Engine room cameras

you would need either quite strong infra-red or normal lighting the whole time, or thermal imaging which is a LOT more expensive.


I like the idea but would it tell you very more than a few temperature sensors and warning buzzers ? Video relies on being watched, and a screen takes up instrument panel space. What about a 'endoscope' type camera on a stick ready to hand so that if an alarm goes off, you can poke it onto the engine room without letting in lots of air ?
 
I tried the endoscope and webcams but they were a dead loss. I have a space in the dashboard where the old echosounder screen was so space is no problem.I was wondering more about how clear the image would be from reversing type cameras?
 
Niander said:
Not a bad idea but maybe out of focus?
too close?
Click to expand...

Get a car manoeuvring camera (like a reversing camera but without the built-in mirroring and guide lines). I fitted the reversing version to my car the other week and it covers a very wide field of view even at close range. I'm not particularly looking for a pin-sharp image, but it doesn't seem noticeably out of focus.

Under a tenner delivered.

Pete
 
prv said:
Get a car manoeuvring camera (like a reversing camera but without the built-in mirroring and guide lines). I fitted the reversing version to my car the other week and it covers a very wide field of view even at close range. I'm not particularly looking for a pin-sharp image, but it doesn't seem noticeably out of focus.

Under a tenner delivered.

Pete
Click to expand...
Any chance of a link if it is handy ? Also, what did you use for the display ?

sarabande said:
.....
What about a 'endoscope' type camera on a stick ready to hand so that if an alarm goes off, you can poke it onto the engine room without letting in lots of air ?
Click to expand...
Do not understand the reason why you would not want air getting in ?
 
"Do not understand the reason why you would not want air getting in ?"


If an engine room alarm goes off, admission of a lot of fresh air might provoke a smouldering something to burst into flame.
 
I have fitted 3 cameras to my engine room.
I fitted one at first as a trial to see how it went, and was so pleased I fitted 2 more.

All much cheaper than the link posted in the OP.
I think the monitor was about £15, and is effectively a sat nav without the software,
like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-3-Inch-...4?pt=UK_In_Car_Technology&hash=item2a2e9af552
and the cameras are similarly cheap. I can't find the exact ones I have but here's something that would do
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HEAVY-DUT...4?pt=UK_In_Car_Technology&hash=item27e66258ae

I bought extension cables from Maplins and a rotary selector switch to choose which camera is switched on and viewed on screen.
As the monitor only takes 2 inputs I fitted a Y connector on one of the inputs. Only one cam is powered up at any time so not a problem.

I have one cam pointing down into the bilge, showing the fuel filters, raw water inlets and any water ingress into the bilge.
The other two are pointing at each propshaft, drive coupling and stern gland.

With the engine covers off it's all in colour, but when going along it's in black and white, illuminated by the IR LED's.
Works a treat, and has been very handy in identifying early on a potentially nasty oil leak from one of the oil coolers.

I don't have the cctv switched on all the time, just occasionally to check everything is OK.
Much better and more convenient than lifting hatches, and a big reassurance, especially on a long trip.
 
Storyline said:
Any chance of a link if it is handy ? Also, what did you use for the display ?
Click to expand...

Don't have a link to hand, and in any case mine was the reversing type which you don't want. But they do also sell the non-mirror-image type. Loads of them on eBay.

I have a Parrot Asteroid in my car (combined stereo, GPS, phone, etc etc) which has a camera input, so I didn't buy a separate screen. But they're sold along with the cameras on eBay.

Pete
 
Pete R said:
Not fitted one in an engine bay but the problem with that camera and any other with IR is that the IR light will just bounce back off anything close, like the engine block and walls and your screen will just be a bright light:(
Click to expand...


That's not been my experience at all.
It works fine.
 
Trundlebug said:
I have fitted 3 cameras to my engine room.
I fitted one at first as a trial to see how it went, and was so pleased I fitted 2 more.

All much cheaper than the link posted in the OP.
I think the monitor was about £15, and is effectively a sat nav without the software,
like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-3-Inch-...4?pt=UK_In_Car_Technology&hash=item2a2e9af552
and the cameras are similarly cheap. I can't find the exact ones I have but here's something that would do
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HEAVY-DUT...4?pt=UK_In_Car_Technology&hash=item27e66258ae

I bought extension cables from Maplins and a rotary selector switch to choose which camera is switched on and viewed on screen.
As the monitor only takes 2 inputs I fitted a Y connector on one of the inputs. Only one cam is powered up at any time so not a problem.

I have one cam pointing down into the bilge, showing the fuel filters, raw water inlets and any water ingress into the bilge.
The other two are pointing at each propshaft, drive coupling and stern gland.

With the engine covers off it's all in colour, but when going along it's in black and white, illuminated by the IR LED's.
Works a treat, and has been very handy in identifying early on a potentially nasty oil leak from one of the oil coolers.

I don't have the cctv switched on all the time, just occasionally to check everything is OK.
Much better and more convenient than lifting hatches, and a big reassurance, especially on a long trip.
Click to expand...
Does your set up reverse the image so you have to think about what side you are looking at ?
 
Trundlebug said:
That's not been my experience at all.
It works fine.
Click to expand...

Same here, no problems at all. I purchased off ebay a cheap car reversing camera and connected to a dedicated wifi transmitter and use my andriod smartphone as the display. Works well on IR and a wide viewing angle. Total cost was about £35.

Wifi Transmitter (connects less than 10seconds from power on)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271565629028?_trksid=p2060778.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Camera, this type does show reverse lines and mirror image, but didn't bother me, but you may want to find one that doesn't.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Car-Rear-...2?pt=UK_In_Car_Technology&hash=item3f404a678a

It saves me having to move seating to check the engine bay so often and when underway etc.
 
superheat6k said:
Does your set up reverse the image so you have to think about what side you are looking at ?
Click to expand...

Er, no? In the same way that all cameras and tv images don't reverse the image.
What you see on the screen is what it's looking at, the way it sees it.

Not sure why you think it would be otherwise - it's not a pinhole camera?
 
Trundlebug said:
Er, no? In the same way that all cameras and tv images don't reverse the image.
What you see on the screen is what it's looking at, the way it sees it.

Not sure why you think it would be otherwise - it's not a pinhole camera?
Click to expand...

Reversing cameras do mirror the image, so that things on the left hand side of the car appear on the left hand side of the screen. It would be very confusing otherwise, especially since we're used to looking in rear-view mirrors.

The camera you linked to is a reversing camera, so it's reasonable to assume it might be mirrored. In fact, if you read the description, it has the option to be either. It doesn't describe how you choose, but I think it might be by plugging into either the white or the yellow socket.

Pete
 
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