Cam recommendation for Nursery - Preferably Dahua

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In the last few weeks I have gotten my Blue Iris system up and running. I bought a cheap Laview Dome off slick-deals just to see if would be able to get everything to work myself. I'm more of a carpenter than an IT guy. So far so good.

We have twin toddlers that each have their own rooms and we would like the replace the crappy baby monitor with a couple of cams. Our baby monitor only has one cam and adding a 2nd is the same cost as an average IP Cam, plus quality isn't even close. Rooms are average 12'x12' bedrooms. I'd like to stick to Dahua cams preferably, and even more so, cams from Empire Tech on aliexpress. Obviously has to have good night quality. Just looking for anyone with experience on what works best for this setup. I'd like to stay below $150 each, prefer closer to $100. My questions are.
  • Turret Vs. Dome
  • Fixed or PTZ
From reading on this site, I'm currently leaning towards

IPC-HDW2231R-ZS 2MP Starlight IR Eyeball Network Camera 2.7~13.5mm varifocal lens

US $125.0 5% OFF|Aliexpress.com : Buy IPC HDW2231R ZS 2MP Starlight IR Eyeball Network Camera 2.7~13.5mm varifocal lens IPC HDW2231R ZS ,free DHL shipping from Reliable Surveillance Cameras suppliers on Empire Technology Co., Ltd

Suggestions appreciated.
 

awsum140

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Dahua makes a "cube" camera with decent night vision, IR augmented, and audio. It's very similar to the Hikvision mentioned in the Cliff Notes. I'm at a loss for the model, but check with Andy at Empire Tech. He'll get you set up easily.
 

Tampy

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IPC-K35A is the Dahua model. Just got one from Andy. I have not had time to play with it yet.
I spent all my free time setting up my vpn. I have that working now, so the camera might get installed this weekend.

Tampy
 
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Here is the problem with just setting up any ip camera in the babies room...the ir light....they emit a nice red light which could cause the baby to stare at them all night long....that long direct exposure could cause eye problems....

I got the fosbaby still on Amazon....works with blueiris...two way audio....and a temperature sensor....
 

awsum140

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I gotta ask if you've ever looked at that "nice red light"? At best it's a soft glow unless you're within a few feet of it.
 

SouthernYankee

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@Sonomascanner -- Please provide a link to the scientific study that shows that ir from a ip campera is a problem.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If looking a purchasing a Dahua use Andy ( @EMPIRETECANDY ), he is a forum member and hasabsolute great service, if the dahua product you are interested in is not on his site email him. ( kingsecurity2014@163.com )

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Effect of infrared radiation on the lens

A simple Google search turns up thoughts / evidence on both sides... My best interpretation is that it might be ok but you don't want the little to stare at the ir emitters for hours on end everyday they are in the nursery....hence alot of the baby cameras come with it emitters that are hidden
 

awsum140

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At 20CM (~8"), for ten minutes, even a 250W, full spectrum, spotlight would probably start to cause eye damage. The IRs in a camera are milliwatts and far more than 20CM from a "target". That's like comparing a searchlight to a lightening bug. Interesting science, as long as you're not one of the rabbits, but not related to camera IR illuminators at all.
 

SecuritySeeker

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I gotta ask if you've ever looked at that "nice red light"? At best it's a soft glow unless you're within a few feet of it.
It's really not going to be a problem but not because of what you say. What you see is only what is emitted in the visible part of the spectrum so that you only see a soft glow doesn't mean a thing.

The danger with actual IR (the soft glow you see is not IR, it's R) is exactly that you can't see it and even your eyes' autonomous or involuntary responses (iris contracting, eyelids closing) won't occur. IR lasers were already mentioned, they are particularly dangerous to work with because you can't see the beam at all but if powerful enough can fry your retina in seconds or (much) less. Hence why you always need to wear safety goggles when working with lasers, especially IR ones.

Again these dangers are not related to what comes out of an IP cam's IR emitter, it's going to be too weak and too diffuse to cause any damage. Otherwise they would not be legal for sale.
 
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awsum140

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The sheer difference in power level is the true determining factor. I would venture to say that normal daylight has a much higher IR component than the IR emitted by a cameras' IR lighting. That being the case you may want to consider sunglasses for your little ones. Working with an IR laser is similar to looking down the barrel of a cannon while it's firing, again, no true relationship to the IR of a camera other than they are both IR. I wear protective eye wear when welding, but once again, the levels involved are hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of times higher under those conditions. To top it all off, you're assuming that a child/infant will stare at a source for hours on end rather than fall asleep.
 

SecuritySeeker

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The sheer difference in power level is the true determining factor.
Allow me to augment that for others by saying that it's power level per area that matters. A 1W laser will cause severe instant eye damage if you look straight into it, in fact you'll likely go blind completely.

Even a 5mW laser can cause eye damage (although it's not common at all). But you cannot compare a laser to a regular light source. With a laser all its power is concentrated in a single, virtually non-dispersing beam with a very small cross section.
 

SouthernYankee

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Ok lets get back on topic.

For a quick solution for a baby monitor look at the review of the dahua A46
Review-Dahua IPC-A46 4mp indoor PT cam.

the IPC-HDW2231R-ZS looks good for a ceiling mount, but it does not move and is a variable (fix) focused camera, Is this what you want to monitor a babies room ?
 
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Thanks guys. I didn't expect such a great response. I will review some of the suggestions but I will provide more info as to what I was thinking for setup.
  • First, I'm not concerned about the IR, our baby monitor already has them and it's been mounted above their crib for the last 2 years so if that's the case, I've already broke my children. It also has a bright green light to show it's powered on. They also have programmable night lights that kick on at 7:30pm and shut off a few hours after they fall asleep. So I don't think they would notice the Red IR in the room.
  • Not really worried about sound. I'm poor and live in a small house with thin walls. I hear everything going on in their rooms, I'd just like to be able to look in to see if they've climbed out of their crib, standing up, see the windows and doors to the room, etc. without having to open the door. Once I open the door, there is no getting them to lay back down.
  • I was hoping to do a ceiling mount in one of the back corners of the room. The quality on some of the suggestions look great but are geared towards sitting on a something like a table or dresser. I'd rather have ceiling mount for easier running of POE cable (easy through attic) and less chance of obstruction of view. Also, the less noticeable the better.
  • At their age, I don't think I really need ability to move or zoom to be able to see inside the crib. It would be nice if affordable, but I think as long as it's fixed properly with a good view of the room we're happy. Like I said, If we hear a noise, we'd just like to see what they're up to before going in and struggling to get them back to sleep.
Thanks guys, let me look into these cameras. Lots of great suggestions.
 

tangent

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FWIW, I think holes in the wall are easier to patch than holes in the ceiling.
 
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Thanks all, I decided to go with the Dahua IPC-K35A's to get going. Couldn't beat the price and after looking at the mount, I can mount it on the ceiling or wall and easily drop my network cable down from the attic. With the lower cost cameras, I also ordered a DB-11 Doorbell to replace the troublesome one I bought from nelly's security a few years ago.
 

Tampy

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I may mount mine this weekend. I plan to use POE injector (unit does not come with a power supply by the way) I am going to drill an cat5 cable sized hole in the base and then crimp an RJ45 connector on it. (this will keep the hole size smaller)
Then I will drop the cable into the wall and connect to wall jack I still have to install. The mount base will cover the ethernet cable wall hole and this should make for a cleaner looking install.

Tampy
 
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