IP Cam with Raspberry PI B and Camera case from fake Camera

thingiverse

Being an enthusiast of Raspberry PI potential I was thinking since long time to set it as IP Camera for surveillance purpose. Having bought the PI Camera to connect to the board with its embedded connector for this purpose and found a ready software to use it for surveillance with video recording when movement occurs inside its range of vision, the next step was to find (or build) an opportune case: instead to made it from zero, I did found a 'fake camera' case in a known german brand hard-discount market (easy to find in Europe) with a rather low price (less then 7 Euro cost), only thing to do were to adapt it to host the Raspberry PI with camera and power it to make it work. Instructions BoM: Raspberry PI B (I did move to B version instead to the more compact B+ that use the microSD instead of the full SD because the micro USB connection necessary to supply it is on the short edge of the PCB so much more easy to connect to the microUSB connector cable) with the SD card (I did use a 32 GByte because it will store the recorded video Full HD) WiFi dongle to connect to the USB of the above Raspberry PI B Raspberry PI Camera with flat connection to the Raspberry PI dedicated connector (I did use the normal version but exist also the same without IR filter that allow, together with an IR Lamp, to have night vision capability) Fake Camera (see images attached, cost depend from the seller, I personally found them from 6.99 to 10 Euro) Raspberry PI camera case/enclosure that I did print 'as it is' here : http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:92208 and then embed in the support behind the 'fake camera' glass microUSB Cable to power supply the system: I did use a 1.8 meter length connected a capable USB Power Supply for mobile phones but I'm waiting now a 3 meter length to have more freedom for the wall connection points The Raspberry PI B need to be installed using the Raspberry website Download page http://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/ for the operative system Raspbian last release image that are necessary to burn into the SD Card. Once installed, I did install the WiFI Dongle to connect wireless the IP Cam and avoid to use an Ethernet connection. Then from the raspi-config utility I did exted the memory usage from SD Card to the maximum, activate the Raspberry Cam and then proceed with the IP Cam instructions as per this website:http://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=63276 that tell step by step all the procedure for Software installation. Once did it, test the system working just connecting to the Raspberry with a browser to its IP Address to see the webpage generated with preview and the motion detection buttons plus the camera setting. Everything should work like in this short video:http://youtu.be/RQHKQPZgEVU Once verified that all work, let print with the 3D printer the Raspberry pi camera case/enclosure (see Sources) and the Camera adapter that will interface the Camera case above with the 'fake camera' glass that in my case had a fixing ring with screw (before doing it I did open the case both side closure and removed the fake IR and Red Leds, cutting the cable to the battery holder embedded in the original 'fake cam' to supply the Red Led. Due to the length of the Raspberry PI B, I did made and print also an extension ring that shall be glued to the camera cylindrical body and will be used as support for the original back cover that has the exit for the cable (it must be slightly opened and the cable fixed with hot glue once all work). The two 3D printed parts were painted in black using an acrylic spray. I did attach some picture to explain the various steps. I did a rought calculation of the cost of the BoM: without the SD Card (I suggest a 32 GByte), the Power Supply (a USB charger for smartphone or tablets is perfect) and the cost of the 3D Printed parts I do extimate round 90 Euro for the components.