Front Door Camera
From Null Space Labs
Back in May, 2010, the idea of nullspace labs [ ] became a reality. During this time, the challenge of identifying expected visitors and authorized personnel at the entrance of nullspace labs became apparent. Hence the birth of the `[nsl]fdc`, or `nullspace labs front door cam.` [nsl] has been graciously stocked with new, reusable, and somewhat salvageable/scavengable electronics hardware that was kindly donated by supporters of the [nsl] community. It was determined that, with the nature of [nsl] being what it is, the most appropriate method of fabrication of the [nsl]fdc would be the utilization of existing tools and materials. A, `turnkey, off the shelf` system could have been acquired inexpensively with considerable ease of implementation and additional functionality, but where is the fun in that? `This is how we roll.`
Parts List
| Part Desc | QTY | Price | Total |
| Used video camera | 1 | Donated | $0.00 |
| Used video display | 1 | Donated | $0.00 |
| Used video display enclosure | 1 | Donated | $0.00 |
| Used RJ45 to DE9 Cisco console adapter | 1 | Donated | $0.00 |
| Electrical junction box with cover | 1 | $2.00 | $2.00 |
| Metal electrical conduit | 1 | Scavenged | $0.00 |
| Altoids tin | 1 | Scavenged | $0.00 |
| 30' RCA cable | 1 | $3.50 | $3.50 |
| 2 stories of Category 5e cable | 1 | Donated | $0.00 |
| RJ45 jack | 1 | Scavenged | $0.00 |
| RCA jack | 2 | Scavenged | $0.00 |
| Power jack | 2 | Scavenged | $0.00 |
| Expired Credit Card | 1 | Donated | $0.00 |
| 12v power adapter | 2 | Donated | $0.00 |
| Yellow craft paint | 1 | $0.59 | $0.59 |
| Olive Testors model paint | 1 | Donated | $0.00 |
| Red Testors model paint ` | 1 | Donated | $0.00 |
| Shop vac grit | 1 | Scavenged | $0.00 |
| Zip ties | Several | Stock lab material | $0.00 |
| Solder | Minimal | Stock lab material | $0.00 |
| RJ45 Ends | 4 | Stock lab material | $0.00 |
| Copper wire | ~5 ft | Scavenged | $0.00 |
| Duct tape | ~1 ft | Stock lab material | $0.00 |
| Wire coat hanger | 1 | Scavenged | $0.00 |
| GRAND TOTAL | $6.09 |
Tools utilized
- Rotary tool w/ various bits
- Power drill w/ various bits
- Multimeter
- Soldering iron
- Hot glue gun w/ glue
- Sharpie, black
- Helping hands
- Wire strippers w/ cutter
- Box cutter
- Switchblade knife
- RJ45 Crimpers
- Hobby table
- Hobby files
- Hobby vice
- Paint brush
- Solo beverage cup, red
- Shop vacuum
- Shop gloves
- Shop glasses
- Golden Retriever
- Ladder
 | One gently used RJ45 to DE9 Cisco console adapter. DE9 was removed, keeping wires intact. Enclosure was not disassembled in order to keep RJ45 pins intact. |
 | Tracing outline of adapter on expired credit card with black Sharpie. Credit card used to secure RCA and power jacks. |
 | Holes were drilled into the credit card. RCA and power jacks hotglued to the credit card. |
 | Rear view of jacks. |
 | Console adapter in hobby vice with extension wires soldered on and wrapped. Excess plastic was filed off. Continuity was tested with multimeter. |
 | Console adapter wires soldered onto credit card assembly. |
 | Completed camera adapter assembly. (Before trimming) |
 | Completed Altoids tin adapter for demarcation point at window. RCA adapter is in the front. Holes were cut with rotary tool and components were mounted with hot glue. Wires were soldered to their respective components and continuity was verified. |
 | RJ45 view of Altoids tin. |
 | Power jack view of Altoids tin. |
 | Partially closed view of Altoids tin. |
 | Top view of junction box with punchout hole filed down to accommodate the camera. |
 | Interior view of junction box. |
 | Interior view of junction box with components installed. |
 | [nsl]fdc functionality test. Success! |
 | [nsl]fdc functionality test, alternate view. |
 | Urban camouflage added to camera box. Yellow, olive, and red paints were mixed together to match the color of the building. Shop vac grit was later added to the paint for texture. |
 | Camera box, vertical view. |
 | Camera box with electrical conduit secured to box with zip ties and hot glue. Hot glue was also used to seal the box. A fresh coat of Shellac was sprayed on the box to protect the paint from moisture. The Shellac dried with matte finish. |
 | Camera box, rear view. |
Not too many install pics, due to time constraints. We had to drill through the window frame upstairs and run the extended demarc from the window to the door buzzer pillar. Here are some photos of the installed project:
 | Installed camera box, front door view. |
 | Installed camera box, zoom. |
 | Installed camera box, zoom-a-zoom-zoom in the boom-boom. Wire coat hanger was used as a tension wire. |
 | Mounted LCD with enclosure (thx, xinc!) ZIP TIED AND DUCT TAPED TO PILLAR! Fabulous application of ghetto/hillbilly engineering technique, courtesy of the combined efforts of jgalt, docwho, enzo, and deli-x. Not bad for 2AM on a school night. Front door buzzer, below. Color by day, infrared by night. |
The project is basically finished, except for some minor cabling cleanup. Fun project, learned a lot. Special thanks to mmca, Vyrus, DocWho, Rob, datagram, frank^2, #nsl, and those who help keep the lab open. Oh, and a shoutout to my dead homies. -deli-x, 2010/06/28 01:39
