Now before you all jump to the wrong conclusion - I know virtually nothing about cctv so bear with me.

We have had a visiting hedgehog for a quite a long time now so we thought we would build a box in a corner for it, then we thought why not put a cctv camera inside to see what goes on (the peeping tom bit).

Obviously it's going to be dark inside the box so some sort of illumination will be required.

I was thinking of spending a lot of money - not - so how about one of those cheap Micromark cameras from eBay and a 12v white pygmy bulb or two powered from an old PSU.

After you have finished taking the ****, I would be grateful for any suggestions

Now before you all jump to the wrong conclusion - I know virtually nothing about cctv so bear with me.

We have had a visiting hedgehog for a quite a long time now so we thought we would build a box in a corner for it, then we thought why not put a cctv camera inside to see what goes on (the peeping tom bit).

Obviously it's going to be dark inside the box so some sort of illumination will be required.

I was thinking of spending a lot of money - not - so how about one of those cheap Micromark cameras from eBay and a 12v white pygmy bulb or two powered from an old PSU.

After you have finished taking the ****, I would be grateful for any suggestions

Tell the wife it costs

HA HA HA HA Chorlton that is funny.

Nice one.

Garry.

Now before you all jump to the wrong conclusion - I know virtually nothing about cctv so bear with me.

We have had a visiting hedgehog for a quite a long time now so we thought we would build a box in a corner for it, then we thought why not put a cctv camera inside to see what goes on (the peeping tom bit).

Obviously it's going to be dark inside the box so some sort of illumination will be required.

I was thinking of spending a lot of money - not - so how about one of those cheap Micromark cameras from eBay and a 12v white pygmy bulb or two powered from an old PSU.

After you have finished taking the ****, I would be grateful for any suggestions

I've not used them myself, but I'd imagine the micromark type cameras are normally sealed, so I doubt you would be easily able to re-focus the lens for close up work.

Ideally, if you can get a miniature B/W camera, possibly a small 'lipstick' sized bullet would do the job, you won't need much light at all. In fact you don't want a lot of light, as hedgehogs prefer it dark.

You could either use a couple of small Red or Infra Red diodes (there's another thread running on this subject at the moment), or a directional 'torch' type bulb, which you should arrange so that a] it's not in view of the camera, and b] it's light is reflected off the inside of the box lid. That arrangement would give you excellent shadowless lighting, although whatever light source you decide upon, you will need to refocus the lens under night light conditions.

Good luck with the hogs

Well thanks all.

The Micromark cameras are 'fixed focus', (the right term?), so that is why I was thinking of them.

I do like the look of the first camera in the link, it says it's suitable for Garages, Barns, Bird Boxes, Zoo's etc, so should fill my needs perfectly, I think I'll get one.

Thanks for being quite gentle with me.

hi all.

i think Maplins do a small board camera with IR leds on, there is also thousands of other cameras with built-in ir lighting will do this job from Ebay, i'd say just get any budget cheapy will do, as the distance is very short, you don't need high range but get one with a 3.6 mm lens or wider if possible.

i'd not use the pigmy bulb, just too much light power and heat in a small area, i'd rig a couple of low wattage torch bulbs if you don't use an ir camera, so mr hedgehog can play with his mate ms prickles, and not know anyone is watching them, and he will be tickled pink at that.

regs

alan

hi all.

i think Maplins do a small board camera with IR leds on, there is also thousands of other cameras with built-in ir lighting will do this job from Ebay, i'd say just get any budget cheapy will do, as the distance is very short, you don't need high range but get one with a 3.6 mm lens or wider if possible.

i'd not use the pigmy bulb, just too much light power and heat in a small area, i'd rig a couple of low wattage torch bulbs if you don't use an ir camera, so mr hedgehog can play with his mate ms prickles, and not know anyone is watching them, and he will be tickled pink at that.

regs

alan

Hi Alan

just a quick follow on from your post about maplins..becareful as they have just released security equipment in 'KIT' form...A friend of mine thought he was getting a great deal on a radio transmitter and reciever...when he got it home he found he had to build it first!!!!!!!!!

Hi Alan

just a quick follow on from your post about maplins..becareful as they have just released security equipment in 'KIT' form...A friend of mine thought he was getting a great deal on a radio transmitter and reciever...when he got it home he found he had to build it first!!!!!!!!!

hi mjw

pmsl, he should have read the instructions

this is a mon one with IR led's

http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?detail...=15m3#more_info

regs

alan

Now before you all jump to the wrong conclusion - I know virtually nothing about cctv so bear with me.

We have had a visiting hedgehog for a quite a long time now so we thought we would build a box in a corner for it, then we thought why not put a cctv camera inside to see what goes on (the peeping tom bit).

Obviously it's going to be dark inside the box so some sort of illumination will be required.

These guys custom build hedgehog boxes with surveillance cameras built in :

www.handykam.com

Might be worth a look......

HA HA HA HA Chorlton that is funny.

Nice one.

Garry.

Gary, your picture???

Never seen that before, a vcl dome and someone smiling at the same time, must be wind eh lol