Living in an RV/Van.

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Vanlife

n3wb
Nov 4, 2019
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33024
Hi all,

I've been on this search for answers & I can't seem to get any on other sites.
So I'll be living in a converted travel van that I've built. My goal is to install a dash camera, a rear view camera for back up that ALSO serves as a rear "dash cam", & two undermounted side mirror cameras. The four cameras will give me a 360 view of my van/home at all times.
I'd like all of the cameras to record & store data (a DVR/NVR that will loop right?) & the backup camera to function as a backup cam when in reverse but as a dash cam when not in reverse.
I'll have one switch to turn off the cameras/DVR/NVR so if I don't want them running it'll all turn off.
I'll have a wifi router in the van running so the system will have link to upload.
I'd also like access on my phone to view the feeds from wherever I'm at.
I'm an electrician by trade so installing isn't what I'm held back on.
I just don't know what cameras/devices are compatible or needed. I need to conserve as much power as possible since it'll be running off of my van's solar setup & installing those large home cameras is not the look I'm going for. I've found small simple cameras on amazon like this one that will do for all 4 cameras.
So I'm then assuming I run those to the DVR/NVR which will constantly provide a feed to my router....Should I get a DVR or NVR? Which one ? Is it compatible with the analog cameras I'd like to install?
Any help would be appreciated.
 
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If you want quality dash cams check out BlackVue - they aren't going to connect to a NVR/DVR but they are the premier dash cams on the market.
 
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Do you need superior night vision? Face ID at night? Depends on your requirements. This project may be impossible depending on requirements and balancing power requirements.

You may need to seriously compromise on image quality.
 
I am setting up a similar system on my Tiny House on Wheel (THOW) which is similar to an RV. My system is based on IP POE cameras (not RCA analog type).
 
I know this is an old thread, but I couldn't resist a bit of a dig at these ANALOG cameras that use RCA connectors:
SUPERB HD CAMERA: The kit includes a sophisticated Night Vision camera with 4 layer nano filter glass that features the latest 7080 HD chips. With 648*488 pixels get sharp & colorful image displays, Internal ccd sensor & 12 auto flash lights makes your night vision as bright as daylight

Nice high definition with 648x488 pixels... heehehehe
 
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Frankenscript said:
Nice high definition with 648x488 pixels... heehehehe
Click to expand...
We've come a long way, haven't we!

Is that a current ad? If so, some poor soul that doesn't know any better will wind up with a VGA camera in 2020!
I guess if he/she is happy, then that's some consolation...but for sure that's not truthful advertising.

But as you know, first-timers log onto IPCT all the time, they have already purchased something BEFORE spending any time here and wring their hands and rant over something they bought that is grainy, blurry, has poor night vision, etc. and are looking for ways to make some nondescript $30 camera perform as well as a reputable $130 camera.
 
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That isn't such an old post (Nov 2019) so I don't feel bad taking it over.

I had the Reolink RLN8-410-E Henlo. Don't know where I was in my head when I bought this system...

I've got the NVR and Cameras (4x) upgraded. I asked myself the same question as the poster. But being an uninformed idiot, didn't have answers. I'm sure I looked at this forum, but didn't come back with anything conclusive.

Right now, there is an analog camera mounted on the rear, purely for live backing-up and rear-view. The plan is to extend the roof rack, giving a good high mount point to a Reolink camera. Mounting one in the front, and having two cameras, one for each side. Power draw is estimated at 80 watts.

HOWEVER, I have essentially the same ballpark question as OP: [Besides the analog backup, and the reolink NVR] What is a decent dashcam system on the market today, that has a rear camera that I can wire in, or possibly hook up via a couple of connections over Cat 3 wire I already ran (don't know why I didn't pull Cat 5E... I had some at the time).

1) And... For my car: the dashcam can be wired or wireless, and the distances are short. There should be obvious answers in the minds of forum regulars. I would pull wire cause this is prob cheaper.

2) For the RV: it has to span a distance of some 28 wire feet, give or take, to make it from the dashcam in the front, to the camera in the rear. I know I said I already had installed an NVR and a live rear-view camera, but I trust technology about as much as I trust a harlot with soldiers to stay celibate. REDUNDANCY
 
Vanlife said:
I'll have a wifi router in the van running so the system will have link to upload.
I'd also like access on my phone to view the feeds from wherever I'm at.
...
I just don't know what cameras/devices are compatible or needed. I need to conserve as much power as possible since it'll be running off of my van's solar setup & installing those large home cameras is not the look I'm going for. I
Click to expand...

I plugged the RLN8-410-E into a Goal Zero Yeti 400 today, which has a useful watt-meter on the front panel.

I dug up the email from Reolink: "10W for the NVR and 6-7W per camera."

With all 4 cameras on, plugged into the NVR, it was a total of 28w when running. So slightly less than their projection. Perhaps there's a slight surge to 35w on startup.

You may consider splicing their power cable with DEANS connectors (a common 10-amp RC connector), and wiring in a 12/24v-to-48v boost converter to power the NVR (and cameras) directly from your house DC system. Although those boost converters are not 100% efficient, it would probably be slightly more efficient than a good inverter, and allow you to run the security system independent of whether the inverter was on.

....

They also wrote "Each camera needs 6Mb/s for main stream live view, and 64kb/s for sub stream live view. " I assume the 64kb/s is the compressed video feed over the internet.
 
also consider that per-cam night-time power consumption willl be higher if you have IR or other lighting enabled...
 
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One of the best cameras for picture right now, day or night, is the Viofo A119 V3. Whether or not it's suitable for your usage is a separate matter although it does have a low bit rate parking mode.
 
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While I can't speak to RV life. I do have dash cameras in all of our vehicles. The below is what I have and they have worked well. We had an issue with the one in my wife's car and the company was quick to send us a replacement and paid return label.


Rexing V1P Pro Dual 1080p Full HD Front and Rear 170 Degree Wide Angle Wi-Fi Car Dash Cam with Built-in GPS Logger, Supercapacitor, 2.4" LCD Screen, G-Sensor, Loop Recording, Mobile App
It doesn't have always-on/parked recording like some do. It only runs when the car is running but that fits my needs.

As far as backup cameras go, I would do a dedicated analog camera. The reason being is there is an inherent delay in IP cameras and you want a true live view for backing.

The dash camera above could work but it's a tiny screen.


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zero-degrees said:
If you want quality dash cams check out BlackVue - they aren't going to connect to a NVR/DVR but they are the premier dash cams on the market.
Click to expand...


Is that true still or is the VIOFO V3 the way to go? Reading the reviews on the VIOFO $15 parking wiring harness, it is a miniusb that has a voltage sense (when there is no longer power from the ignition circuits) to determine engine running state, to tell the VIOFO that the vehicle is 'parked', plus a voltage cut-off to stop recording alltogether when the starter battery level is low.

Nothing about a rear-facing camera for recording what's going on behind.
 
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th182 said:
As far as backup cameras go, I would do a dedicated analog camera. The reason being is there is an inherent delay in IP cameras and you want a true live view for backing.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

How fast are you normally reversing? :eek::p
 
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DewMan said:
How fast are you normally reversing? :eek::p
Click to expand...
I can say that having had an IP cam (my F250 Super Duty) and an analog cam (my 2017 Escape) over a trailer hitch that the IP cam introduced enough delay (~1 sec.) to be mildly annoying when trying to skillfully put a hitch ball under a trailer tongue. :nervous:
 
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