The peephole in the door is one of the safety features. The device allows you to see the visitor and ignore unwanted guests. Video peephole is a more modern and convenient option. It provides a larger viewing angle, is invisible from the outside, allows you to observe the site in front of the entrance on a remote monitor. The device can be bought or made with your own hands.
Video Eye Options
Distinguish between wired and wireless options. The former are considered more reliable due to their simple design. Consists of a wired video eye of 3 main components:
- A cylindrical tube is a metal tube into which the objective lens is placed. In size, it coincides with the tube for the optical device, so when replacing new holes do not need to be made. The tube is fixed with a nut on the inside.
- Camera with screen - black and white or color.
- Wires - one provides the transmission of the image from the lens to the recording device, the second supplies electric current. If the model is powered by a rechargeable battery, only 1 transmission cable is needed.
Wired models can be equipped with additional devices: a microphone, infrared light to enhance the image in the dark and others.
Wireless video peephole differs from wired one only in the absence of cables. Devices with a camera are also installed in the door leaf, and a recording device with a display is placed anywhere in the apartment.
Image quality on wired models is higher.
Functional Features
The principle of operation of the device is similar to a conventional camera or camera. The signal from the touch sensor is transmitted by wire or wirelessly to the tablet of the recording device. Here the signal is processed and an image is formed - video or photo. The processing module corrects distortions and geometric irregularities, so that the picture on the display does not differ from reality.
The video eye screen is small - this is the most energy-intensive part of the device. The easiest way to install it next to the DVR. The device can work from finger batteries.
Modern versions of video eyes provide more options:
- Wi-Fi models are equipped with a processor with wireless signaling capabilities. The image is transferred directly to a working laptop, computer, tablet or smartphone. In the latter case, you can remotely observe the site in front of the door, respond to visitors, open doors if they are equipped with an electric lock.
- IP video peephole is a more versatile option. You can control what is happening in front of the door outside the house. Wi-Fi is built in by default.
- Model with a record - the electronic circuit of such a door-eye includes a motion sensor. The camera turns on only at the moment when the sensor detects the movement of an object. The device consumes less power. Images from the eye are transferred to a tablet or smartphone, where they are saved.
The radius of the motion sensor should be 1.5 m. At a lower rate, the sensor does not justify itself.
Making a video door for the front door yourself
Homemade video door peephole in its characteristics sometimes does not differ from the company one. Getting the right device is easy. Old webcams, video recorders, mobile phones are used.More efforts have to be made to fix a home-made video eye, since the hole for a standard tube is large for it.
Do-it-yourself is easier to make a wired version, although it also requires cables.
From a cell phone camera
A home-made video surveillance system from a push-button telephone is mounted from models where the camera is activated by a separate button or by opening the curtain - Nokia 6 series, for example. The dimensions of the chamber are slightly smaller than the hole for the eye, so for installation you need to make a special device - a frame with glass, which is fixed in the hole.
The algorithm is as follows:
- A camera is taken out of the phone.
- A wire is selected with the same number of cores as in the standard cable - usually 12. If the cable is short, it is lengthened. The wire should be no longer than 1 m.
- Solder the cable to the camera and mobile phone.
- The video device is inserted into the frame and fixed. The phone is installed on the door. The power supply of the mobile phone also powers the camera.
If desired, you can connect the phone to the computer via a USB cable or use Bluetooth. Surveillance data can be recorded on a computer or tablet.
From webcam
DIY is the easiest way to make video eyes of a webcam with your own hands. You will need installation tools, a USB cable, and a working Web camera. The procedure is almost the same:
- They make a frame or tube for mounting the camera - its dimensions are too small for the standard version.
- Install the device so that the lens overview does not block anything and does not reduce the viewing angle.
- The camera via a USB extension cable is connected to a laptop or computer. A special application for recording images from a video camera is installed on the device.
If leaving the apartment to leave the laptop turned on, recording will be continuous.
From tablet
The video peephole from the old tablet is a little harder to do. The algorithm is the same as when constructing a video system from a mobile phone. The camera is removed from the device. Solder the cable with the appropriate number of cores and attach the latter to any module capable of transmitting an image. The peephole is powered by a recorder power supply.
The camera is placed in the hole of the eye, and the module with the screen anywhere in the apartment - how much cable is enough.
From car recorder
Car DVR is a compact device that includes both a camera and a recording module. The cost of the registrar is lower than the apartment video door and it does not require connection to a tablet or computer, since recording is done on your own memory card.
Installation is simple: from the inside of the door, make a hole for the device body so that the lens is placed opposite the hole for the optical eye.
The maximum length of the connecting cable is 1 m. Place both parts of the device in any convenient way that this length allows. The maximum length of the USB cable is 5 m. The video peephole can be connected to a stationary computer in the office.
Install a surveillance system
Installation of the video peephole depends on the model, type of mounting plate, dimensions of the indoor unit, and more. The general scheme is as follows:
- Installation begins with the installation of the battery in the indoor unit. If the video peephole is powered from the network, the item is skipped.
- Bolts are screwed into the back of the tube. The length is selected according to the thickness of the door leaf. The model kit includes several bolts of different lengths.
- A peephole is inserted from the outside so that the ringer button is below the lens. On the inside of the door there should be a cable and fixing bolts.
- Install the mounting plate. Bolts and a loop pass through the slots. Bolts tighten all the way.
- The cable is connected to the connector of the indoor unit. Then the module is mounted on the mounting plate.
The unit can be installed in another place, but close to the door.The distance is determined by the cable length.
The main advantages of a homemade video surveillance system
In such a system, the main element - a video camera - is no different from professional ones, since it is removed from existing but outdated devices. Perhaps the image quality is inferior, there is no infrared illumination, but otherwise the webcams from the tablet are no worse.
Additional advantages are as follows:
- a self-made video peephole is noticeably cheaper, since its component parts are free;
- with sufficient skills, the image and camera mode can be configured individually;
- a home-made video peephole provides round-the-clock shooting if it is connected to a tablet or laptop;
- the device runs on batteries, this option is easier to do with your own hands.
A home-made video eye performs its main task no worse than the factory ones. Its manufacture and installation will be cheaper than buying. Repair is also easier.
