Cheap Outdoor Webcams Enclosure

I'm hanging this from a neighbor's can light - 6" outside diameter to be exact. First, I put a couple of straightened 5" 'L' brackets inside the can light. The entire webcam assembly is placed inside a 6" inner diameter foot long sewer pipe (yes, sewer pipe!) which is then hung from a threaded metal rod that goes through those brackets - two wingnuts hold it in place. Inside of that, the webcam hangs from a 5" diameter plate that is suspended by two more rods that are placed through the sewer pipe. An end cap sits at the bottom where the webcam 120VAC-12VDC transformer is placed - this also provides a little extra warmth for low temperature operation. I'll try leaving the end cap vented (there's about a 1/4" opening on the top) so there is some ventilation that should prevent fogging in the viewport ... which is just a free plexiglass AOL CD case cover that is taped on! ;-)

Since this was going to be installed at a neighbor's house, it was prudent to "test" things out at my house first as shown in the first set of pictures below. You can optionally add a cheap wireless temperature sensor inside the PVC and another taped to the outside which would provide a "delta temperature" reading. Actual installation was super-duper easy since the entire unit is self-contained, with only a power cord coming out of the top. Plug that in, run the threaded metal rod through the PVC-bracket-bracket-PVC, screw down the wingnut, and you are ready for action!

Check back in October/2005 and I'll have the webcam broadcasting imagery of the halloween decorations and then my christmas lights. BTW, none of this would have been doable without my neighbor's who have graciousely allowed me to mount the webcam at their house. UPDATE: Worked great with temperature dipping a few times below 0F°!!! The only issue was the wireless signal would sometimes drop out, so I installed a Pringles-Can antenna at my house pointed toward the webcam and have had no problems after that. I have christmas videos of time-lapse footage from this ... and be sure to check out the Controllable Christmas Lights!

Outdoor Webcam Enclosure Parts - $27.34 3 foot long threaded metal rods with wing nuts, 4 sheet metal screws, socket-to-plug adapter 6" Sewer pipe, end cap, 5" cap, two "L" brackets (free AOL CD case not shown) Dlink DCS-6620G with threaded base and transformer also shown
5" 'L' brackets straightened in a vise Then internal cut extended with a hacksaw Yea, not a very good job on that 2nd one!	Sheet metal screws are used to anchor those brackets The metal rod can then hang from there Note socket to plug adapter in place
Yep - that's really sewer pipe - no expense spared!	First test hanging of the webcam enclosure Basic concept will work - need to straighten up a bit! My can lights were 6 1/2" diameter - neighbors are 6" so brackets will be on the inside of the pipe there
Put Can lights back togather - note cracked plaster It didn't look like that before - yikes! Try to cover up before wife gets home and notices	Carpet below doesn't look too pretty either Fire up vacuum before wife gets home!
Needed to be able to "hang" the webcam So run bolt through 5" diameter cover plate Extra nuts are to reduce chance of stripping webcam threads	Center rod hangs from the can light brackets Two side rods are use to hang the 5" cover plate with webcam
Outdoor Webcam Enclosure on the concrete flower pots	A view from the bottom
Ready for installation w/AOL plexiglass CD cover Extension cord is plugged in and the top middle rod hangs from brackets Reflection is from sun at the right - should be non-issue at night
Outdoor webcam enclosure installed under the can light
Inside of Webcam Enclosure Webcam doesn't always center properly - easy enough to pan over
Here's the "real" view The Aspen Leaves obscuring the view should drop soon
Webcam takes a picture of Alek taking a picture of the webcam