Auto Surveillance System Help

Thread Starter

radio1ne

Joined Jul 18, 2009
5
Constructing Vehicle surveillance system for business use. Consists of three video cameras (Color and B & W facing forward, color facing rear) mounted on radio controlled pan/tilt motors, with laser pointing device. All mounted under clear dome (matches emergency lights on vehicle) for weatherproofing. Also have infra-red spotlight but cannot mount under dome due to reflections. Question is...........various voltages. Cameras operate on 9V, laser is 4.5, pan/tilt is 12V. Camera requirements are: Video and ground, plus 9V and ground. Ground is common so three wires are required. Laser is 4.5V positive and ground. Pan/tilt is 12V and ground.Would like to operate all three using multi-conductor (10-12??) wire and operate off vehicles 12V system. Would like to operate from one control board but don't really wand to use 12V automotive converters for laser and cameras. Can I use simple resister circuit to reduce voltages and combine wiring to eliminate "big" multi-wire cable. Can only decipher simple circuits so any help appreciated.........<snip>
 
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SgtWookie

Joined Jul 17, 2007
22,230
First, please remove your e-mail address from your post, otherwise the "spam bots" will inundate you with junk E-mail. This is for your protection.
Constructing Vehicle surveillance system for business use. Consists of three video cameras (Color and B & W facing forward, color facing rear) mounted on radio controlled pan/tilt motors, with laser pointing device.

All mounted under clear dome (matches emergency lights on vehicle) for weatherproofing. Also have infra-red spotlight but cannot mount under dome due to reflections.

Question is...........various voltages. Cameras operate on 9V, laser is 4.5, pan/tilt is 12V.

Camera requirements are: Video and ground, plus 9V and ground. Ground is common so three wires are required.

Laser is 4.5V positive and ground.

Pan/tilt is 12V and ground.

Would like to operate all three using multi-conductor (10-12??) wire and operate off vehicles 12V system. Would like to operate from one control board but don't really want to use 12V automotive converters for laser and cameras.

Can I use simple resister circuit to reduce voltages and combine wiring to eliminate "big" multi-wire cable. Can only decipher simple circuits so any help appreciated.........RetiredLawman (Email removed)
Sorry, but you will need to use regulators; at least one for the video camera and one for the laser. Trying to use simple resistors will result in wildly fluctuating voltages at the camera and laser power inputs.

You did not mention the current requirements for either the video cameras or the laser. The current requirement might be given in Amperes, mA's, or as power in Watts. For the laser, we will need to know the power input requirements, not the rated output power.
 

Thread Starter

radio1ne

Joined Jul 18, 2009
5
Camera ratings are 6-12V and 200-500 Ma. Laser (a freebie) is just a simple pointer device, I think with a three cell battery supply (1.5V) So, I'll have to use over the counter Radio Shack type auto voltage converters for the diff voltages ?? Thanks.........DJ









First, please remove your e-mail address from your post, otherwise the "spam bots" will inundate you with junk E-mail. This is for your protection.


Sorry, but you will need to use regulators; at least one for the video camera and one for the laser. Trying to use simple resistors will result in wildly fluctuating voltages at the camera and laser power inputs.

You did not mention the current requirements for either the video cameras or the laser. The current requirement might be given in Amperes, mA's, or as power in Watts. For the laser, we will need to know the power input requirements, not the rated output power.
 

SgtWookie

Joined Jul 17, 2007
22,230
Camera ratings are 6-12V and 200-500 Ma.

Laser (a freebie) is just a simple pointer device, I think with a three cell battery supply (1.5V)

So, I'll have to use over the counter Radio Shack type auto voltage converters for the diff voltages?
Radio Shack doesn't stock many parts anymore, but something could be cobbled together.

They do stock the LM317 adjustable voltage regulator, resistors and capacitors; all necessary to construct a simple linear power supply.

The laser pointer may be somewhat problematic. Many of the really cheap lasers use the internal resistance of the batteries to limit current through the laser diode.
 

SgtWookie

Joined Jul 17, 2007
22,230
Here is a generalized LM317 regulator circuit. Parts were selected to be likely available at a Radio Shack.



Note that the "COM" terminal of the LM317 regulator is actually the ADJ terminal.
"V1" is representative of your vehicle's electrical system. Don't forget that you need a fuse between the electrical system and your project. 1A should be suitable.
 

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