hello everyone. when i've needed ideas i've always come here, well i need some ideas, lol. i got a call from a "spy equipment" place, anyway, they are planning on installing a hidden video camera on a mailbox at somebodys house. They want me to run power 110v for their camera. no probs so far, the camera dont even pull an amp, so i'll of course find closest power and come off that. now, of course they dont want me mounting a receptacle on their mailbox and they've asked me to put it in the ground. i've never come across anything like this b4 so what should i do? how should i do it? i'm not even sure if its within code or not for a receptacle to be underground. HELP!!
any ideas?
- Thread starter jason
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Massachusetts
Re: any ideas?
120 volt outlet underground?
Put the power supply indoors and run a piece of UF out to the mail box, for the low voltage
Safer for everyone
[ March 18, 2003, 07:50 PM: Message edited by: iwire ]
120 volt outlet underground?Put the power supply indoors and run a piece of UF out to the mail box, for the low voltage
Safer for everyone
[ March 18, 2003, 07:50 PM: Message edited by: iwire ]
bphgravity
Senior Member
- Location
- Florida
Re: any ideas?
This is an odd situation that I imagine will probably only be a temporary installation. I wouldn't bother putting a recptacle at the mailbox. I would hardwire a cable assemply that can be directly buried. This way you can hide the cord from the camera itself along the post and make a splice to the branch circuit cable. As soon as the "SPY" work is completed, I would remove the installation. Of course, you will be cutting off the attachment plug to the camera!
This is an odd situation that I imagine will probably only be a temporary installation. I wouldn't bother putting a recptacle at the mailbox. I would hardwire a cable assemply that can be directly buried. This way you can hide the cord from the camera itself along the post and make a splice to the branch circuit cable. As soon as the "SPY" work is completed, I would remove the installation. Of course, you will be cutting off the attachment plug to the camera!
- Location
- Massachusetts
Re: any ideas?
It is a lot easer to hide a 18/2 with shield then to hide a safe installation of a 120 outlet.
You can get a small hand hole about the size of a gallon paint can bury that and put a receptacle there I guess.
If you do this a GFI breaker would be nice as to protect the whole branch circuit not just the load.
Don't let the camera guys tell you whats safe.
It is a lot easer to hide a 18/2 with shield then to hide a safe installation of a 120 outlet.
You can get a small hand hole about the size of a gallon paint can bury that and put a receptacle there I guess.
If you do this a GFI breaker would be nice as to protect the whole branch circuit not just the load.
Don't let the camera guys tell you whats safe.
- Location
- Lockport, IL
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrical Engineer
Re: any ideas?
If your client is a professional private detective acting under his or her license, then they could do their thing without your services. So could professional TV or movie personnel. So who is it, and what is it that they are trying to drag you into?
I agree. I wouldn?t touch this one with a ten meter cattle prod. I would be too concerned with the possibility that federal, state, and local laws might have something to say about the legality of recording someone?s image, and perhaps even voice, without their knowledge and consent. Add to that the fact that tampering with the mail is a federal offense. I?d have to hire a lawyer to find out how close ?tampering with a mailbox? comes to ?FBI territory,? and I don?t have the money or the inclination to go that far for a job.Originally posted by bennie: The best way to not have this seen is to not do it
If your client is a professional private detective acting under his or her license, then they could do their thing without your services. So could professional TV or movie personnel. So who is it, and what is it that they are trying to drag you into?
hurk27
Senior Member
- Location
- Portage, Indiana NEC: 2008
Re: any ideas?
Charlie As long as the recordings are done in public domain it is legal and no permission is needed but to use ones image for commercial purposes will require permission from that person. public domain is described as any place that a person would go in normal travel with out asking for permission to be there. or as open for the public to travel in, on or to. But when it comes to places that are considered privet the it is a different matter as the law says "in places where the victim has a reasonable expectation of privacy." you can not shoot video or take photo's
Other wise no one could have video servalance camera's. In one case there was a person that sued a photographer that snapped a photo of her standing in her front door and the court ruled that since she had reasonable knowledge that the public could view her from the street the case was dropped.
Charlie As long as the recordings are done in public domain it is legal and no permission is needed but to use ones image for commercial purposes will require permission from that person. public domain is described as any place that a person would go in normal travel with out asking for permission to be there. or as open for the public to travel in, on or to. But when it comes to places that are considered privet the it is a different matter as the law says "in places where the victim has a reasonable expectation of privacy." you can not shoot video or take photo's
Other wise no one could have video servalance camera's. In one case there was a person that sued a photographer that snapped a photo of her standing in her front door and the court ruled that since she had reasonable knowledge that the public could view her from the street the case was dropped.
stamcon
Senior Member
- Location
- South San Francisco CA
Re: any ideas?
Jason, any chance you could put one of those fake boulders(fiberglass) near the mailbox, with a standard weatherproof box hidden underneath?
Heck, you could even mount the camera inside it.
[ March 19, 2003, 09:02 PM: Message edited by: stamcon ]
Jason, any chance you could put one of those fake boulders(fiberglass) near the mailbox, with a standard weatherproof box hidden underneath?
Heck, you could even mount the camera inside it.
[ March 19, 2003, 09:02 PM: Message edited by: stamcon ]
Re: any ideas?
These "spy people" should have the technology to monitor this situation stand alone.
Do you really want to be a part of it?
If you are going to do it, regardless of suggestions you get here, you must follow all applicable codes period.
Roger
These "spy people" should have the technology to monitor this situation stand alone.
Do you really want to be a part of it?
If you are going to do it, regardless of suggestions you get here, you must follow all applicable codes period.
Roger
sparkmantoo
Member
- Location
- Virginia
Re: any ideas?
i would leave it alone. i would not trust anyone who wanted to spy on someone by sticking a camera in a mailbox. oh the times they are a changing. but if you must i agree with the low voltage power supply located away from the mailbox. easier to conceal and safe.
i would leave it alone. i would not trust anyone who wanted to spy on someone by sticking a camera in a mailbox. oh the times they are a changing. but if you must i agree with the low voltage power supply located away from the mailbox. easier to conceal and safe.
bphgravity
Senior Member
- Location
- Florida
Re: any ideas?
Tell the "SPY EQUIPMENT" place to invest in this great technology called WIRELESS! It is choice for this application.
Tell the "SPY EQUIPMENT" place to invest in this great technology called WIRELESS! It is choice for this application.
Re: any ideas?
There is also software that would allow you to catch audio and video only when motion and/or sound is present.
Color cameras with the ability to pan on 2 axises are available with remote controls from X10.com. Just plug the base into a VCR and an extended play VHS tape and your good to go. No wiring!Originally posted by bphgravity:
Tell the "SPY EQUIPMENT" place to invest in this great technology called WIRELESS! It is choice for this application.
There is also software that would allow you to catch audio and video only when motion and/or sound is present.
- Status