engine bay analogue camera Q

[vas]

just a thought,

since I have a video input on my plotter (Garmin 751) what sort of camera would I need to install at the bulkhead between e/r and lazarette in order to be able to:
a. view the two engines and what's happening down there (water in the bilges, engine on fire, et al )
b. look at the sight gauge for the fuel tanks (just in front of the engines), that's slightly pushing it, I know...

Talking about a distance of 2.5m from camera to the far end of engines and sight gauge.
Width of field should be slightly wide, but not anything silly. Horizontal coverage at the 2.5m could be under 2m.

Questions are:

a. what can be reasonably cheap and decent quality?
b. what do you do with lighting??? it's rather dark down there unless you turn on the e/r lights (or an engine is on fire...). IR cameras or what?

cheers

V.

 

[Forty_Two]

For the engines I use a normal internal style analogue cctv camera that runs on 12v with a dedicated 7" monitor by the helm. Also shows as picture in picture on my repeated Nav pc fly bridge screen.

I use 12v engine room lighting under way, plenty of it!

For the four tank sight glasses I have mounted four small spy style 12v cameras wired to a four way switch into which I plug a roving 5" lcd screen when fuelling. I can then watch the fuel level against the marks I have put on the sight glasses. Means no spills

Edit: I did all this years ago so not sure what brands etc but Ebay or Amazon should find cheap enough kit. For 12v lighting ASAP do a square unit that takes a D style cfl bulb. Very reassuring to be able to see the happy lumps under way, mine looks forward from the aft bulkhead.

 

[oldgit]

Recently installed a basic 12V system in a MoBo .Totally light proof location. Gives loverly IR view in ( black and white of course) of engine manifolds/exhausts/gearboxes etc ,easy and simple to spot anything running warmer than normal, plus engine fire warning.Easy to compare/contrast heat radiation of both engines.
Single camera covers two engines and entire length of engine room.

 

[TwoHooter]

Recently installed a basic 12V system in a MoBo .Totally light proof location. Gives loverly IR view in ( black and white of course) of engine manifolds/exhausts/gearboxes etc ,easy and simple to spot anything running warmer than normal, plus engine fire warning.Easy to compare/contrast heat radiation of both engines. Single camera covers two engines and entire length of engine room.

Care to share the source of the equipment?

 

[Trundlebug]

I installed a single camera for a trial, followed by a further 2 so I now have 3 covering my engine room.

Just cheapies off ebay at around £15 each but they work really well.
I don't have engine bay lighting, just rely on the built in IR LED's which means the display is in black and white unless the hatches are up, but it's fine.

I fitted similar cameras to these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Night-Vis...-Office-12V-/161671402666?hash=item25a45dd4aa
and have one on the bilges & seacocks, and one on each shaft, showing stern gland to gearbox.

The IR doesn't have a very long range so I doubt it would reach the 2.5m you're looking for, the only way to achieve that would be with engine room lighting but that shouldn't be a problem.

I've been really pleased with them in the 2-3 years since fitting. As well as giving peace of mind on a long trip they have given early warning of a few problems I wouldn't have known about until much later and more serious, an oil leak from one of the oil coolers, a diesel leak from one of the tanks, various water leaks from FW pump and a bolt that had worked itself loose in one of the drive couplings.

I wouldn't be without the cameras now.