Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: ftp on October 04, 2008, 05:42:09 pm
-
Had a trip to Maplins today to buy a wireless camera for inspecting gutters using a pole in preparation for a gutter sucking vacuum. First problem - wireless doesn't really mean no wires. The camera itself needs to be plugged in to the mains for it to run. This can be overcome in theory by soldering a jack onto the wire and powering from a rechargeable 9v battery. Then there is the monitor - except that needs power too - great just buy an inverter and run from the van socket easy!
Except then you are tied to the van - bugger - can't operate the camera and screen together. Therefore need a monitor that runs off batteries too.
Staff in the shop were next to useless ::) Where's Jeff?
-
I bought my monitor from Tesco's and its a portable one, it must be able to except video in.
Re-your camera ? your right, you can make up a lead and have the 9v battery taped to the top of your pole with the camera.
The reciever is done the same way, I stuck my reciever to the back of my monitor with double sided sticky tape.
I'll log on again later when my pc is sorted out :'(
-
Blimey that was quick Jeff!
Unfortunately i bought the bundle without really thinking. I've soldered the jack (red to centre post) but it's not working yet but that could be due to a flat battery - i'm charging a couple now. Looking on the box it would seem that the monitor runs at 12v and draws 1.0A. I am a complete electrical dunce so am floundering a bit. Do you think my monitor can be adapted to run from battery?
Another thing is that the mains power has some kind of suppressor? I think - is this needed when on battery power?
www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=223420 this is the culprit. :)
-
I bought my wireless camera from Maplins and it's exactly that! It's got a rechargeable battery as does the monitor.
Rod
-
??? did it come with batteries or have you adapted it?
-
Blimey that was quick Jeff!
Unfortunately i bought the bundle without really thinking. I've soldered the jack (red to centre post) but it's not working yet but that could be due to a flat battery - i'm charging a couple now. Looking on the box it would seem that the monitor runs at 12v and draws 1.0A. I am a complete electrical dunce so am floundering a bit. Do you think my monitor can be adapted to run from battery?
Another thing is that the mains power has some kind of suppressor? I think - is this needed when on battery power?
www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=223420 this is the culprit. :)
Your lucky it was quick then Lol been without a pc since last night and only just got up and running again.
OK before you go connecting it back up and asuming the center post is possitive, STOP
Have a look on the little power supply that comes with it and you will see a symbol on the label, it may look like a letter C and in the middle will be a dot with a line running to eother a possitive or negative symbol, the one in the center will tell you what polarity the center symbol should be.
If you bough the same one as I did then your ok the center is possitive (red)
You can change the monitor to run on battery, I see yours draws 1.0 Amp, thats about average for a monitor and is high, a 9v battery will go flat in no time, if you can get your self a small 12v battery from the thickys at Maplins, then a 1amp battery will run your monitor for 1 hr continuous, so the larger the amp the longger your monitor will run.
I was wondering why your monitor was 12v but after checking the spec on your link, I see the monitor contains the reciever? that's why its 12v @ 1A
before you plug in any powerto the monitor again check the little syblo on the side, if your still unsure then get a close up of the sockets and the back of the power supply and I will tell you the correct polarity.
A suppresor is nothing to worry about, unless your running your system were it can pick up high interference from electrical items.
-
??? did it come with batteries or have you adapted it?
It came with internal rechargeable batteries.
-
Ok Jeff, the monitor dot runs to positive as does the camera (negative goes to the c )
What i do have in my garage is a rechargeable NiMh 13.2V 4 amp Battery from an expensive bicycle set up. Do you reckon that would be any good?
-
Ok Jeff, the monitor dot runs to positive as does the camera (negative goes to the c )
What i do have in my garage is a rechargeable NiMh 13.2V 4 amp Battery from an expensive bicycle set up. Do you reckon that would be any good?
OK your wired correctly ;D
All electrical items have a voltage tollerence range of around -/+3v, so you should be ok to run it from your rechargable battery.
I'm still messing on my pc getting everything back to normal, but I will keep popping on to check how your getting on.
One thing you should do before connecting your system to run on batteries is to connect it all up via the mains and make sure its all working OK, The first one I bought from Maplins was crap and didn't work properly.
-
Yes all works fine by the mains. Shame really i didn't think it would be this hard. :)
Pretty annoyed at the staff to be honest they seemed to have as much knowledge as me (nill).
