Underwater web camera

[Grav]

Hi all,

 

I'm looking for an under water web cam that could be used for real time video in an aquarium. Must be water proof (you knew that) and be able to connect real time. In other words, we don't want it to save the pics to a card and have to load them later.

 

Any ideas?

 

Phil

[hypertech]

Without spending a ton of money I don't think there are any. Most that do that point the camera at the tank. If it must go in the tank, I think you'll end up having to build an enclosure to hold one that is not waterproof.

[Chad]

Is it a new setup? What about drilling the bottom of the tank and putting a clear dome or box through the bottom and running a standard camera? I would take more maintenance to keep it clear, but the camera and all the wires would be dry.

[OUsnakebyte]

We have one on the Octopus cam - submersible and goes real time, but I think it's pricey. I'll email the IT guys and see if I can get the make/model for you.

 

Cheers

Mike

[Origami]

I'll bet you one could be built from acrylic easily enough. You'd have to use a waterproof gland to bring the cable in and out, though, possibly passing it through a piece of tubing filled with potting compound to maintain the watertight seal.

[flowerseller]

dhoch used to have a camera hooked up to his ACIII but it was an external job that could move by anyone who logged on to it via a link he had set up. You used the arrow keys. Pretty neat except he kept leaving a darn step ladder in the way. When he didn't you could rotate the camera around for viewing the tank. If you got bored, you could even keep moving it and see the mess and all the crap he left all over the family room.

[randumbwit]

http://www.splashcam.com/underwater_video_cameras.htm

 

Take a look at those. I installed the Deep Blue Pro at a park in the Everglades so that they could view gators in the water. I don't remember them being outrageously expensive, and the video quality is pretty darn good.

[OUsnakebyte]

Here is what we use - Multi-SeaCam in Titanium from DeepSea Power and Light.

 

Deep Sea Power and Light

 

Cheers

Mike

[Grav]

Great links, thanks guys!!

 

If anyone else has any thoughts, quality and durabiltiy (not leaching anything into the water) are more of a concern than price is. I don't think they want to drop $10k but there is a budget.

[ctenophore]

I'll bet you one could be built from acrylic easily enough. You'd have to use a waterproof gland to bring the cable in and out, though, possibly passing it through a piece of tubing filled with potting compound to maintain the watertight seal.

This would be my approach too (big surprise huh?). I'll bet even a good quality compression fitting properly taped and/or glued would give years of service in low pressure applications. Then you use an off-the-shelf cheap webcam. What are the view field and range requirements? Could you use a cylinder w/flat end, or would you need a dome?

 

You could probably put one in a media reactor. Plug one lid hole, install 1/2" npt compression fitting in the other. Silicone grease the o-ring for good measure and your $50 web cam will probably work great.