My next camera(s) installation in the woods

ctgoldwing

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I am just starting to extend my cameras in the woods to the lower part of our very wooded lot. There is a steep slope for several hundred feet that eventually levels out to a nice open, mostly grassy, area. I have already scoped out where the camera is going to go on a seriously sized oak. My plan is to extend my 40volt line from this tree (there are actually 2 cameras on this one and one of my $.30 5 port Linksys switches in that box)

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The red line is the path starting down the hill. The box contains my 40volt line and the ethernet source (the Linksys). About 200-225 feet away there is a good point to mount my 'relay station'. Another box with a Linksys switch. As long as everything (except 12volts) is there I decided to put a cheap camera on the box to pick up whatever comes by on the hill. I just needed to install a 12volt buck device to get my power for the camera and separate IR source(s). Here is that box done and waiting for me to get eaten by the mosquitoes down there.
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The 12 volts will go thru the black watertight connector on top for the IR. The buck device is fastened to the lower left wall and my Linksys is attached with velcro type material. I added a 12volt meter on the upper rigtht side so the deer would know its working. The red wire is a 'safety wire' between the lid where the camera is mounted and the box. That second hole on he bottom is now plugged. I was going to run my pvc conduit into the box and then out. With a conduit access 'tee' I'll be able to go up and back in one pipe / sealtite.

The box closed up:
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From this box its another 150 feet or so to where the 'real' camera is going with its own IR sources. Using another 12volt buck device down here I am able to run 16ga wire even tho I figure my 12 volt current draw will be about 4+ amps. That will give me about a 4 volt drop, from 40 to 36, at the far end as there is only ~ a 1.2 amp draw at the 40volt side . The buck device will still put out 12.5volts even with <30volts.
 
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Nice, can't wait to see what comes through further out in the woods. Maybe BIGFOOT, keep us posted. Oh yeah and put on some mosquito repellent. :)
 

Broachoski

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Nice project!
I would like to know more about those 2 water resistant boxes that you are using there.
 

ctgoldwing

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Nice project!
I would like to know more about those 2 water resistant boxes that you are using there.
I have used a variety of sizes - all from Amazon, Chinese specials. They all have a gasket that seals the top from the box. The penetrations I make are sealtite (has a gasket seal), 3/4" pvc female adapter with a gasket seal and cable connectors of various sizes. The cable connectors are never really weather tight so I use coax seal and / or liquid electrical tape. I also seal inside any screws or anything that might cause a leak.
Here are some of the ones that have been in the woods since last October - still dry inside.
This one is the same as I'm going to use 2X in my current project:
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The buck device is mounted on the cover - the strap is so I can unscrew it an let it hang without disconnecting anything inside.

This one is an in & out - fed from another box on the same tree, feeds the next one about 20m away. There were 2 cameras on this one at one time. If you look carefully at the lower half of the cover you can make out the electrical take I used to seal the holes, then 'painted' it with liquid tape.:
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This was the 1st box I used:
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Bigger than what I need for most but I do really like the 4 fastener screws. They are 'semi-captive' and very easy n fast to remove the cover.
 

ctgoldwing

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Really cool project. Keep us posted!
Kill me now! I just came in from installing the 1st 250' of pvc conduit. That freakin hill is steep! I have two conduit fittings in so I can pull 80' or so at time. I carried a bundle of 10 10 footers out there and when I cut the plastic straps they all slid down the hill.
This is from the vantage of the starting point. The sealtite is not connected to make pulling the wires easier. With only 1 16ga pair and 1 cat6 cable it should be easy peasy in 3/4 conduit.
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Where that red line ends the steep drop starts. . .
 

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Kill me now! I just came in from installing the 1st 250' of pvc conduit. That freakin hill is steep! I have two conduit fittings in so I can pull 80' or so at time. I carried a bundle of 10 10 footers out there and when I cut the plastic straps they all slid down the hill.
This is from the vantage of the starting point. The sealtite is not connected to make pulling the wires easier. With only 1 16ga pair and 1 cat6 cable it should be easy peasy in 3/4 conduit.
View attachment 67813

Where that red line ends the steep drop starts. . .
Lol i am sure a few animals in the woods was wondering what all that cussing was for, once that pvc rolled down that hill.
 
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