I'm going to need some kind of reducer because the jack on my bike battery is much bigger than the input connection on the monitor.
-
Yes all works fine by the mains. Shame really i didn't think it would be this hard. :)
Pretty annoyed at the staff to be honest they seemed to have as much knowledge as me (nill).
I'm going to need some kind of reducer because the jack on my bike battery is much bigger than the input connection on the monitor.
Maplins is full of Gonks, the same as these DIY stores.
Go into Maplins and ask for the manager, he works behind the counter as well, he's not stuck in the back office doing paper work, the manager usually knows what he's talking about, failing that, ask for someone who knows what there talking about, I often bye-pass the Gonks and go straight to the top Lol.
You can cut the plug of if you want to and add one that fits the monitor, I think its around 3.5mm the one you need, take your monitor in with you and try them in the shop, I do, poke the plug through the plastic bag and try it.
-
I have found a power adapter plug in the maplins catalogue that might do the trick then i can whip it off to charge the NiMh battery when required. Ho hum.
-
If you have the correct adapter, all the better. ;)
-
Maybe one of these? www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?menuno=11913 try Curries tomorrow (another load of wasters)
Then i can connect one of these www.lumicycle.com/Product/Productlist.aspx?page=1&dep=86&tdep=86&pdep=
Second one down.
-
Yes all works fine by the mains. Shame really i didn't think it would be this hard. :)
Pretty annoyed at the staff to be honest they seemed to have as much knowledge as me (nill).
I'm going to need some kind of reducer because the jack on my bike battery is much bigger than the input connection on the monitor.
Maplins is full of Gonks, the same as these DIY stores.
Go into Maplins and ask for the manager, he works behind the counter as well, he's not stuck in the back office doing paper work, the manager usually knows what he's talking about, failing that, ask for someone who knows what there talking about, I often bye-pass the Gonks and go straight to the top Lol.
You can cut the plug of if you want to and add one that fits the monitor, I think its around 3.5mm the one you need, take your monitor in with you and try them in the shop, I do, poke the plug through the plastic bag and try it.
I always ask behind the components section. they need to know what they are on about.. dont want the wrong advise being given about components..
-
Maybe one of these? www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?menuno=11913 try Curries tomorrow (another load of wasters)
Then i can connect one of these www.lumicycle.com/Product/Productlist.aspx?page=1&dep=86&tdep=86&pdep=
Second one down.
I have one of those adapter kits and there very good.
-
Had a trip to Maplins today to buy a wireless camera for inspecting gutters using a pole in preparation for a gutter sucking vacuum. First problem - wireless doesn't really mean no wires. The camera itself needs to be plugged in to the mains for it to run. This can be overcome in theory by soldering a jack onto the wire and powering from a rechargeable 9v battery. Then there is the monitor - except that needs power too - great just buy an inverter and run from the van socket easy!
Except then you are tied to the van - bugger - can't operate the camera and screen together. Therefore need a monitor that runs off batteries too.
Staff in the shop were next to useless ::) Where's Jeff?
Can you not just get a cam off ebay wireless ???
-
Do you mean stick a cam recorder on the end of a pole?
Got the camera going now just the monitor next and i'll be out surveying if the rain stops.
-
Have a look on my web and see how I use my camera on the end of my Xtel
-
Jeff, just done a twenty mile round trip for a connector to reduce the dc in, charged my battery all night on smart charger and connected up guess what? Nothing! What should i do? I have thought maybe the polarity of my battery could be the opposite way round god knows. ::)
-
Jeff, just done a twenty mile round trip for a connector to reduce the dc in, charged my battery all night on smart charger and connected up guess what? Nothing! What should i do? I have thought maybe the polarity of my battery could be the opposite way round god knows. ::)
I hope its polarity protected :o
If its working on mains then your battery polarity is the wrong way somewhere and it won't work.
Make sure your soldering is ok and not short circuiting, check the little sybols again just to make sure your wired correctly.
Stick a close up picture if you can of the connection with the symbol.
-
Getting close to giving up now really had enough today. Even snipped the connecter from the charger and re-attatched to the battery cable and it doesn't want to know. I don't think it is compatable with the battery for some reason. Next door neighbour is an electrician and doen't have a clue (not interested). Thanks for listening Jeff but the whole lot could be propelled towards the nearest wall anytime soon. ;D
-
Getting close to giving up now really had enough today. Even snipped the connecter from the charger and re-attatched to the battery cable and it doesn't want to know. I don't think it is compatable with the battery for some reason. Next door neighbour is an electrician and doen't have a clue (not interested). Thanks for listening Jeff but the whole lot could be propelled towards the nearest wall anytime soon. ;D
Don't give up to soon, try a 9v battery the battery your using may not be up to the Job, rechargables arn't my cup of tea for heavy consumption items,the 9v may just give you a glimps of the picture before you drain it.
