Extending IP Camera cable

[gargoil666uk]

I have a Tenvis IP camera, model JPT3815W. It came with an AC adapter that is only 1 metre in length and I would like to extend this.

Note: I only want to extend the length by a maximum of another 5 metres, more likely only 3 metres. It needs to go through a wall and be mounted at 1.5 metre height under my front porch overhang.

The AC adapter plug, which I assume contains a built-in transformer/stepdown converter, has the following specs underneath:
AC adapter model XC-313, input 100-240v, output 5v...200mA
From what I’ve seen via Google I think this is a 2amp adapter, but I cannot find exact specs for this model.

My question:
Is there a maximum length limit that this cabling can be extended by either:
1. using a shop-bought jack-plug extension cable to simply attach to the XC-313’s cable
2. or by manually splicing and dicing the cable with extra length wiring

As a follow-up question:
the jackplug that plugs into the back of the camera looks like this...
external diameter = 4mm
internal diameter = 1mm-1.5mm
length of metal part of connector = 9.5mm-10.mm
(although it doesn't insert all the way into the rear camera socket)
so is this a standard size (for buying an extension cable)?

I am not a techie, so any advice would need to be dumbed down for little old me!

Thanks

 

[Wizlem]

It is a little difficult to answer this question without knowing exactly how low the voltage can be and still have the camera function. With such low voltage as 5V, you can get significant voltage drop in such a long run.

You may want to consider getting the AC power closer to the camera.

If you insist on running the 5V you should make sure to use a thick enough wire to run the extra length.

The specs on the camera say it uses about 6W total which when you divide by voltage gives you 1.2A running through the wiring.

If you were to use something like 20 gauge wire, you would get a voltage drop of approximately 1% per meter.

As for the plug, there are all kinds of sizes for them and you just have to find one that fits both the external and internal diameter.

 

[gargoil666uk]

If you were to use something like 20 gauge wire, you would get a voltage drop of approximately 1% per meter.

1% doesn't sound too bad. Unfortunately there is no way to provide a closer AC supply, so I am stuck with extending.

Thank you for your contribution.

 

[gargoil666uk]

I've just found these...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321053737504?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251234500861?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

which might be what I need.

 

[vbuggy]

Buy the cables and try it out. Worst case is probably your PSU expires faster through being worked harder.

I use PoE to skirt around this issue. I dunno if the camera is a fixed choice, but if you want to combine a camera unit with a fairly long cable run then PoE is the best bet IMO.

I've rarely ventured in this forum but since it's a question even I can answer I'm wondering if it's 'highly technical'....

 

[sm625]

If you use a pair of 16 awg wires at a length of 10 feet per wire, at 200mA max current you will drop 17mV across the wire. This is at 50 degrees celcius. You can safely assume this is the absolute worse case drop for your application. The drop will be 20% less at room temperature, and goes lower the colder it gets. At 14 awg you will only drop 12mV max. You have nothing to worry about so long as you use somewhat thicker wires like 12-16 gage.

 

[mindless1]

^ That. This run isn't long enough to matter, personally I wouldn't go to the time or expense of trying to find some adapter, just spice in some 20ga. or lower wire... except for that part about it potentially voiding the warranty.

There might be an extension cable available somewhere, but since it's a less common size it's probably not going to be a $2 cable unless someone on eBay has it. If you can solder you might find it as cost effective to just buy the connectors and roll your own cable. Someplace like Digikey ought to have them.

 

[jaqie]

I rewire adapters quite constantly. Before I found out about computers, I wanted to become an electrician and studied up on that quite a lot - to the point that later on I actually became a licensed electrician.

Honestly, splicing in new cable is quite simple and mundane so long as it is done correctly. Low voltage low amperage like that you can easily splice in 50 feet of cheap speaker wire so long as you keep the polarity proper and don't pinch or bare the wire (like any other wire) you will be fine. Hell, if you wanted to you could limit the ethernet cable you are using for the camera (if you are using one) to 100Mbps, and the four conductors you free from doing that can be used to carry power. So long as you are careful not to allow those conductors into the camera circuitry or switch/hub circuitry on the other side you are fine. There is a more expensive way to do this, both DIY PoE and commercial PoE (which is 48v) adapters and such are available all over.

Hardware hackers (stuff like the arduino), makers, hobbyists, even model train enthusiasts regularly do this kind of thing.

 

[gargoil666uk]

I've ordered the 3 metre extension cable and will see if that affects the camera reliability. As another poster mentioned, over such a short distance it will probably be just fine.

As for PoE, I would rather avoid since my router is quite an old model. Plus, I want to go wireless with that particular camera anyway.

 

[gargoil666uk]

Update: the extension cable has arrived and seems to work fine with no sign of any overheating. The camera is functioning perfectly normally.
The 3 metres of the extension cable plus the 1 metre of the original cable gives me enough to just about reach my desired mounting position.

Thanks to everyone who contributed.

 

[Chess]

Extron makes a fiber tx/rx module or copper tx/rx module that will fit your needs my friend

 

[Sheep221]

Install the power socket at the base of camera stand and just from there you lead the cable to the nearest next socket. Extending wires on 5V would cause significant power loss and much lower current and voltage altogether. If you want to verify it, just grab any phone charger with USB connector, plug 5 meter long extension cable to it and on the other side the charging cable, if your phone will even be charging, then the current will be so low that it will charge to full in next 15 hours or so. And even these are rated at 700mA to 1.2A and still perform this bad, so your 200mA will get halted right away. That's why I recommend extension on 230V(110) wire rather than 5V wire.

 

[AllGamer]

Update: the extension cable has arrived and seems to work fine with no sign of any overheating. The camera is functioning perfectly normally.
The 3 metres of the extension cable plus the 1 metre of the original cable gives me enough to just about reach my desired mounting position.

Thanks to everyone who contributed.

Thank you

Found the information very helpful, just ordered a few after reading this, exactly what I was looking for.

 

[Ichinisan]

I did the same thing to an AirLink AIC AP650 and it won't boot half the time I plug it in. I have to unplug and replug to make it boot. Sometimes more than once.

After it boots, it works fine. My friend extended it for me with his professional airliner-grade avionics tools and experience. Still, I always wondered if the polarity was swapped or something... It probably wouldn't work at all in that case - unless it had a built-in rectifier.