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Last changes 7/1/2008
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After having to replace Tige's camera twice for rain invasion, we decided to
reassess the features we needed in the rearview camera.
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This is the DAOC Color Waterproof CCD IR Camera we originally used on Red Rover
and Tige.
The IR means that the camera has infrared capability to see at night. The camera captures
available light for an image. One of the largest sources for this light is the taillights.
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We have yet to take Tige out at night. So the IR feature has yet to prove useful
on Tige. We have had Red Rover out at night and there the feature
was used.
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We also found this camera in the KAWAMALL store on eBay. This camera is 120º like we have
been using but it does not have the infrared. capability.
Unlike the previous camera which was "weatherproof", this camera is rated as
"waterproof." The design of the case makes it definitely more sealed that the
previous camera.
This camera has a cost only one-quarter of what we paid for the original camera. |
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One thing different on the new was the lack of a mounting bracket. We didn't want to
make any more holes in Tige's skin than we needed to.
What we decided to do was to take the housing of the defunct camera and use it as a bracket.
We had to drill out the original screws holding the housing halves together since they had corroded. |
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We used a hole saw and cut a hole for the new camera. We repainted the new bracket and
mounted the new camera in the modified housing.
This was a lot easier than trying to form a bracket from aluminum. |
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Since we were using the old camera body as a bracket, we mounted it in the original bracket
that held the old camera. No new holes in Tige's skin. |
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We had formed this rain shield for the old camera from a piece of PVC sheet that we had.
It isn't pretty but it stopped additional rain invasion to the old camera, but the damage had already been done.
Even though the new camera says it is waterproof, we decided to retain the rain shield just as extra protection. |
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