If you can, connect it to your car battery that will be man enough for test purposes.
-
Yes, little 9v fires it up! So why won't my NiMH start it? Hmmmm The jack seems a little shorter than the one i soldered yesterday, maybe it's not connecting.
-
This is why bought in bits are easier. How much time have you spent trying to adapt technology? Your time has a value.
Is this the end of the problems? possibly not, have you considered low winter light, rain, lens condensation, electrical interference etc etc.
Don't get me wrong Im not knocking you for trying, in fact its the opposite but if your really busy and realise getter cleaning is a valuable add on service then bought in equipment is the only way to go.
-
Don't Kev, i'm near the limit.
-
This is why bought in bits are easier. How much time have you spent trying to adapt technology? Your time has a value.
Is this the end of the problems? possibly not, have you considered low winter light, rain, lens condensation, electrical interference etc etc.
Don't get me wrong Im not knocking you for trying, in fact its the opposite but if your really busy and realise getter cleaning is a valuable add on service then bought in equipment is the only way to go.
Well I bought all the bits for mine Kev and its worked from day one and is still working earning me money. ;D
Yes, little 9v fires it up! So why won't my NiMH start it? Hmmmm The jack seems a little shorter than the one i soldered yesterday, maybe it's not connecting.
Using the 9v tells me the re-chargable battery your using may not be upto the Job, it could have run flat, so will no longer hold the capacity it was designed for.
OR
The jack has to make 2 connections, 1= is the center pin and 2 the outer case, sometimes there is a little lug inside that the outer case, the outer case press's on to it, to make the connection, try and wobble the jack to see if you get a connection, if you do then the pin is to short.
-
The 9v is a rechargeable one too it's the one i power the camera with. The NiMh still powers my twelve watt bike lights so it seems to have power. I'm going to solder a different jack, open the centre post a tad and try again later.
The camera is now mounted to an angle adapter and ready to go and looks pretty good. Tried it in complete darkness last night and was very impressed.
-
The 9v is a rechargeable one too it's the one i power the camera with. The NiMh still powers my twelve watt bike lights so it seems to have power. I'm going to solder a different jack, open the centre post a tad and try again later.
The camera is now mounted to an angle adapter and ready to go and looks pretty good. Tried it in complete darkness last night and was very impressed.
Then its defenetly your Jack plug, try to bend the center lug just a tiny bit but not to much.
There good in the dark provided youre close up, this sometimes helps when there's bad light, also when you use it you may get to much glare from bright sunlight, if this happens just turn your camera around and come from the other direction.
-
Thanks Jeff i'll keep you posted.
Kev, i know what you are saying makes sense but you are at the top of the ladder if you like, where i haven't made the bottom rung so £800 for the omnicam although undoubtedly excellent if out of my reach.
-
Thanks Jeff i'll keep you posted.
Kev, i know what you are saying makes sense but you are at the top of the ladder if you like, where i haven't made the bottom rung so £800 for the omnicam although undoubtedly excellent if out of my reach.
Are you serious £800 for a wireless camera ?? :o
-
I think it's more than a camera - i might have interpreted it wrong but have a look at their site.
-
It has a dvd recorder on it as well.
-
Up and running yey!
-
Its not wireless - which means no interference no matter where your working - It works in low and bright light, is waterproof and the images can be recorded there and then and played back. All powered by rechargeable batteries that last all day! wow and so so much more.
£800 Plus VAT - but for a complete solution in a hard waring and totally reliable package that will work in all conditions its simply the business.
I did the DIY camera thing, and for commercial work day in day out it just wouldn't cut it. They are great for simple fair weather jobs but as soon as you put a DIY camera into a dark box gutter on an overcast day its as good as useless. Also the Omnicam is narrow and can be introduced into downpipes, drains etc and it still provides reliable images.
Save you money and buy the best tool for the job.
-
Nice one ftp, was it the Jack plug?
