StarDot Technologies netcam XL - Manual (Page 11)

NetCam XL Page 11
2.2 Outdoor Environment
NetCam is an outdoor-capable camera, but two important steps must
be taken before NetCam can be used in an outdoor environment. NetCam’s
lens must be adjusted for daylight imaging, and NetCam must be enclosed
in an outdoor enclosure.
Lens Adjustment
If you ordered NetCam with an auto iris lens (the lens has a cable that
plugs into the side of NetCam), make sure the Auto Iris option is enabled
on the image page. If Auto Iris is not enabled and the camera is pointed
outdoors, it can get permanent burn-in damage on the image sensor.
Unless you ordered an auto iris lens, NetCam ships with a manual iris
lens. The manual iris must be closed down to a pinhole size before using
the camera in daylight lighting. If the lens has markings on the iris ring,
you will want to close the iris down to ƒ16 or larger (the larger the ƒ-stop,
the smaller the iris). If the lens does not have numerical markings on the
iris ring (it may just show “open” and “close” with arrows), look into the
lens and turn the iris until the hole is about the size of a pinhole.
The pinhole size is an approximation. To precisely set the iris, add $e to
the image overlay (the text printed on the image). This will print the current
exposure. During daylight, this value should fall between 100 and 500. You
generally do not want to want to see the exposure with a value below 100.
If your exposure is reading below 100, adjust the iris smaller until it reads
between 100 and 500. Note: Make sure Auto Exposure is enabled.
Failure to set the iris properly in daylight lighting may result in
streaky image quality and will prematurely cause permanent damage
to the CCD sensor. NetCam’s auto exposure logic will automatically
compensate for changes in brightness throughout the day by adjusting the
exposure. NetCam can take great quality images from dawn to dusk with a
manual iris lens, provided it’s set properly. For more information on daylight
imaging and how to achieve the best quality possible, see Section 4.1.
Mounting the Camera
To mount NetCam outdoors, it must first be encased in an outdoor
enclosure (different models are available from StarDot Technologies, see
http://www.stardot-tech.com/netcamxl). Install NetCam in an outdoor
enclosure and adjust the internal mount so NetCam’s lens is up against the
enclosure window. This helps to reduce glare.
Determine where NetCam will be pointing and where you’d like to
mount it. The outdoor enclosures can be mounted on a horizontal or vertical
surface. When aiming the camera, factors such as sun travel and amount
of visible sky can vastly affect the quality of the image. For imaging tips,
see Section 4.1.