Posted 2012-06-12 11:47 PM (#144768) Subject: camera in horse area
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Posts: 504
I want to install a camera in the horse area so that I can see what's going on with the horses while I am driving. I bought a camera and it will connect to a small tv that I have. I have 80 - 85 feet of cable that goes between the tv and the camera.
My question is where to put the camera in a three horse slant.
Posted 2012-06-13 11:48 AM (#144783 - in reply to #144768) Subject: RE: camera in horse area
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Posts: 61 Location: Pueblo, CO
I would guess the upper right front corner. That depends on the lens and if your dividers are solid or not. You could try the back right corner also and see how that looks.
I really want to install one in our rig but have not bought one yet.
Posted 2012-06-13 5:00 PM (#144790 - in reply to #144768) Subject: RE: camera in horse area
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Posts: 504
Thanks. I was wondering about the back right (tail) corner, or the front left (head) corner. My dividers are currently solid, which I didn't think of. That is a good point. Perhaps, I'll try it more midway but from the tail side.
I bought this camera at Harbor Freight for 31.00. Perhaps I should have looked around more, but thought something wireless might not work well through the trailer walls. It comes with lights and says it's a color camera with night vision and microphone, weather proof and easy to install. I guess I'll see. It seems simple but if there is an error to make, I'll find it:).
Posted 2012-06-13 7:20 PM (#144797 - in reply to #144768) Subject: RE: camera in horse area
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Posts: 379 Location: Missouri
I have mine mounted in back passenger side corner against the ceiling. This way the dividers are not blocking the camera's view. I use a 4mm lens on mine, and I have a three horse trailer as well. Someone mentioned wireless, good luck. I've tried a wireless setup borrowing a commercial grade transmit receiver pair, it was crappy. The biggest problem with wireless, you're open to any transmitting signal to jam your video. I wish you luck with the harbor freight camera. Personally, I'd use a brand name camera with a electronic shutter and under 0.5 lux. This gives a broad range of acceptable lighting conditions. A supplier like MCM electronics has many at reasonable prices.
Posted 2012-06-13 8:27 PM (#144800 - in reply to #144768) Subject: RE: camera in horse area
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Posts: 504
Thanks. I decided against wireless, and this one was a spontaneous buy. I thought for the price and the convenience of buying it then, it was worth a chance. I have connected it to one of my little 7-inch televisions and it works well in here, has a very long cable. When my tv battery is charged, I'll play with it in the trailer this evening and see how it works, especially in the dark with the night vision/infrared stuff. It was a gamble, but a pretty cheap one.
I'll try the passenger side rear first. I'll have to see how the focus is.
Thanks for the suggestions and links.
Posted 2012-06-13 9:37 PM (#144801 - in reply to #144768) Subject: RE: camera in horse area
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Posts: 504
I tried it a few places and so far it seems that the passenger side rear is best. It seems to work well for now with good sound and good enough picture (300 Mpx). It came with an 80 foot cable so that's worth a part of the $31 cost if it does break down. The night vision part works for me in absolute pitch dark, though that was a complaint in the reviews. Of course, it isn't in color on night vision.
So, figuring out how to get the wiring out of the trailer to the truck is another issue. I know how to run the wire while it is inside the trailer, but then I have to get it out an have it go inside the truck where the tv will be.
Posted 2012-06-15 4:48 PM (#144857 - in reply to #144768) Subject: RE: camera in horse area
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Posts: 15
Location: pefferlaw ontario
I can tell you why,I had the divider out in my 2 horse and had a new horse tied a little too long.He got himself sideways and got stuck. I was fortunate that i saw it happening and got pulled over before it became a real issue.You dont have to treat it like a tv show but a quick glance is reassuring.
Posted 2012-06-15 5:17 PM (#144858 - in reply to #144768) Subject: RE: camera in horse area
Location: Central Arkansas
I have a camera on the back of my Bloomer trailer and one inside the corner of the back stall that shoots all three slots. My first stall is usually full of "stuff". I usually haul one horse or mule in the middle stall. The camera sees enough to alert me if there is any kind of issue going on.I usually have my monitor setting on the backup camera as I use mine more for help in merging and looking for that little car that was behind me that can't be seen in my mirrors. I have the camera on the back of the trailer aimed so I can see the top passenger corner of the ramp in the frame.
Posted 2012-06-15 9:45 PM (#144867 - in reply to #144768) Subject: RE: camera in horse area
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Posts: 504
It won't be more of a distraction than the rear view mirrors. It's not like it's entertaining to watch horses stand in their stall. The bigger risk is that I would not pay sufficient attention to the monitor.
The reason for it is that I worry about what is going on inside the trailer when I am hauling. My friends fantastic mule fell in his trailer and he didn't know it for a long time. She is a very smart, experienced mule and he is a very smart, experienced horseman. I want to know if something like that happens. Many bumper pull trailers are designed so that you can see through to the horses. My gn is not.
In testing locations and dark, I've learned some things. It works great in pitch dark. It is very easy to install and use (though I'm still not sure where to have it exit the trailer on front to go into the truck.) It is focused properly for the distances. It's a security camera so its angle is wide from top to bottom and not very wide from side to side. From the back corner, I get two stalls completely and very clearly, but I then have to put the monitor sideways. I'll play around more with the positioning. Yesterday, I got the three stalls, so I may go back to that position.
Before I permanently mount it, I think I'll try it on the back to see how I like that and perhaps get another one for the back. My trailer is only 18 feet though, so not at big as yours.
Posted 2012-06-16 11:07 AM (#144878 - in reply to #144768) Subject: RE: camera in horse area
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Posts: 504
One other thing that might be of interest is the voltage of the camera. It's a cheapie one and it is 110. The thing about it is that the camera is 9 volts and is on a 110 adapter. Then I would be converting it back to 12 volts. My son is going to make it so that it converts from 9 volts to 12 volts directly and skips the whole 110 volt thing.