Nice and dark outside now, go and test your guttering with it and come back to tell kev that they do work in the dark ;D ;D
-
I've got to make money first then think about saving it. ;D
-
Yes Jeff the jack plug thanks for helping out - was getting in a pickle for a while. I don't know how it's going to stand up, seems to view the gutters allright even at night. Hard bit is directing the pole at the moment. Lots to learn.
-
Its not wireless - which means no interference no matter where your working - It works in low and bright light, is waterproof and the images can be recorded there and then and played back. All powered by rechargeable batteries that last all day! wow and so so much more.
£800 Plus VAT - but for a complete solution in a hard waring and totally reliable package that will work in all conditions its simply the business.
I did the DIY camera thing, and for commercial work day in day out it just wouldn't cut it. They are great for simple fair weather jobs but as soon as you put a DIY camera into a dark box gutter on an overcast day its as good as useless. Also the Omnicam is narrow and can be introduced into downpipes, drains etc and it still provides reliable images.
Save you money and buy the best tool for the job.
Kev, for give me if I am wrong but £800 for a little cam is way over priced, can I ask what you get with the cam please, the reason I ask you could get a high quality dvd camcorder for less than half that price and would give spot free pics, do you get all the pole etc with the cam, sorry but am findoing it hard to see how a cam can cost £800 in this day and age.
Ian
-
Yes Jeff the jack plug thanks for helping out - was getting in a pickle for a while. I don't know how it's going to stand up, seems to view the gutters allright even at night. Hard bit is directing the pole at the moment. Lots to learn.
get some Self Amalgamating Tape and tape up the plugs to make them waterproof.
Rest your pole base on your hip for support and rest the top of the pole on the guttering edge for more support, gently slide it along to view steady images.
-
Yes Jeff the jack plug thanks for helping out - was getting in a pickle for a while. I don't know how it's going to stand up, seems to view the gutters allright even at night. Hard bit is directing the pole at the moment. Lots to learn.
get some Self Amalgamating Tape and tape up the plugs to make them waterproof.
Rest your pole base on your hip for support and rest the top of the pole on the guttering edge for more support, gently slide it along to view steady images.
Jeff what price did you cam cost ?
-
Its not wireless - which means no interference no matter where your working - It works in low and bright light, is waterproof and the images can be recorded there and then and played back. All powered by rechargeable batteries that last all day! wow and so so much more.
£800 Plus VAT - but for a complete solution in a hard waring and totally reliable package that will work in all conditions its simply the business.
I did the DIY camera thing, and for commercial work day in day out it just wouldn't cut it. They are great for simple fair weather jobs but as soon as you put a DIY camera into a dark box gutter on an overcast day its as good as useless. Also the Omnicam is narrow and can be introduced into downpipes, drains etc and it still provides reliable images.
Save you money and buy the best tool for the job.
Kev, for give me if I am wrong but £800 for a little cam is way over priced, can I ask what you get with the cam please, the reason I ask you could get a high quality dvd camcorder for less than half that price and would give spot free pics, do you get all the pole etc with the cam, sorry but am findoing it hard to see how a cam can cost £800 in this day and age.
Ian
Its not just the camera you get. Its for the package (not the pole) but everything else. Also its a high quality small surveying camera (mines made by Sony) it fits in small spaces which the DIY ones dont and it is very high resolution. The image quality on the DIY ones is poor in comparison. In poor light the images are dark and blocky. They are designed to pick up movement and not detail which is important.
You also get a stand alone digital recorder / player and all the leads you need to connect it to what ever you want. Mine is 20G it holds hours of footage. Which is important on larger sites.
The camera and the recorder have rechargeable batteries, so you don't need spares and its really portable.
The price simply reflects its quality - surveying cameras cost money. Cameras for looking who's at your front door are not really designed for poking into downpipes etc.
Like I have said a million times before its horses for courses but if you turned up on some jobs with a DIY camera on a pole they would be having a laugh in the office as your quote went in the bin ;)
-
I have to admit it looks nearly as bad as a brush on a stick and nobody would accept that i'm sure. ;D
-
Its not wireless - which means no interference no matter where your working - It works in low and bright light, is waterproof and the images can be recorded there and then and played back. All powered by rechargeable batteries that last all day! wow and so so much more.
£800 Plus VAT - but for a complete solution in a hard waring and totally reliable package that will work in all conditions its simply the business.
