Homebrew Trailcameras

[Grizzly95]

I was talking to my neighbor about the cam build and he was hinting that he would like to attend. He's not a hunter anymore, but an avid shooter and reloader (Sharpes guy). He saw my cheap trail cam one day and was un love so to speak, he shoots at the Mica Shooting Range and said there are some nice bucks that hang out around the range , and he would like to get some pics of them. Super nice guy though.

[scudmaster]

Well Bones,

You have me hooked.javascript:void(0);  I have ordered a w80 already.  Unfortunately I live on the west side and can't make the build party, so I will have to go it alone.

I do have a few technical questions.  Most of your photos have been over bait.  Is the W80 good for a passing trail cam.  Do you know what the approximate time for power up to shutter activation is?  Have you build any with the IR flash filter? I can wait to start building!  Thanks again for the post.  It is awesome of you to share the knowledge so freely.

Scud

[bigdave]

Hey guys,

I received my camera and battery and charger in the mail yesterday! I put the battery on the charger for a few hours and what do you know....it all worked perfectly.

I'm ready to order my Yeticam stuff as sson as I get some cash. We still haven't set a date, but we are all so buried in snow it may be awhile yet.

Merry Christmas!

[Bones]

Dave,  I am still waiting on an order from Yeticam that I placed on December 3rd. It usually doesn't take that long, but they were back ordered on the Pelican cases. But I got an e-mail saying that order had been shipped a couple of days ago. Gramps and I will be coming to Spokane together. After Christmas, I will get with him to discuss this. I look forward to the day when there will be lots of homebrew pictures posted on here. We have about three feet of snow here, so things are on hold for now.
Merry Christmas, look forward to meeting everyone.
Bones

[Grizzly95]

Well I am bidding on a camera on ebay its a W55S sonycybershot.

[Grizzly95]

Well I am bidding on a camera on ebay its a W55S sonycybershot

It is mine now, just got to get it shipped.

[Bones]

Scudmaster,  The trigger time on the first picture is about 1.5 seconds. When the Yeti board is set on the rapid pics mode, this puts the camera on a three second delay in the day time and about a four second delay at night. I get about 16 pics per minute in the day, and about 12 per minute at night. I don't like IR flash pictures and I KNOW white flash does not bother any animals. Just take your time with the first camera, and stop and ask questions if you run into any thing you are not sure about.

Griz,  The W55 is a nice camera, but it is a little different from the newer models. It is also a little harder to take apart. There is a modification PDF file posted on the Yeti site, but I posted better info on this camera about a year ago on another homebrew site. Send me an e-mail before you take the camera apart, and I will send you a link to better info on this camera. I also solder the wires in different locations and I have a better way to get them out of the camera. I am the only one that mounts the camera in the lid of the case. I like being able to change the battery and memory and check my pictures in the field without removing the camera from the case. If you plan to mount the camera in the lid, it needs to be wired the way I do it. The battery memoru door is on the bottom of the W55, so the aluminum angle is different. I like the door on the bottom of the camera. The new W300's are that way, and I can't wait until they come down in price next year.
  You can run a Python locking cable around the tree and through the eyebolts to lock the camera to the tree. This prevents the case being opened and the camera being stolen unless the thief comes back with a hacksaw or bolt cutters.
Bones

[Grizzly95]

I was talking with a budy today and showed him the site and the yeti cam site; he eyeballed it for a few and now he thinks he can build all the electronics himself. He does that sort of stuff for a living, he builds control boards for equipment.

[BaseballStud20]

So is it still undetermined as to when exactly this trail cam build is going to take place?

[bigdave]

I've been too busy shoveling my roof, driveway, sidewalks and such to put much time into anything else. I'm pretty open to any Saturday once we get into some kind off normal weather pattern.

[Bones]

  First of all, we need for someone to have everything we need to build a camera. No need to set a date until we have that. Does anyone have a camera and the parts from Yeti?
Bones

[bow4elk]

Just bought a W80 ($52) and all the stuff from Yeticam.  I went ahead and ordered the control board mounting kit ($10) because it wasn't in your parts list earlier in this thread, but it appears that it is needed (?).  I know stand-offs are needed but I wasn't sure how you mounted yours.  It appears that you have through-holes in your case lid.

I can't make the meeting but I'm going to give it a go with your Pixcontroller link and your instructions.  Looks pretty easy.  I have two homebrews but I didn't build either of them.  From here on out - I will.  Thanks for the kick in the pants.  I've been wanting to dive into this for over a year.

Would love to see build pics for the W80 if you have any to post or PM me.

Thanks for all your help!!

[Ridgeratt]

 Middle / Last of January would work here. Haven't had a snow shovel out of my hands since the 26 of December. Have found out this snow shoveling must be a young mans sport! LOL

[Bones]

bow4elk,  I try to keep the cost of my cameras down. I make my stand offs.
4- 6x32 screws and nuts 1 1/4 inch long, and 4 pieces of plastic tubing 7/8 inch long. This costs less then one dollar and can be purchased locally. I will give you my e-mail in a PM later. We can discuss your build.
Bones

[bow4elk]

thanks!  Can't wait to dive in.