Topic: Brief introduction Ecowitt HP10

[Nate R]

OK, good to know that can be changed out! I suppose, it's a relatively standard ESP32 camera board with other hardware/firmware built around it. If I get another cam, I can change to that 120 deg one for a narrower view.

[G.Brown]

using the 66deg lens with a rubber gromet spacer in front I have noticed a slight halo around the image so it may be wise to add a 1cm square aluminium spacer behind on the heat sink to move the lens as far forward as is possible and a thinner grommet -  I think a front gromet spacer will always be needed but the minimum possible should reduce the halo.

[nordos]

Hello!  I received my HP10 camera.  In reality it turned out to be very small.  So far I have set it up and secured it on the window, above the growing flowers.  In the summer I will install it next to the WS90 to monitor the river area.
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[nordos]

With a view of the horizon, the camera image appeared blurry.  I had to disassemble the camera and adjust the lens focus.  I have not installed it in a permanent place yet.  It's still cold (-14°C) and windy outside.
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[thomas]

Has anyone tried HP-10  with a solar usb battery pack.

[Rover1822]

I don't know if anyone has worked out the current draw of the unit, if so and they share that information, one could start looking at sizing a battery / solar option.

But maybe as you asked if anyone had, someone will chime in if they have.

[Nate R]

I don't know if anyone has worked out the current draw of the unit, if so and they share that information, one could start looking at sizing a battery / solar option.

But maybe as you asked if anyone had, someone will chime in if they have.

I have not measured it yet, but I can soon. I believe/assume there's a voltage buck converter in it that drops the voltage to about 3.3V. Whatever it is, something in that camera absolutely destroys shortwave radio reception nearby for me.  Point being, might be more efficient to bypass that converter, or feed the camera less than 5V.... might be able to get away with 4.

I'll see if I can get current measured on mine next weekend.

-Nate

[Rover1822]

If someone goes with an off the shelf USB battery/solar solution, it will be at 5 volts. I mean you could rig your own solution , but that would be an increased effort.

I get it on the RF noise, I have an expensive  POE  PTZ security camera  that completely trashes my VHF reception, so bad , I got rid of the camera.

But, if the user is not running shortwave/vhf receivers, etc , probably not an issue.

For measuring current I have a USB meter that just slaps in line (they are fairly cheap) , but I don't have the HP10 to measure lol. 

Edit: We know they make off the shelf solar chargers for other security cams like an Arlo or similar, but those cams usually have an onboard battery supply, so it comes down to also sizing a small battery bank and balancing it vs solar so the cam doesn't lose power over an extended period. The security cams, like the Arlo, Ring, Nest etc that do run on batteries , are usually motion activated which takes little power as opposed to something that is continuous or frequently transmitting images which is were the power draw occurs. I have a front security camera that I need to run off the equivalent of a car battery and I'm using a 125W solar panel. But that camera is sending streams continuous and the battery was sized to get me through a week or 2 of low charging. I also have a tendency to overscale my builds so I don't have to worry about it LOL

[thomas]

I was wondering if something like this could be used.


https://www.amazon.com/Solar-Charger-Power-Bank-Charging/dp/B0BPRT2MF9/ref=asc_df_B0BPRT2MF9?tag=bngsmtphsnus-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80608063550952&hvnetw=s&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4584207596370089&th=1

[Rover1822]

It might, but wait for a response on what the actual draw is of the HP10, or you might waste money

Then we can work it out. Also, these units tend to really over exaggerate their capacity.

[olicat]

Hi!

As far as I remember, the HP10 permanently draws 200mA.

Oliver

[Rover1822]

Thanks Oliver,

So 30Ahr / .2Ahr = 150 hours
That is for battery only (someone check my math, the 30 Ahr is the claimed capacity of the link posted for the solar / battery unit  "30000mAh Large Capacity", and the .2Ahr is the draw (assumed, probably varies)). So in theory , if the battery is fully charged you get 150 hrs until the battery depletes (without a solar source). I figure that is 75% realistic

In theory, that should work fine for the camera with the additional solar. What we don't know is whether the unit can be used as fulltime power source , but might be worth the try. Probably other things I haven't thought of on a Sunday.

Anyone else have thoughts?

Edit : What I meant by "What we don't know is whether the unit can be used as fulltime power source" , is that the solar panel may have a lower charge ability on the battery to get it to full capacity, other words, the unit may be meant to be used to charge things like cell phones on a need basis, but it takes 10 hrs for the battery in the unit to charge from the source solar from the load and depletion that occured. I know I probably just confused myself..

[nordos]

This week the air temperature dropped below minus 40 degrees Celsius. The WS90 sensor unit shows a minimum of -39.8°C, while the ultrasonic anemometer works well. The WS90 heating works, the unit itself also works from a 12V power supply.

But the HP10 camera started acting up in such cold. I am attaching a photo. At the moment, the camera status is unclear. Let's see if it will remain operational when it gets warmer outside.

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[Rover1822]

Considering, the specs for operation of the HP10 are    0 ~ 50 °C , (note nothing less than 0 C), Pretty admirable that it hung in for your temps, well till it couldn't. I hope it bounces back, and I have a sneaky suspicion it will. I don't have one of the units (opting for other cameras), but I also , never experience your temperature lows here.

[nordos]

If anyone is interested in the experience of using HP10 in the conditions of the Far North, I inform you that on February 5 the air temperature rose to -15°C and the weather camera got in touch again. Images began to be transmitted to the Ecovitt server.

[R.Sidetrack]

Regarding the 2024 comments about solar / battery power, note this from the 2022 start of the thread:

By the way, the power supply of the camera is simple - the camera is quite frugal and consumes max. 390mA during a snapshot.

[steph]

With a view of the horizon, the camera image appeared blurry.  I had to disassemble the camera and adjust the lens focus.  I have not installed it in a permanent place yet.  It's still cold (-14°C) and windy outside.
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Hello, how did you adjust the focus?

The quality isn't very sharp on mine either.

I received an email from Ecowitt; a new camera is on the way with better resolution, just so you know.

[nordos]

Hello! The camera board must be removed from the white plastic case. Rotate the lens in one direction or another to achieve the best image sharpness. It is advisable to connect to the camera via the web interface to view the image online.

[steph]

Hello! The camera board must be removed from the white plastic case. Rotate the lens in one direction or another to achieve the best image sharpness. It is advisable to connect to the camera via the web interface to view the image online.

Hello,

Thanks for the feedback. Yes, I took it apart and saw the lens could be rotated. The only problem is that I didn't dare force it because it's glued on, like with silicone.

I'll try again then

Thanks