View Full Version : Who has built an UNDERWATER CAMERA & how did you do it
BobberDown
12-18-2001, 09:49 AM
I'm thinking about building an underwater camera. I'd like some advice on how to do it right the first time by somebody that's already done it. How did you hook everything up, what type of cable did you use, best place to get parts, etc. Thanks.
AquaMan
12-18-2001, 10:19 AM
By the time you get all the parts and fiddle with connections, fittings, and sealants you will have been better off to buy one. Brother-in-law and I took a cheep PC camera and mounted it in a waterproof film canister type tube. After a gallon of silicone, some aluminum, a battery operated TV and 50 feet of coax cable we had a good picture in the garage. After getting the weights just right on the camera we took it out for a test run. Suffice it to say, the camera is sitting at the bottom of Fish Lake in Eagan, the TV is in my office and the cable went up to the cabin. But that is trial and error for ya!
You can get most of the parts you need at Acme Electric in MPLS. Radio Shack has a lot too, but Acme is wholesale and therefore cheaper. Also check out the Ax-Man for some good military containers and connections. They have tubes that are threaded on both ends (that is what we used) and glass caps. The trick will be to get a strong connection where the cable attaches to your camera base. The crimp-on coax tip we used popped off as soon as we snagged a submerged tree branch leaving the camera under water for ever. Had we been thinking, I would have tied a safety cable to the fin just for...well...safety!
Have fun and enjoy. If you are looking to build a better mouse trap,then you will spend more then a manufactured units. If you are looking to test your skills and tinker till the ice comes, have at it.
AquaMan~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It all begins and ends at the water's edge...
ryan the poor college kid
12-18-2001, 11:28 AM
check this place out.
http://www.walleyesinc.com/randyt9295/devilslakeclam.html
AquaMan
12-18-2001, 12:12 PM
Ryan...Camera, not Clam. hehehehe. What are you getting for your money at college? Just funnin' <grin>
I do like the clam info, thought!
AquaMan~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It all begins and ends at the water's edge...
BobberDown
12-18-2001, 12:14 PM
Ryan- Thanks for the Clam directions. I was looking to build a CAM, as in camera.
eyegetit
12-18-2001, 01:08 PM
I'm just amazed that I didn't see the words 'duct tape' mentioned in your story aquaman..lol. So, did you ever get a clear picture before losing the camera?
Peanut
12-18-2001, 01:20 PM
ryan, good to see you're still out and about. Hey, by the way, how'd you fare in that reading comprehension tutorial this semester?
Just kidding,
derrek.
CANADIAN WALLEYE OPEN UP AND SAY "EH"!
ryan the poor college kid
12-18-2001, 05:45 PM
hey guys thats enough. im an engineering major, not reading. ha, wow. that was bad. i know i found an information site on building a camera. wait. i WILL find it.
ryan the poor college kid.
12-18-2001, 05:49 PM
alright boys, here it am! dis sho am good too!
http://www.mninter.net/~boardman/
personally, i would buy one, and not a vista cam either.
BobberDown
12-21-2001, 06:42 AM
Can anybody share their experience. We've only heard about one that didn't work.
BradB
12-21-2001, 09:54 AM
I built the LunkerCam and did my best to make it waterproof. Unfortunately it leaked around the lens and my LunkerCam became my JunkerCam.
Brad
BobberDown
12-21-2001, 09:59 AM
That's what I want to avoid. Any idea why it leaked? What sort of materials did you use? i.e. epoxy, silicone caulk, etc?
rngrfshm
12-21-2001, 10:44 PM
Hi Bobberdown,
Here is a link to making a camera that I found 2 or so years ago on making a camera. They had lots of great information in there. Also there is blue prints as well and all the info you need. The camera they built was called the wrangler cam.
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/vern_heidner/camera.htm
Have Fun
BradB
12-22-2001, 03:09 PM
I built it exactly as specified in the manual, using the exact materials that were specified in the plans. I do not know why it leaked as I tightened the cap down on the lens and the gasket and sealed it as directed. The leak was a very slow one, though the threads I think. It worked for a couple of hours before it fogged over and then eventually fizzed.
Brad
Bobber, I think Aquaman said it all,...I thought about building one ,..figured my parts and "TIME",considered a bunch of differt designs and options,..and decided to buy an Aqua-vu..(I once built a purple Martin house to save money,...it probably cost me 500.00 before I was done with it,.AND no Purple Martins ever chose it,...it became an expensive sparrow house) Those guys at Aqua-Vu and others spent a lot of time and effort in their product,..you probably can't make anything as compact,clear and reliable for the cost anyway,..if you like projects and you have spare time,..maybe its worth it to you,.(uhhhhh, generally takes longer than you think at these "little" projects ).I'm in a situation that I can work as many hours as I want (at a couple of things) So I just work some extra hours and pay the guys that have refined these things ,..I really "think" I come out ahead,..ummm also,..I happen to like my work so thats a big factor,.if I didn't,...I probably might feel differently about this, but anyway,...its probably not as cost effective as you think,...