I did the DIY camera thing, and for commercial work day in day out it just wouldn't cut it. They are great for simple fair weather jobs but as soon as you put a DIY camera into a dark box gutter on an overcast day its as good as useless. Also the Omnicam is narrow and can be introduced into downpipes, drains etc and it still provides reliable images.
Save you money and buy the best tool for the job.
Kev, for give me if I am wrong but £800 for a little cam is way over priced, can I ask what you get with the cam please, the reason I ask you could get a high quality dvd camcorder for less than half that price and would give spot free pics, do you get all the pole etc with the cam, sorry but am findoing it hard to see how a cam can cost £800 in this day and age.
Ian
Its not just the camera you get. Its for the package (not the pole) but everything else. Also its a high quality small surveying camera (mines made by Sony) it fits in small spaces which the DIY ones dont and it is very high resolution. The image quality on the DIY ones is poor in comparison. In poor light the images are dark and blocky. They are designed to pick up movement and not detail which is important.
You also get a stand alone digital recorder / player and all the leads you need to connect it to what ever you want. Mine is 20G it holds hours of footage. Which is important on larger sites.
The camera and the recorder have rechargeable batteries, so you don't need spares and its really portable.
The price simply reflects its quality - surveying cameras cost money. Cameras for looking who's at your front door are not really designed for poking into downpipes etc.
Like I have said a million times before its horses for courses but if you turned up on some jobs with a DIY camera on a pole they would be having a laugh in the office as your quote went in the bin ;)
I am glad it is not just the camera as that is what I was thinking. do you have any pics of your cam Kev ?
I also agree if diy and looks it would make you look a right wally and very unprofessional something I would not do
-
Don't forget to buy the Omnivac to go with the camera Ian, or you will look unprofessional. ;)
Whilst i'm in a teasing mood - you wouldn't use a cheap decorators pole ......... would you?
-
Don't forget to buy the Omnivac to go with the camera Ian, or you will look unprofessional. ;)
Whilst i'm in a teasing mood - you wouldn't use a cheap decorators pole ......... would you?
I dont use a cheap decorators pole m8 no :P, I made it to help others. and that pole looks just like most more so if you shrink tube it.
Omnivac is a product from ominipole it is just a 3x motor vac that anyone can buy, from what I see and hear it is there tools that are the seller and the adaptions they make, pricey maybe but some things are, I dont like paying over the top for things when there is no need, but at the same time I would rather pay out more money and not look a tit if you know what I mean.
-
Yes Jeff the jack plug thanks for helping out - was getting in a pickle for a while. I don't know how it's going to stand up, seems to view the gutters allright even at night. Hard bit is directing the pole at the moment. Lots to learn.
get some Self Amalgamating Tape and tape up the plugs to make them waterproof.
Rest your pole base on your hip for support and rest the top of the pole on the guttering edge for more support, gently slide it along to view steady images.
Jeff what price did you cam cost ?
£99 camera
£70 monitor
£65 dvd recorder from flebay
-
I have to admit it looks nearly as bad as a brush on a stick and nobody would accept that i'm sure. ;D
Like I said Im not knocking you - I started like you, and you have to start some where for sure.
Good luck - enjoy it and always look to improving your techniques and equipment as this will increase efficiency and make you more money and gain you a reputation for being serious about your chosen profession.
And like you just said when wfp first started everybody doubted it but now its becoming the accepted way of doing things just as gutter vacs and cameras will in time.
Whats next is what I wanna know LOL
This is a picture of my system (its from Omnipoles site not my actual system) I have removed my system from the case and now I use a waterproof camera shoulder bag which makes life a bit easier than the flight case arrangement.
-
I would rather pay out more money and not look a tit if you know what I mean.
Sometimes appearances are important and can make the difference between getting the job or not ;D
-
I have to admit it looks nearly as bad as a brush on a stick and nobody would accept that i'm sure. ;D
Like I said Im not knocking you - I started like you, and you have to start some where for sure.
Good luck - enjoy it and always look to improving your techniques and equipment as this will increase efficiency and make you more money and gain you a reputation for being serious about your chosen profession.
And like you just said when wfp first started everybody doubted it but now its becoming the accepted way of doing things just as gutter vacs and cameras will in time.
Whats next is what I wanna know LOL
This is a picture of my system (its from Omnipoles site not my actual system) I have removed my system from the case and now I use a waterproof camera shoulder bag which makes life a bit easier than the flight case arrangement.
Kev what is the resalution of the camera?
