Cam on gate post

[Virga]

Request input on how I might mount cameras on gate posts in image, and what cameras - see image.
PoE switch in enclosure at right in image.

My thinking on cams at this location has been evolving.
Now thinking the top of the 4"x4" black steel gate posts ( with slip-on plastic cap on top) may be a natural place to install cameras.
The round posts at right, on which control boxes are mounted, are a hair under 3” outer dia.
Stone piers will eventually/some day get a light fixture on them.

Suggestions?

 

[wittaj]

I like on the gate post!

Which camera depends on goals - LPR? Overview? Identify? And which direction?

 

[Virga]

Let's say overview, though anything could be fair game going forward.
Right post cam could be oriented leftwards, say, and left post cam oriented rightwards.
Black turrets with dome-up would blend in best, but it would be hard to get cams to point downwards.
Overall FOV of 180 degrees would be great, even if in/via two cams.
LPR might be tough due to angles, but may be an interesting learning experience going forward; I have a Z12E which will be ready for redeployment once these gate cams go live.

 

[wittaj]

I think a 54IR-ZE on top of that post would make a great LPR for that road/drive right in front of the gate.

A black 180T would be a great overview camera for the other one.

 

[TonyR]

Maybe consider mounting the camera on the front side (outside the gate) just below the post top cap so as to prevent the the top of the gate showing up in the viewline when looking down the road toward vehicles or plates, in either direction.

I'd consider the circular box made for that specific turret camera and that would offset from it the post even more, omit the box if not needed.

 

[prsmith777]

I have a similar setup. On the back of one post I have a unifi NanoStation 5AC Loco which transmits to the house. The large box contains an 8 port POE switch. The other conduit going up runs cat5 for a 180 degree Dahua camera on the front of the post. It was challenging drill through the post.

I have fake rocks in the yard on the hill and up the driveway that I plan on putting cameras in sometime... still thinking this out. I want to have two LPR aimed at front and back of car as well as two cameras more wide angle to cover the front driver and side of the vehicle.

EDIT: Ill post a pic of the 180 cam later. Im working now and cant get down there.

 

[prsmith777]

 

[Ri22o]

I am working on this, if it's something that might be helpful to your cause. You would be limited in the orientation, though.

Thread 'I need more hobbies.. Working on a PVC post discrete camera housing... (a better birdhouse)'

Jan 13, 2025

I want another view for anyone coming up the walk to the house and have wanted to add a camera at about 42-48" high on the approach to my front door. This has been something I have been thinking about for a while now. Originally I bought one of the small, wooden birdhouses and was going to use it, but have had a better thought... After having my neighbor 3D print some camera spacer rings for me I started considering getting my own printer. Walking around the house realizing all of the simple problems that having one could solve, I decided to order a Bambu P1S. The printer hasn't arrived...

• Ri22o
• Replies: 26
• Forum: Camera Installation Questions

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[Virga]

Thanks - just went through the other thread and much to like there.
Those "caps" would much help my cause, logistics TBD.
I'd go with a 54IR-ZE in each post cap.
It would be worth working with available orientations because this solution is elegant.

Just a thought ... perhaps there could be a variation where there is a cap with a roof that goes over the post, and a housing with a floor.
The roof and floor respectively might have a central pivot which would allow infinite rotation of the housing and thus the cam.

 

[Ri22o]

Just a thought ... perhaps there could be a variation where there is a cap with a roof that goes over the post, and a housing with a floor.
The roof and floor respectively might have a central pivot which would allow infinite rotation of the housing and thus the cam.

I am not sure I follow what you are trying to describe.

 

[Virga]

Please see the attachment in response to your comment.
I have yet to upgrade to a newer version of 3D rendering software and used what I have.

The more I think about it, I land at “never mind” but still wanted to depict what I was thinking about.
There is simplicity/absence-of-complication in what your drawings show.
In what I had tried to describe, there would end up being at least three pieces - a cap, and a two-part open-able box to insert the cam.
Plus there would be hardware that would have to allow rotation as well as a pass-through opening for an ethernet cable.
Much too complicated.

The way you have it is just fine.

 

[Ri22o]

Please see the attachment in response to your comment.
I have yet to upgrade to a newer version of 3D rendering software and used what I have.

The more I think about it, I land at “never mind” but still wanted to depict what I was thinking about.
There is simplicity/absence-of-complication in what your drawings show.
In what I had tried to describe, there would end up being at least three pieces - a cap, and a two-part open-able box to insert the cam.
Plus there would be hardware that would have to allow rotation as well as a pass-through opening for an ethernet cable.
Much too complicated.

The way you have it is just fine.

That is what I thought you were trying to describe.

The issue with that is you now have a square on a square, and they're not true to each other. Having them lined up, and being less obvious, is the point of the design. As it is designed now, it is 3 pieces; a top, the middle housing, and the lower portion that would slip over the post. A different lower portion could be made to re-orient the other two sections to allow it to have a different alignment or more range of movement, but you would likely be better off with a different discrete solution or using a black PFB203 junction box and camera on the side of the post.

EmpireTech PFB203W Wall Mount Bracket

Aesthetic design Wall mount bracket Material: aluminum & SECC

empiretech01.com

 

[Virga]

I agree with your assessment.
The way you have it is the best solution.
Was worth thinking about tinkering with YOUR work, and as it turns out, you already have the best possible way.
To my eye the PFB203 and other such mounts work in other situations, but not as well on a gate post cap.

 

[wittaj]

Why not just on top of the post cap and it looks essentially like a round ball cap?

 

[Virga]

That's a possibility.
Time to get a black cam and start experimenting.