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Mounting inside
Even when mounted indoors, a weather web-camera requires a fairly sturdy mount to
keep the web-camera in registration. This way consecutive images will not
seem to jump around when viewed in sequence. Indoors, a web-camera is likely to
encounter human factors. Inquisitive persons or total idiots may be tempted
to reposition, or even sabotage a web-camera in some way. On a commercial premises,
paranoid employees may consider a web-camera pointing at the sky is really
pointing at them, all of the time. In the home, family members may not share a passion
for meteorology and be hostile towards having their home wired for global internet
viewing. Inquisitive dogs, cats and babies may regard a web-camera as a
chew toy!
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Avoid self reflection
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Mirror & rotate
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Mounting outside
Most web-cameras are supplied with a simple plastic or metal monopod which, when mounted internally on a wall or above a door, is sufficient for the camera's primary surveillance role. When used outside, this mounting is unlikely to be robust enough as the mount, and the web-camera, will experience everything that Mother Nature can throw at it. Rain, sleet, freezing rain, snow, corrosive aerosols, and wide temperature fluctuations will all conspire against the mountings and camera. There are also biohazards such as moulds, insects and rodents to contend with. Therefore, an environmentally secure enclosure is essential.
For external mounts, it is always best to invest in a fully IP rated external camera
enclosure. In this case, IP does not mean Internet Protocol but Ingress Protection.
This is a system of numbers that rates an enclosure's ability to withstand the ingress
of substances like heavy rain. An IP65 rated enclosure is suitable for most inland
and coastal weather conditions; whilst IP67 is virtually waterproof. Some
pricier external enclosures also have built in heaters to dry out condensation
and keep the front glass clear. Beware, some external enclosures are for dummy surveillance
cameras, which are likely to offer dummy ingress protection.
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Fixings
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Going higher
To gain a clear horizon, it may be necessary to raise a web-camera on a pole or mast. The camera is mounted inside a water-proof housing and is hoisted aloft using fittings suitable for television aerials. A cranked amateur radio aerial tower makes an ideal platform for raising a camera enclosure above the urban clutter. The anemometer mast of a home weather station is an ideal place for a web-camera provided, the added wind loading doesn't tear down the mast in anything more than a gentle breeze. When mounting a camera out-of-reach, the camera should still be easily accessible for cleaning and servicing, with no excessive risk to the person doing the servicing. Furthermore, a mast should avoid becoming a natural lightning conductor!
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Cleaning
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Summary
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