-
Just checked on omnipoles site and its Resolution is only 380 lines
If you check this one out its 480 lines and goes down to 0.05 lux now that's nearer total darkness than 0.3 of the omnipole one and check out the price of it, I could probably find a cheaper one but this was one of the first high Resolution one I came across and its a colour sony.
www.supercircuits.com/Security-Cameras/Specialty-Cameras/PC165C
Just trying to show you the omnipole is not the bee's knees you think it is for the price.
-
I would rather pay out more money and not look a tit if you know what I mean.
Sometimes appearances are important and can make the difference between getting the job or not ;D
I agree 100%
-
Just checked on omnipoles site and its Resolution is only 380 lines
If you check this one out its 480 lines and goes down to 0.05 lux now that's nearer total darkness than 0.3 of the omnipole one and check out the price of it, I could probably find a cheaper one but this was one of the first high Resolution one I came across and its a colour sony.
www.supercircuits.com/Security-Cameras/Specialty-Cameras/PC165C
Just trying to show you the omnipole is not the bee's knees you think it is for the price.
Is it waterproof? no
I have had my camera for almost 2 years - technology does move on.
My first digital SLR cost well over 2K now you can get one for £300
But the point is - Its not all about price - Some people will never understand this as they are too short sighted. I run a business - I dont play at cleaning gutters and go home when I've done my £50. I earn good money on commercial sites. I would not go with a toy and look a idiot. How can you risk assess a camera thats designed for home security? Also if its not designed for purpose and it falls off and hurts someone your simply not covered.
What I'm saying again is its horses for courses - If you happy clearing domestic gutters as a sole trader with no employees then fine do what you like - but if you doing commercial work with employees you cant build toys and hope for the best.
If you want to get somewhere in business you have to speculate to accumulate. You wouldn't like your kids getting in an unsafe vehicle when you called a taxi would you? well this is the same thing - You wouldn't like some one cleaning your mums gutters with toys and substandard equipment or would you?
-
The 380 lines quoted on our site are TV lines
The scanning lines are 525 2:1 interlaced
The camera also operates down to - 10 or + 50C so its an all weather camera
its waterproof.
Our monitor has a built in 30GB real time video recorder.
We have supplied certain Police and other organisatios special op's departments with exactly the same system.
I have no need to justify the systems cost as I have traveled outside the UK to look at military and police spec units and our beats the vast majority hands down and is equal to the others.
We are charging far less than the cost that these other "specialist" suppliers are getting for in most cases an inferior unit many charge £3000- £5000 for their camera and monitor. One recent purchaser bought an extra camera system because in his opinion our units were cheap having previously paid over £5000.00 for a simular unit ( he wasnt a window cleaner ;o) )
I can put together a cheaper unit no problem, but I have always wanted to produce the best not the cheapest.
-
Well said Glyn.
Im glad you know the technical stuff, because when I asked for a good quality camera that I could put inside gutters and down pipes, one that wouldn't let me down in low light or suffer from interference, one I could work with in all weathers that was reliable you supplied it. Its a bomb proof system that works every time - Worth every penny in my humble opinion.
-
The 380 lines quoted on our site are TV lines
The scanning lines are 525 2:1 interlaced
The camera also operates down to - 10 or + 50C so its an all weather camera
its waterproof.
Our monitor has a built in 30GB real time video recorder.
We have supplied certain Police and other organisatios special op's departments with exactly the same system.
I have no need to justify the systems cost as I have traveled outside the UK to look at military and police spec units and our beats the vast majority hands down and is equal to the others.
We are charging far less than the cost that these other "specialist" suppliers are getting for in most cases an inferior unit many charge £3000- £5000 for their camera and monitor. One recent purchaser bought an extra camera system because in his opinion our units were cheap having previously paid over £5000.00 for a simular unit ( he wasnt a window cleaner ;o) )
I can put together a cheaper unit no problem, but I have always wanted to produce the best not the cheapest.
Quote From your own web-site.
STANDARD COLOUR CAMERA UNIT :-
1. 1/3” Sharp Super sensitive CCD
2. Illumination 0.3Lux@F2
3. Resolution 380
4. White balance Automatic
5. Shutter speeds1/50-1/100,00 sec
6. Lens 4.3mm
7. Lens options 3.6mm 6mm 8mm 12mm 16mm
8. Operation current 80mA 12V DC
9. Size 21mm x 72mm
10. Weight 180 gms
11. PAL Scanning system
Who asked you to Justify the system costs? NOT ME! Who said your system wasn't good? NOT ME!
