Homebuilt ROVs Forum

Hi guys, i,m just wondering how i should power my camera. It is an IR one, with 36 LEDS or something like that. I,m just wondering if i should run it from the truck battery i,m going to use to power the ROV, or if i should buy a seperate one?

Do they use a lot of power with all those LEDS?
Would a 12v motor bike battery be ok?
How many Ah would be ok for it?

Dave

Hi Dave, most of the smaller consumer surveillance type cameras do not use a lot of power. I would connect up a VOM (volt/amp Meter) in the amp setting and measure how much power the camera draws with the IR LEDS on and off.

The biggest hurdle you will have, is the voltage drop at the end of the ROV end of the tether (caused by the power draw for the thruster motors).... If it gets to low, the camera will get grainy. I would bench test everything, then water test the ROV to see if you have any voltage issues.

Hello! thanks for the reply. I,m using a 100 meter tether, i take it speaker wire would be enough?

Cheers
Dave