Making a security lamp post or low voltage lights for security cameras?

[remagenman]

The curb is about 30' from the house and I already have 2 cameras out there using POE and wifi, with a long extension cable powering the wifi camera.

The wifi camera also has motion activated lights and thats my only light source when something triggers it but it seems to be a couple of seconds after something happens.

So, a permanent light source out there would give my cameras a better picture at night.

My problem is do I just connect the new lights/pole to the extension cord?

I'd rather not have to run a line underground, its more than 50' from where I want the pole to be.

I'm trying to make this asap since we have a homeless camp not too far away and their starting to wander into our neighborhood at night.

Thanks.

 

[Stuart in MN]

An extension cord would be hazardous besides being against code, plus the homeless people would just steal it for the copper. Bury the wire.

 

[dcg9381]

So, a permanent light source out there would give my cameras a better picture at night.

My shop has a substantial "solar" LED light that is motion activated.

What cameras do you have? I run unifi stuff. The outdoor cameras have IR lighting and you can add additional IR lighting for better nighttime viability, but they stay in IR mode.

I know that Wyze cameras have a similar option.

There are also POE powered "flood lights".

The issue that you may have is that even if you light up that area (motion activated) like a football field, it make take a second or two for the camera to switch modes and adjust exposure.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

The curb is about 30' from the house and I already have 2 cameras out there using POE and wifi, with a long extension cable powering the wifi camera.

The wifi camera also has motion activated lights and thats my only light source when something triggers it but it seems to be a couple of seconds after something happens.

So, a permanent light source out there would give my cameras a better picture at night.

My problem is do I just connect the new lights/pole to the extension cord?

I'd rather not have to run a line underground, its more than 50' from where I want the pole to be.

I'm trying to make this asap since we have a homeless camp not too far away and their starting to wander into our neighborhood at night.

Thanks.

an extension cord is not permitted for permanent use.

either run an underground ethernet cable or power wire.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

My shop has a substantial "solar" LED light that is motion activated.

What cameras do you have? I run unifi stuff. The outdoor cameras have IR lighting and you can add additional IR lighting for better nighttime viability, but they stay in IR mode.

I know that Wyze cameras have a similar option.

There are also POE powered "flood lights".

The issue that you may have is that even if you light up that area (motion activated) like a football field, it make take a second or two for the camera to switch modes and adjust exposure.

I have a reolink duo flood cam. it switches very fast from B&W to color after the POE lights turn on.

 

[Norcal]

If residential there is the "loophole" allowing 12" burial depth if 120 volts & protected by a GFCI, at the source, a extension cord is going to be a source of aggravation & a code violation.

 

[Git]

Have you looked into an infrared illuminator at all?

 

[remagenman]

Thanks for the ideas, this project then won't be a "permanent" solution. Only knucklehead traipsing in my yard should be me anyways. Unfortunately I have a big a.. tree blocking the sun in the spot I want it in.

 

[wyb2]

I have backyard flood lights that run on 12v dc. Used the LED lights they advertise for the trucks/jeeps, a 5 amp power supply (looks like a laptop charger), and ‘low voltage landscape lighting’ wire from the box store. I wired in a rocker switch to the 12v side that’s within reach of my back door. The wire run is probably 40ft (one way). I wasn’t sure if voltage drop would be an issue, but it hasn’t been. To my surprise the power supply (outside but out of the weather) and lights (exposed) have been fine for 4 years of New England summer/winter cycles

Examples similar to what I bought:

Amazon.com

Amazon.com

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Southwire-50-ft-16-2-Landscape-Lighting-Cable/3359464

 

[nh_yota]

I bought my dad a Ring Floodlight Cam Pro back in the spring to cover his boat dock. I got the plug-in mount and attached it to a tree next to the dock then ran the power cord to a nearby outlet. I saved a bunch of money by getting a refurbished model during a sale.

Amazon.com

It works really well and the light is more than adequate to light up the surrounding area. You can adjust the light and camera separately.

I went with Ring because he already has two Ring doorbell cams so it was easy to add one more device to his account.

 

[dcg9381]

Thanks for the ideas, this project then won't be a "permanent" solution. Only knucklehead traipsing in my yard should be me anyways. Unfortunately I have a big a.. tree blocking the sun in the spot I want it in.

If you've already got a cord out there, I'd just add a POE hub in an enclosure.. You can pull power from that, keep your network, etc.

(There are, I believe that there are at least 3 different levels of POE power to ports, so something to watch on a hub's rating)