Homebuilt ROVs Forum

I need a camera that runs off a 12v marine battery, that hooks to the RCA ports on my 12v monitors, and can go out about a hundred foot or so. I am using ROV in relatively shallow lakes in Nebraska like 50' deepest lake around. I planned on sealing the camera so yes board cameras are on the menu.

Please advise

I'd recommend a CCTV camera. While an Ethernet camera has a native range of about 320' over cat5e, the CCTV camera would be much easier to connect to an RCA input. Needing only a BNC to RCA adapter, additionally a CCTV camera can be extended up to about 2000' over a balun (If the balun product pages are correct). If you're using a topside battery, you can run power through some baluns, though you must be wary of voltage drop.
http://www.cctvcamerapros.com/UTP-CAT5- ... -pv5fm.htm

This is the camera I used http://www.ebay.com/itm/291107303462?ss ... 1497.l2649. It is kind of expensive and I could not use the LEDs due to the reflection off my dome. But it is 12v and it already has a 20m cable. I ended up cutting the camera off the cable and then running the video and power thru cat5 wiring. At the other end I cut the cable BELOW the triple-wire junction. That was then attached to the cat5 wire coming from my tether. From there you just plug in the RCA cable and the power. You do not have to use baluns. See details at http://micomarov.weebly.com/.