Powering IP camera from batteries

[BrandonYoung26]

Hi,

I am working on a project for my computer science degree and have run into a problem.

My project is to control a small chicle over the internet. Currently I have it all working except the fact that I am unable to power my IP camera by a battery pack.

On the actually camera it states DC 5V and on the power adapter it states OUTPUT 5V===2000mA

This is what I have bought so far

5v regulator
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062599

Battery holder
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062253

Rechargeable batteries
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Energizer-...eries/10242692

If anyone has any ideas how i can get this IP camera running off batteries then please let me know.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Wizlem]

What is the actual problem you have? Getting batteries to make a 5V output? That regulator probably has to have atleast 7V input to work so you'll need 5 batteries in series to use it. If 2000mA is really what you need(seems high), you'll probably need atleast 2 sets of those NiMH batteries in parallel.

 

[PottedMeat]

that regulator is rated for 1A max.

you need to find one that is rated for 2A or more like a LM338K (5A) and 2 resistors to set the voltage and 2 capacitors.

or use get a buck converter off ebay for ~$5.

also you can't put in 5.1V into the regulator and get 5.0V out, you'll need at least a ~7V+ battery to feed it.

 

[greenhawk]

what camera? I did something similar for work several months back. Just used 4 x 1.5V batteries straight into the camera (was using wireless) and away it went.

Testing on mine with a power generator gave the impression that the camera had it's own internal linear regulator (so the internal circuit was less than 5V). It was still happily sending images from as low as 4V to about 7V (stopped testing at that point as most regulators I remember reading that do 5V, generally stop regulating at about 9V or 12V. If designed for a 5V source, not expecting them to have gone with the 12V or 24V input ones.

As to how I suspect it was a linear regulator (without opening the camera) is that current consumption at all voltages was constant and it did get warmer at the higher voltages).

edit: the camera I was using, I was trying different battery styles for temporary remote monitoring. 4 AA gave about 2 hours, 4 C gave about 8 Hours. did not bother trying anything else due to needing step down voltage converters (using 9V lantern batteries) or getting bulky (8 or 12 battery sized packs). Did not try D's as getting a 4 batter carrier was not worth the time).

Note these where 1.5V standard batteries. Rechargeable ones are generally 1.2V so you 4 will only get about 4.8V. Secondly, rechargeable ones have a noticeably lower power capacity IIRC.

Side note with your setup, if only using 4 rechargeable batteries, I suspect you will not have the needed voltage to get a 5V regulator to power on, let alone enough run the needed current (as mentioned before). Properly going to need 5 or 6 batteries per string (too high and the extra power is just wasted as heat), and possibly 2 strings to get the needed current / useful run time. Remembering that 2A max is asked for, actual used might be 1.5A.

Charging 10-12 batteries might take a long time, especially with a 4 at a time charger.

 

[Modelworks]

L4960 would be my choice.
It is a beautiful piece of engineering. Cost $2.50 and only needs an inductor, capacitor and diode and provides 90% efficiency. Connect to a 12V SLA battery and it will last for hours and hours.
http://www.westfloridacomponents.co...itching+Regulator+IC+ST+Microelectronics.html


Or if you want to do it old school, a resistor and zener diode is about as good as it gets for battery power.