ROV Cameras

Extending Your CameraWe want your ROV to be able to see the sea!

(And the pool)

Extending Your CameraExtending your camera cords:

Underwater Topside

Camera

Female-male end of cable

RCA and Power cable

Female end and adapter

Female-female end of cable

Cable from camera box (Red RCA Video Plug)

Control box

Monitor

Monitor attachment

Camera filter

Extending Your CameraIn 3 Steps:1. Reattaching the Camera to the Power/RCA

Cable2. Constructing and attaching the Camera Filter

to the Monitor3. Attaching the red RCA Video Plug to the

camera system

1. Camera to RCA/PowerCut all four plugs with wire cutter

Male end Female endAdapter

1. Camera to RCA/PowerUse wire stripper to strip all four wires (outer and inner layers)

DON’T FORGET TO SLIDE IN THE HEAT

SHRINK BEFORE YOU START SOLDERING!!

1. Camera to RCA/PowerConnect and twist wires (yellow with yellow, red with red, and black with black)

NOTE: Heat shrink for individual wires not

shown here!

1. Camera to RCA/Power- Solder wires together (using solder and

soldering iron)- (NOT SHOWN: add hot glue over solder and

slide heat shrink over all wires)

1. Camera to RCA/PowerUse heat gun on heat shrink until the hot glue melts and oozes out the sides of the heat shrink – that’s when you know it’s been waterproofed

Be careful not to burn yourself!

2. Camera Filter- Electrical noise from the ROV motors can

cause voltage spikes that will damage or destroy delicate camera electronic components

- Voltage spikes will also cause video signal disruption every time a motor is running

- A simple camera filter will remove any issues and provide “clean” power to your camera

2. Camera FilterCamera filter in relation

to everything else

2. Camera FilterCamera filter parts

One meter of black/red

power cable

Capacitor

Ferrite core

Diode

2. Camera FilterElectrical schematic for the camera filter

2. Camera Filter- Loop the power cable around the ferrite core ten

times or as many times as you can (at least nine times)- Split the red and black wires apart

Monitor side

Control box side

2. Camera FilterCut the red wire and strip it to show the copper wires inside (using the wire cutter/stripper)

Make sure the GRAY stripe on the diode is

facing the ferrite core!

2. Camera FilterCut the leads (metal wires) on the diode to 1 cm on each side

Leads now 1 cm on both sides

2. Camera Filter- Twist copper wires around the leads- Solder the wires and leads together

NOTE: Waterproofing not necessary since this will be topside

2. Camera Filter- Wrap diode with electrical tape- On the other side of the ferrite core, split the red and

black wires- Strip the red and black wires to add in the capacitor

2. Camera FilterPolarity is important! The negative (shorter) lead of the capacitor should be wrapped around the black wire and the positive (longer) lead should be wrapped around the red wire

POSITIVE=LONG LEAD

NEGATIVE=SHORT LEAD

2. Camera Filter- Solder the capacitor onto the wires- Wrap leads with electrical tape or use heat shrink

NOTE: The two capacitor leads MUST NOT BE

TOUCHING!

2. Camera FilterNow on the capacitor side, we will connect the camera filter to the monitor

Monitor side

Control box side

2. Camera Filter- Strip, twist, and solder the red wires together and the black

wires together- Wrap with electrical tape

Monitor side

Control box side

3. Attaching Red RCA Plug- Locate the red RCA plug and arrange the red RCA plug that came with the

camera- Arrange it so that the plug will attach to the black plug and the loose end can

be soldered to the camera filter

Monitor side

Camera filter side

Finished camera filter

3. Attaching Red RCA Plug- (Between the capacitor and the place where you

connected the camera filter and the monitor cord) strip and solder the red RCA cable wires to the camera filter

- Red to red and black to black

3. Attaching Red RCA PlugResult of soldering red plug RCA cable and monitor cable to camera filter

Monitor side

Control box side

3. Attaching Red RCA PlugNow plug in red RCA plug

BEFORE

AFTER

3. Attaching Red RCA PlugResult of attaching red RCA plug to the camera system

Waterproofing CameraUse the provided silicone caulk to seal the camera’s crevices

Waterproofing CameraSeal the front seam of the camera without blocking the lens

Waterproofing CameraSeal the seam around the sides of the camera

Waterproofing Camera- Seal the back of the camera (where the cable goes in) and the

screws- You may need to remove the bottom stand to seal this

Waterproofing CameraYour finished, waterproofed camera is ready for testing!

REMEMBER!- After each step of wiring, it is advised to test

the connections and make sure your circuit is working!

- Don’t forget to waterproof everything (all individual wires and components) that will be underwater.

- Never leave any wires exposed – SAFETY IS MOST IMPORTANT!

- GOOD LUCK!