Any recommendations for IP camera inside a laboratory Hood?

[Deisun]

I was looking at some IP Dome cameras from Hikvision but thought I would get your guys's expert opinion.

We have a bunch of science hoods (like in the picture). We want to install some cameras inside to be able to see what each technician is doing.

Right now I have an Amcrest ProHD Outdoor 1080P POE Dome IP camera just to test with (see picture taken with this camera below) . Was wondering if we would be better served by something else. Trying to keep each camera at $120 or below.

 

[Aengus4h]

I'd think you'll need to ensure any camera you use for that application meets any relevant regulations that the hood itself has to conform to and that the way you mount and cable it maintains any sealing the hood is supposed to have too. Might also find that the hood manufacturer would void any certifications for the hood once you've modified it unless you've consulted with them and obtained any specific instructions and gained their approval.

 

[mat200]

HI @Deisun

Will the materials you work with in the hood adversely affect plastic domes?

If so you may want to also look at turret style cameras.

 

[Aengus4h]

thinking more on my earlier post, you'd have to potentially advise insurance of modifications too since liability could become an issue if anything were to go wrong... as Mat says you'd need to factor the entire range of potential materials and temperatures the camera is likely to have to tolerate and have certification to show that it is designed to, perhaps. Not likely to be available in a consumer grade device tbh.

 

[Q™]

How about one of those 2MP Annke cube-cam Hikvision rebrands? They cost about $50.00, produce excellent day images and the WiFi actually works so you don't need to worry about cable runs.

 

[marku2]

As Q said and fit it inside a Perspex box and grommet its power cable it would be fully sealed

 

[Aengus4h]

perspex and heat makes a nice potential for fire...

 

[marku2]

Sorry thought it was a chemical hood

 

[Aengus4h]

it could well be, but OP hasn't given more info, but even so depends on the experiments being done. Any unaccounted for substances add a level of risk, heat or corrosive fumes could cause casings and cabling to leech constituents etc. Somehow I'd doubt any manufacturer of hoods like that would continue to certify the product if its modified, they wouldn't want the potential liability. Also need to take into account your own institution/company in terms of liability both corporate and line management and so forth.

 

[TonyR]

I believe the requirement for equipment to be deployed in such an area is termed "intrinsically safe". Omega offers a good explanation ==>> here.

Google provides lots of info with "intrinsically safe IP camera"

EDIT: +1 to what @Aengus4h said. Also, it ain't gonna happen for $120 or less. What you can't afford is to cause an explosion or fire and injure or kill people and/or burn down an expensive hood or a multi-million dollar facility, not to mention the legal and financial penalties that could follow.

SUMMARY: Do it right or don't do it at all........IMO.