Camera to read License plates / Not APR or LPR

wittaj said:
I know it is not a new install, I am simply pointing out that you possibly do not need to hide them and simply paint them the color of the post and strap them to the mailbox post and probably be fine and thus be able to use the camera IR...just giving you suggestions based on what others have done as that is what you asked for....

But it can be hidden as well and still use the camera IR if you mount the lens flush to the outside of the object you place it in.

@samplenhold provides a great summary of what he did here:

New to LPR? Considerations Before You Begin

Thought I would throw together a post on my experiences so far with LPR in an effort to help others that are considering running down that rabbit hole. There are some practical considerations you should know about LPR. I am approaching this from the position of using Blue Iris and Plate...
ipcamtalk.com ipcamtalk.com
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I will test the wash back again. one thing I failed to recognize (you reminded me when you said flush) was the other cameras were mounted at 15 feet. I could not get them flush with out being noticeable. These cameras will almost be at plate level, so I may get lucky on this install. thanks
 
Yeah, I think where you will be installing these that you could get by with turrets and flush them up pretty good.

Keep us posted! It is always good to see other people's handy work of hiding the cameras.
 
mike james said:
Cat and 110/220v cant be in the same trench by code.
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And where did you hear that? Not the NEC...some local municipal "electrical" inspector?
 
If you are considering building a box or some such to house the cams, look at this thread to see how I did it. I have no issues with the IR on cam. As @wittaj stated, I would not worry too much about people noticing the cams. No one in my neighborhood has noticed the IR lights on my cams, and people walk right by them at night. I have asked my neighbors if they noticed it and no on has said yes.

LPR Case Study: Scoping, Planning, Proof of Concept, Installation, & Results

Introduction This thread is about my journey into LPR (License Plate Recognition) after having about 18 months of experience with IP cams and having quite a bit of my system finished. I am not an expert on LPR, or IP cameras either. But I have spent a lot of time working with my system and...
ipcamtalk.com ipcamtalk.com
 
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mike james said:
That is the code here. Unless your running conduit
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Run conduit. If you're digging a trench anyway, it's no harder to drop some plastic conduit in than the bare cable. The ends are the hardest points positioning them so you don't get water ingress. But that's another subject and one I'm not familiar with.

Use armoured electrical cable designed for burial even if using conduit. I'd conduit both cables.

As above, check local codes and requirements. Waterproof sockets for electrical are cheap enough. Biggest cost is armoured cable and conduit and the biggest issue isthe cable is more difficult to fit - usually has steel wire wound around the inner conductor layer that needs to be cut away at the ends to enable you to make the connection. It also isn't very flexible. I have exterior grade armoured LAN for my pc (not cctv) as it was easiest to run it outside then back in and under the floor to the main telephone point. It was slightly awkward to fit for this reason.
 
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mike james said:
Unless your running conduit
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That's the part I was hoping hear, as I designed, installed and maintained underground electrical installations for traffic signals and street lighting for over 31 years. :cool:
 
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CCTVCam said:
Run conduit. If you're digging a trench anyway, it's no harder to drop some plastic conduit in than the bare cable. The ends are the hardest points positioning them so you don't get water ingress. But that's another subject and one I'm not familiar with.

Use armoured electrical cable designed for burial even if using conduit. I'd conduit both cables.

As above, check local codes and requirements. Waterproof sockets for electrical are cheap enough. Biggest cost is armoured cable and conduit and the biggest issue isthe cable is more difficult to fit - usually has steel wire wound around the inner conductor layer that needs to be cut away at the ends to enable you to make the connection. It also isn't very flexible. I have exterior grade armoured LAN for my pc (not cctv) as it was easiest to run it outside then back in and under the floor to the main telephone point. It was slightly awkward to fit for this reason.
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I will keep that in mind for the future, thank you. This post was not about electrical code or direct burial vs conduit. simply stated, Last option I would consider is a light. Added cost of conduit, bigger trench, direct burial wire if no conduit, cost of the light post, the impact on the neighborhood--the only one with an driveway light by the street, all these decisions I can make my self and is personal preference. Also, based on other peoples comments, looks like IR is the way to go in this application. Make the conduit for power a moot issue.
 
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mike james said:
I will keep that in mind for the future, thank you. This post was not about electrical code or direct burial vs conduit. simply stated, Last option I would consider is a light. Added cost of conduit, bigger trench, direct burial wire if no conduit, cost of the light post, the impact on the neighborhood--the only one with an driveway light by the street, all these decisions I can make my self and is personal preference. Also, based on other peoples comments, looks like IR is the way to go in this application. Make the conduit for power a moot issue.
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Bit confused. You're still going to have to run cat 6. A trench is trench. As for visible light, probably not legal anyway. You cannot shine a light down a road into the eyes of drivers. Ir is the way to go. As other have said look at the number plate reading threads as it's a specialist art and you will see only the plate and nothign but the plate at night. If you want anymore details of the car, you need a 2nd over view camera.
 
CCTVCam said:
Bit confused. You're still going to have to run cat 6. A trench is trench. As for visible light, probably not legal anyway. You cannot shine a light down a road into the eyes of drivers. Ir is the way to go. As other have said look at the number plate reading threads as it's a specialist art and you will see only the plate and nothign but the plate at night. If you want anymore details of the car, you need a 2nd over view camera.
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I think he is saying that the last option he would consider is adding a visible light. In other words, he won't do that.
 
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CCTVCam said:
Bit confused. You're still going to have to run cat 6. A trench is trench. As for visible light, probably not legal anyway. You cannot shine a light down a road into the eyes of drivers. Ir is the way to go. As other have said look at the number plate reading threads as it's a specialist art and you will see only the plate and nothign but the plate at night. If you want anymore details of the car, you need a 2nd over view camera.
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overview camera is already in place as noted in 1st post. No flood light implied as I used term spilled. Just a normal residential post lamp at the driveway entrance. yes...a trench is being dug. Conduit or 2nd trench will not. A trench was not mentioned in 1st post as it was not in scope of the question. Hope this helps.
 
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