Who said a better quality components to produce a good system can source' d at less cost? ME!
I did CCTV systems for 15 years so there's not a lot you can teach me about them, I have city & Guilds in electronics, so if you want to start throwing specs around, then a closed couple device (CCD) scans lines at a certain resolution and your web site clearly states in the camera specs 380 lines, if your saying that the cctv scans at 525 lines, and your monitor at 380 lines then its clear to me that you have a mis-match pair?
It means the quality of the picture on the monitor will be no better than 380 lines it can't show 525 lines produced by a camera.
A closed circuit control device for controlling carrier speed of a scanner. An optical meter is attached to the transparent glass panel of a scanner such that an image of the optical meter is formed on an optical sensor such as a charge couple device or a contact image sensor. Image of the optical meter is converted into sense signals by the optical sensor so that speed of the carrier can be accurately computed. Through the acquisition of an accurate carrier speed, scanning speed and direction can be precisely controlled.
The correct specifications for a 1/3rd sharp CCD camera are as follows
1/3 SHARP CCD Camera
Resolution =420TVL
LED= 10pcs
Minimum Illumination=0.01 Lux / F1.2
With a Lens = 3.6 mm standard
I'm not asking you to justify price's or specs and I'm not saying your products are inferior, I never have, and never will, I know you have wages to pay and do lots of testing at the factory to produce better products, so you have to reflect this in your price's.
We had this disagreement some time back regarding your gutter vac and you chucked your toy's out of the pram then, and I will keep disagreeing with you that better quality components can be source' d at a lower cost, I know about all your overheads etc but as so many posts have been made on here regarding the cost of your product, its time you took notice.
I'm not suggesting you bring your prices down but what I am suggesting is that you make a product, so there within the reach of the one man bands and smaller companies.
You and your team have the knowledge, capability's and skills to produce good cheaper products for the lower end of the market and it will show you listen to us and not just come on here to sell and defend yourself?
I for one would sing your praises if you Just sit up and listen.
Its not in my nature to continue a disagreement, so I have had my last say on this matter.
-
Well, the vacuum arrived this morning (blimey it's big!). The towbar electrics man is coming tomorrow, my monitor will be attatched to a heavy duty video camera tripod tonight. I have ordered some much longer hose to reduce all the extra moves of the unit whilst working. I have allready spotted grass hanging out of the gutters of one of my commercial jobs. So a new haircut and polish my boots and i should be ready for business within a couple of weeks.
-
Don't forget to take a hard hat and safety glasses for the commercial job. It will keep the muck off your nicely trimmed haircut and you will still be able to see you beautifully shiny boots at the end too.
A little tip for gutter vac hard hats is to get one with a chin strap as the standard ones fall off all the time else. ;)
-
Hard hat's? Saw some in lidels two quid i think. Anyway heres tonights efforts looking into my downpipe. Might be the wrong way up - dammed technology.
-
Any bright sparks feel free to turn it round. ::)
-
Looks good.
Is the unit waterproof / shower resistant? Or are you going to put it some where dry and record then playback?
-
No, no and no. ;D I could connect to a video and record but i'm not at that stage yet. This is really more for me to view rather than the customer at the moment. I'm still not sure of working in the rain with electrical devices and will need an extension cable too.
If it all goes well and i make money then i can update to a proper system later.
-
I do like the idea of the tripod though. Viewing the screen on a sunny day may be a small problem but a hood like photographers use would solve that.
So is the screen mains operated then?
-
It should be but i adapted it to run off the bottle battery. I can reconnect to run off the mains or a micro inverter in my van. Because i have no record facility yet i need to view close to the cam and pole.
-
Kev, are you able to suck and record at the same time from the same pole?
-
Kev, are you able to suck and record at the same time from the same pole?
Yes you are able to do that, but I don't because it's very easy to bash the camera and its very difficult to work while viewing the screen live due to reflection on the screen, position etc.
I use my camera on a different pole, I record the survey ( I dont even watch the screen as its inside my bag) then I play back the footage. I then vac by feel and then re-survey when Im done vacuuming. A camera is an excellent tool for surveying the job and checking your work but mostly you can tell if your clearing the gutter by feel and sound. To be honest on some domestic type gutters I dont bother with a pre-survey I just vac as its quicker.