I need ideas, on where to install a camera at the entrance

[windguy]

I have a Jaguar XJ6 Vanden Plas Canary Red paint for example. I'm thinking, that it may work for the roof section.

Some paints require primers first or else it will peel off. I believe automotive paint would be in this category.
When you first said your daughter was going to paint this, I envisioned a child using watercolor, latex or hobby type paints that she would brush on making her own designs, freehand.
Lots of ideas on a google search.

The Very Best Time to Put Up Birdhouses—Just in Time for Warmer Weather

Learn when to put out birdhouses during the nesting season and how to attract birds to your houses.

www.thespruce.com

 

[tibimakai]

I thought about that also, but using can spray paint, most likely it will end up being only my own project.
I have to assess first, what kind of paints we have around the house.

 

[looney2ns]

House paint will last the longest, properly applied.

 

[tibimakai]

Not a bad idea, thanks looney.
I have removed the bottom and to my surprize, the whole camera fits snuggly in there.
Pushed the camera as down as possible, to clear space for the two upper IR LEDs. I will wait until dark, to see if they will clear and not create glare.
I can tilt the camera in there, to be horizontal with the horizontal plain field.
I came up with an idea, on how to mount the camera to the hexagon base plate and keep it tilted as needed.
I will thread the four holes of the camera mount. Make some groves(I'm a machinist) about .187" from the head for safe clips. I will make four mounting holes on the base, for these screws will go through and install the safety clips..
After that I will just adjust the screws at the bottom, until the camera is at the right angle and height.

 

[looney2ns]

You will probably want to paint the edges of the hole flat back to prevent ir glare.

 

[windguy]

@tibimakai - looks like you're making nice progress.
That turret cam is a perfect fit, nice and snug.

Does the bottom of the birdhouse normally come off?
I would think the top is removable so you can clean out the nest occasionally.
One of the birdhouse reviews said the birdhouse was glued, not nailed, and had some issues with it falling apart over time. Since you're supporting it from the bottom that might not be a problem but check the seams.

For some reason I didn't think the 6mm version of the T5442TM-AS turret cam was available yet. Just the 2.8mm and 3.6mm. Glad to see you have one.
Curious, is there a reason you're using the 6mm for this application over the other lenses?
The reason I ask is that I want to pick up this model turret for my next round of testing and trying to decide on which lens to get. Probably will get the 6mm one.
Looking forward to seeing some test video and install pics.

 

[tibimakai]

I just need a narrow view, that is why I have picked this model.
I have the 59225 PTZ, that overviews roughly the same are in front of my house.
This one is meant just for people, that are approaching my front door.
I have noticed, that this camera is running quite warm. I may have to make some "windows" below the eve also.
I have just pried off the house, with some exacto knife. Cut it around and just pried it a bit.
No screws here, just glue, is holding it together. I may reinforce it with more glue. It is not meant to be very rigid assembly.

 

[windguy]

@tibimakai - Thanks for the update. Sounds like the right camera for the job.
So the camera is going to be mounted directly to your custom bracket then the birdhouse will slip over the camera to cover it. Seems like a solid design.

 

[tibimakai]

Yes that is correct, and everything will be installed on that Amazon purchased bracket.
I will have to make that angled bracket, in the next few days.
I'm wondering, why some cameras are running hotter than others?

 

[tibimakai]

More progress, pretty much this will be the final setup. I just need to make it pretty.
I have machined some standoffs(machined the bottom, at 10 degree) + spacers.
Added some steel strips, to add rigidity and to be metal on metal mounted. Not just plywood on metal.

 

[tibimakai]

I have also drilled a bunch of holes in the ceiling and under the roof, for some better air circulation.
I have plugged the top hole, with a small aluminum cone, that I have machined also.

 

[aristobrat]

This is a great project, thanks for sharing the updates!!

 

[AP514]

Hey if your running Hot maybe a few Holes in the bottom of the bird house(not sides). Hover holes with some mesh to keep the bugs out.
This will give you some air flow...
Great project BTW

How do you like that 16 port switch ? unmanaged ?

 

[tibimakai]

I'm actually thinking about using some mesh, to cover the holes.
I'm planning to finish this in this long weekend.
Waiting on my daughter, to finish painting the house.

 

[CCTVCam]

I haven't done anything yet. I foresee a bit of an issue, that I will have to fix. The camera's ball pushed all the way down, it's still not in the horizontal plain. I may have to prop the back part up a bit, to give it bit of an angle. That way the lens will be perpendicular to the horizontal plain. I will install it at eye level on the column at my porch.
I will work on it this weekend.
What paint should I use on the birdhouse, to be weatherproof?
It seems like I will have to drill a 2" hole to clear the 2 IR LEDs, which by the way are over(top part) the lens, next to each other. Also I will have to drill a hole a bit lower, for the microphone.

You could try putting a some spots of hot glue on the base between the base spanning the base and ball. Not sure if have a gun or have used hot glue before. A great aspect of hot glue is so far as I can tell, it's simply a thermoset plastic, and as such once set becomes hard and very easy to break away cleanly from the surface you've stuck it from (not from all textured surfaces as these can cause some residue to be left so beware). It's not strong but strong enough to fix items in place for the purposes you're describing. It's used professionally for fixing electronics and other low stress items in place. I have a couple of guns, they're cheap, probably a few dollars on your side of the pond.

As for paint, I'm not sure how well spray paint will work on wood. Wood tends to expand and contract and that usually causes automotive paints to crack off - hence why they use plasticisors when painting with automotive paints on flexible surfaces such as plastic. Wood is also absorbent and so may absorb a lot of the spray without giving a solid top colour. You won't get the cracking if it's absorbed, but you won't get the colour either as it will be a weak mix of colour and wood. As Looney above indicated, here are some good outdoor paints out there with long lives. Best looking at the website of major manufacturers such as Crown, Dulux, Sandolin etc for their solutions bearing attention to lifespan before re-painting and uv resistance if stated. Most paints require an undercoat and then a top coat. You may also be able to use art acrylics although that's a little beyond my knowledge for outdoors.

 

[tibimakai]

OK, here is the finished product.
House is slip fit(quite tight fit), over the camera.
I did not install mesh, over the little vent holes. I want to see first, if it will work this way. If I will see bugs getting inside, than I may go that route.
I have "painted" over my house number(In Paint software), that is what you see on the column.
Initially, I wasn't planning to have that big of a hole, but because of the IR reflection, microphone being that low, I had to increase the hole size.
Camera shows a nice color view, even at night. See last picture.

 

[CCTVCam]

Personally I'd say on a CCTV mounting bracket it screams CCTV. If you want to be covert, you need to mount it like a bird house would normally be mounted.

 

[windguy]

Looks great! Tell your daughter she did a great job painting that. I like where you mounted it.
For some crazy reason I thought this was going to point towards your front door but your original post does state it's for the approach to the house.
Curious, what's the yellow chain across the entry for?

 

[tibimakai]

Not really looking to hide it, just to look a bit better, not very obvious. Right side of that palm tree, I have the 59225 big PTZ camera. All my cameras are very visible. Just tried to "look" a bit better /cleaner at the front door.

 

[tibimakai]

To don't let people get easily to my door. Some won't go that far, to unhook it. Some will though, specially UPS/Fedex drivers, which I don't mind.