Homebrew Trailcameras

[Grizzly95]

I would be interested in attending the get together also. Budget is a little tight right now, but if nothing else I will get to see how it goes together. If you guys are needing anything fabricated out of metal just give me a shout. Metal work is my hobby, sculptures in copper, steel, and bumpers.

[sportsman002001]

Bones question for you.  How well do these cameras work in the colder weather and rain?  I have the Moultrie I-40 and they seem to be very sluggish when it gets cold.  Thank you.

[bearbait]

I would like to attend the gathering if at all possible also.  I'm in Medical Lake just outside Spokane. 
  Bones:  If I was looking to buy a sony w-200 needing repair, off of E-Bay, what should I look for that could be wrong with it and still have it work as needed for a trailcam? 

I,ll buy the bag of the 9volt battery connectors from Radio Shack.
   Bearbait

[Bones]

You  should come to this  even if you don't have a camera at the time because you will leave knowing how to  build trail cmareas. We just went through a major winter storm and have lost our phone lines and internet connection.  I am at a neighbors and will not be online until the phone company makes repairs.
Bones

[RLTW]

Thanks for posting!  Pics of the build steps would be a great tutorial.  I plan on following your lead and homebrewing a trail cam.

[bearbait]

I got 10 9volt battery adaptors from radio shack, for who needs them at the gathering, and lots of picture frame glass if that will work.   

Bearbait

[javman]

Thanks for the detailed post Bones. I think it's clear you get the best quality with a homebrew. What's the longest you've left one out for and still had batteries left? Would it last 4 weeks if you set it to only take 1 or 2 pics a minute (if that's possible?) -- is there anyway to use a bigger power source? Looks like a fun project for after Christmas!

[Bones]

  Repairing a camera is not hard at all, but the problem is that you need parts. You have to order the parts from Sony or buy another parts camera to get the parts. The W200 is not as plentiful an the W80 and W90, so broken parts cameras are not as easy to come by. These cameras have five major components. To fix a broken camera, all you have to do usually is replace one component.
These cameras have five major components, the LCD and Control board, the main board, the flash assembly, the shutter assembly and the lens assembly. The LCD and lens assembly are the most common parts that need to be replaced. When we all get together, I will show you how to tear down a camera and put it back together. This just takes a few minutes. I have a trouble shooting guide that helps determine the defective part.  I have been stock piling parts for my cameras for future use, and I am not interested in letting my parts get away. I can help anyone fix a camera, but you have to get the parts yourself. These are all last years cameras. As they get older, more parts cameras will be available. There is already a surplus of W80 and W90 parts. The W200 sold for $350.00 six months back. These are expensive cameras, and there is just not as many of them as there is 80's and 90's. After the first of the year, the retailers will start closing out the 2008 cameras because the 2009 cameras will be available. When the W300's come down in price, there should be more 200's available and they should be cheaper.
  When I first started using these cameras, I was concerned about how they would perform in cold weather. But I am not concerned any more. They work just as well as any other time of the year. We have has 20 inches of snow in the past 30 hours. One of my cameras was mounted on a stake on our CRP field. The camera was only about 24 inches off of the ground. Late this afternoon, I decided to go pick it up before it was buried in snow. I had to snowshoe over a half mile to get to it. It took this picture as I approached.



It was 14 degrees. The bottom of the case was in the snow, and the case was covered with ice. It took this picture after I removed it from the stake. Homebrew cameras work very well in cold weather. It took this picture as I picked it up



Picture frame glass is fine as long as it is clear. Some of the non-glare glass has a tint to it. I have a W200, and I am waiting on an order from Yeti. I will post pics of the steps as I put that camera together.

 It is easy to wire these cameras for extra batteries and you can put up to an 8 gig memory in them. Then they are good for at about 8,000 pictures, but you have to use a 1060 Pelican case for this.
Bones

[Machias]

Well it looks like there could be quite a bit of interest in a home brew camera building get together.  We might need a place with a bit of space and some tables.  We need to figure out a date so we can all make sure we have the components.  I am off work from 25 Dec untill 5 Jan so I'm am up any day during that time frame.  Potluck?  I would really like to see this happen.

[Antlershed]

Is there anyway to make the case lock so somebody can't come by and open up your trail cam? I'm thinking about building one since I have a W series sitting at home, but I don't think I will do it unless I can figure out a way to lock the case.

[Grizzly95]

Who is gonna be the go to guy for this get together so we can PM him/her and put it all together.

[bigdave]

Machias,

The shop area that I have is very big....40x50. As long as the temperatures are not still sub-zero the heater should keep it comfortable. I do not mind hosting a big group of guys. Parking could get dicey if we end up piling up a lot of snow between now and then, but generally, we have a big frozen field to park in. If anyone has tables and some chairs they would come in handy. I have a workbench but it is stand up height.

I was planning on making a big pot of chili and coffee and hot chocolate. Anything anyone else wants to bring would be welcome!

Grizzly95,

I know this is not my thread, it was started by Bones, but it was my suggestion for the get together and Bones has graciously agreed. Unless someone objects, I will maintain a list here about those who are interested and also post info. Right now, there is a suggestion on the table for sometime between Dec. 26th and Jan. 5th. I too have those days off, so it would work for me. I am a little concerned about gathering all my stuff before then but I will try. Really it is up to Bones, cause he is traveling all this way to help us.
Bones, What say you? Does yeticam ship promptly?

Also, I should get a Sony w series with the battery charger? I see a lot of cams with nothing else but a wrist strap, so I would then have to get a battery and charger to go with it...right?

[bigdave]

As of 12/16/08


List of attendees
Bones
Bigdave
Ridgeratt
Grizzly95
Bearbait
Gramps
Machias

Date still to be determined, but gather your stuff soon. (see Bones list)  If I missed anyone let me know. Also let me know if you can get chairs and tables. (edit...DONE, Thanks Machias) When we have a date I will post directions to my place. Leave date suggestions in this thread. Merry Christmas, everyone!

[Machias]

I think we should take up a donation for Bones' gas as well.

The shop sounds great, I can bring a couple of tables and some chairs and something for a potluck.  If parking gets to be an issue we can always park somewhere close by and car pool over.  If this things gets too big maybe we can see about renting the Spokane Arena 

We might need a couple of power cords with a outlet strip as well.

[bigdave]

Machias,
You bet. I'm just super pleased that Bones said he will do this. It's gonna be fun. Thanks for the tables/chairs, I'm lookin' forward to meeting you.

Just so people have an idea of cost. Here is my price list so far for what I have purchased. Don't know if I got a good deal or not but I wanted to get stuff ordered so it will get here soon.

Used Sony DSC-W80.....(camera only) 56.86 (ebay)
Battery and charger.....26.50 (ebay)
2 Gig card and USB reader.....35.70 (walmart online)
                                Total...129.06

Now, I just have to order my Yeticam stuff!