potentially throw the focus out of whack. Especially if a car sat there for a few minutes texting LOL.

 

[pbc]

The camera is going to be in a relatively difficult place to adjust easily in terms of positioning it, presumably I should aim at the left side of the incoming street as cars come in and stop, and not try to capture both sides?

 

[wittaj]

You have such a wide street that I think it would be tough to get more than one lane at that straight angle - probably one of the few instances were being offset at an angle may be a better solution LOL.

I would suggest before mounting it, try on a post in the driveway at about the same distance as it would be when hanging and see if you can keep it just wide enough to get two lanes, yet still read plates.

I don't think you will be able to unless you straddle the yellow line and aim to only get half of a car in each lane and hope they are positioned such that you see the plate.

Maybe something like this? Maybe slide over to the right a little? That oncoming lane is so wide though.

 

[biggen]

I don't think you will be able to capture both sides. A single car needs to nearly fill the frame for you to read a license plate clearly. Like this:



Try it and see. Maybe you can get lucky and get both lanes sufficiently.

Edit: Actually looking at my captures I have about two lanes worth spacing. So you may be able to capture both lanes from that spot.

 

[crc2004]

IPC-HFW5231E-Z12 LPR from 137 feet

I’ve been running a IPC-HFW5231E-Z12 as an LPR from 137 feet for over a week now and I’m getting excellent results for both day and night. The 137 feet distance was calculated using the IPVM calculator (IPVM Camera Calculator) and I measured it with a Bosch laser measurer. Here’s the birds eye...

ipcamtalk.com

 

[pbc]

Okay.. Going to try and install the camera. Just noticed when I was putting in a 128gb card there was a T and a W button inside, which once it is up will be very difficult to get to. Do I need this buttons for anything?

 

[wittaj]

Do not touch those LOL

You can use that to manually set them, but why LOL.

Post us pics and updates!

I cannot wait to see if you are going to be able to get two lanes and reliably get plates!

 

[pbc]

Might take some time, I'm trying not to kill myself on a ladder 16 feet up figuring out how to connect both cams. Lol. I am also hoping the soffit material is strong enough to hold up the LPR with screws as the camera is heavier than my turrets that is for sure!

 

[wittaj]

Can you mount it on the vertical wall? That is what I ended up doing as I couldn't find wood above the soffit to tie it into (without a crazy long screw). If your soffit is vinyl, I don't think it will hold this cam.

 

[sebastiantombs]

If you have a vinyl soffet with channels on each end, house and facia sides, just get a piece of flat, 1/8"x2" aluminum stock. Cut it to length to span the full width of the soffett minus a little for clearance, mount the camera to that and then slide it into place where you want it. A dab of silicon seal will hold it in place. No holes, no screws, no fuss, no muss. I get "fancy" and use a double width or cut "wings" to accommodate a round turret base, but it works quite well either way.

 

[pbc]

Thx, 4 screws seems to be decent. Haven't made any adjustments yet. Zoom at 820.

Thoughts?

 

[pbc]

First thought of my own is I mounted it upside down...grrr.

 

[biggen]

That looks real good. Better than I predicted in fact. Good for you! The real test and tinkering will come at dusk/night.

 

[wittaj]

You can reverse the image in the software I believe.

I thought you might be able to get more than one lane. At least during the day. But that looks way better than I thought to get all three lanes.

You do have about as straight on as an angle so that is probably why you can get away with a little more.

You have to be pleased with that view and capture - I am excited for you!

 

[pbc]

Yeah, the above pic was with the 180 degree tilt but using mirror didn't help (licence plates were all reversed), so had to take it down and put it back up.