Outdoor Security Camera - condensation issue.

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kiwifidget

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Topic # 223458 30-Sep-2017 17:01

I bought an outdoor security camera, with a PIR sensor, which records when motion is detected.

I've only had it a couple of weeks but often at night the picture goes all blurry but it comes right after sunrise.

Consequently I'm not getting many recordings through the night.

It doesn't happen every night though, and on the nights it stays clear we get good night vision recordings.

Is this condensation? And how can I stop it from happening.

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Goosey

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Reply # 1875180 30-Sep-2017 17:04

"heater kits", these are commonly used in outdoor cameras. Maybey see if you can google up somthing that might fit inside the housing? It will need to tap off the power you are running to the camera.

Jase2985

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Reply # 1875187 30-Sep-2017 17:32

could you not just put some silica gel packs inside it? if its sell sealed the gel will absorb the moisture and it shouldn't get any more inside it

kiwifidget

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Reply # 1875193 30-Sep-2017 18:12

@goosey , thanks, but it is battery powered and no other power is available.

@jase2985 , the moisture is on the outside of the lens/sensor area. There is no moisture inside it.

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Jase2985

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Reply # 1875197 30-Sep-2017 18:28

is the camera in direct sunlight?

kiwifidget

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Reply # 1875199 30-Sep-2017 18:40

@jase2985, no it is not in direct sunlight, it faces south and has a lot of shrubbery around and behind it.

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SepticSceptic

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Reply # 1878394 6-Oct-2017 11:23

Try a shroud that just over the top of the camera - should overhang the lens area by a couple of cm

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kiwifidget

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Reply # 1878475 6-Oct-2017 13:55

SepticSceptic:

Try a shroud that just over the top of the camera - should overhang the lens area by a couple of cm

It already has a wee hood, maybe its too small.

Will try something larger.

Thanks.

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Mistenfuru

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Reply # 1878486 6-Oct-2017 14:27

As long as it's sealed and not in direct sunlight it shouldn't be condensation.

I know a number of my cameras (especially those close to foliage) quite often get covered in tiny cobwebs, these aren't visible during the day, but at night the IR reflects off them and cause blurring.

Might not be the problem, but definitely worth a check.

Other option can be if the IR isn't shielded well enough from the lens it can cause blurring

Mistenfuru

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Reply # 1878490 6-Oct-2017 14:38

Mistenfuru:

As long as it's sealed and not in direct sunlight it shouldn't be condensation.

I know a number of my cameras (especially those close to foliage) quite often get covered in tiny cobwebs, these aren't visible during the day, but at night the IR reflects off them and cause blurring.

Might not be the problem, but definitely worth a check.

Other option can be if the IR isn't shielded well enough from the lens it can cause blurring

Re-read your original Post,

Definitely can rule out IR blur.

sounds almost identical to my cobweb issue, this came and went as the culprits made their webs, some nights were much worse than others. A little outdoor bug repellent solved the problem for me.

kiwifidget

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Reply # 1878494 6-Oct-2017 14:45

@mistenfuru , yes, the wee spiders are another issue!

It is sealed, and not in direct sunlight.

It is condensation that collects on the outside of the camera.

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Mistenfuru

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Reply # 1878527 6-Oct-2017 15:22

Weird, usually the heat of the cameras IR LEDs will protect against that, any other models usually have their own built-in heater.

Do you have the particular brand/model number? if it does have a heater this can most likely be set to turn on/off at specific times. I don't think the larger shield will protect it as it's not Dew, it's more than likely caused by the internal temperature of the camera lowering below outside temp. some way of warming it slightly could resolve the issue.

kiwifidget

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Reply # 1878528 6-Oct-2017 15:25

Its an Arlo Pro outdoor wireless camera.

It doesn't happen every night, just sometimes.

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Mistenfuru

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Reply # 1878534 6-Oct-2017 15:38

kiwifidget:

Its an Arlo Pro outdoor wireless camera.

It doesn't happen every night, just sometimes.

Yeah, that's really odd, I see on Netgears site there's a few people with similar sounding issues, most caused by Dew and fixed by larger hoods.

Other than that I'm as stumped as you are, I would have thought Arlo's being battery powered would keep themselves warm enough to stave off condensation.

kiwifidget

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Reply # 1878539 6-Oct-2017 15:48

I bought some rain-x product to see if that will help, but now I can't find it!

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