What's new
Car Wash Forum

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Cameras inside the bay

Reds

Member
I have cameras outside my auto bays. I am considering putting some cameras inside the bays but am worried about them getting dirty or fogged up. Does anyone who has them have any issues with not being able to view details in tapes? What kind of cameras? I see them advertised with a heated enclosure, but I worry about the spray and mist preventing them from capturing good pictures. Thanks for any help.
 
Reds, you can go on my web server and take a look at my cameras. They need to be wiped off but you can see pretty good. I mount mine above the light in the bay. There are also 2 in the automatic bays. When I get back from the lake, next week I'm going to mount one right above the spray arch. You would think that it would be wet all the time but its not. The water is spraying away from the camera. 70.43.125.20 user name and password are the same. user1 Camera 6 is a PTZ. Its fun to play with. Right click on the image then choose PTZ.
 
I now have cameras in the self serve bays, bought inexpensive weatherproof "bullet" cameras. They're mounted on the ceiling that's pretty high, 13', and I haven't had a real problem with them getting dirty or wet. If they get a little mist on them, it dries very quickly without the lens being heated. I do have to wipe the lenses off every couple months to restore clarity. The detail from them is not very good, which is because of the DVR - it's only recording about 1/4th the detail that it gets from the camera.
 
I use a housing with a wiper. It is at www.aaasecurityproducts.com It is a 24v motor. I run a 24v feed from the auto plc so wiper only runs when someone is in the auto. I have one camera right a tag level, and one on opposite end up high. The wiper housing last about a year under the harsh conditions. They are $73 for a small housing for bullets, and $138 for larger. All pictures are perfectly clear. The housings do not have heaters, so I add my own with a fan. Fan runs constant, and heater is on a variable 70 degree t-stat I got from Iowa Changer. Works great to keep moisture out, and keep temp at proper level.
 
One more quick note....the wiper motor /blade has been lasting me about 2-2.5 years, not 1 as I stated. They will sell you the replacement motor, but it is almost as much as the whole thing. So, I just order the whole thing and replace the entire front face with motor. I keep two on the shelf. (I have four washes)
 
I've got cameras in all of my SS bays, none in my tunnel (only at the exit/entrance and all around it). But the ones in the SS bays give me no troubles. The wiper camera are very cool! I love those... might consider putting them in my tunnel where the cars seem to jump the rail.
 
Back
Top