basic red pointer with AC power supply?

[ShortyInCanada]

Just to be honest (and super cheap) I would do something like this :
Buy those cheap laser pointers. (The super intense beam would work to overdrive the CCD in a camera day or night) Modify them slightly by using a small hose clamp to keep the button depressed (switched on). Remove the batteries and attach two wire to the laser.(the case is one part of the circuit so you could attach to that hose clamp. a small piece of wood dowel with a screw through the middle that contacts the spring inside would work for the other.) Run the wire into your house, or to a convenient sheltered place. Put a simple switch on the end of the wire and connect to the batteries.(taped together or in a plastic tube or ????)
You could fabricate and install these in a matter of a couple of hours.
The costs would be negligible.
You can change the batteries as needed.
You have full control of when they are used.
If they are somehow "stolen" you can replace them easily.
You can make a bucketload for $30. Have some fun on a foggy night.

 

[Guyfromhe]

Heh now you got me thinking if it would be possible to do this to a red light camera hehe

 

[ptc]

Follow up questions if y'all don't mind.

Would a laser with more milliwatts do a better job of blinding a camera?

And I assume the laser has to be PERFECTLY lined up with the camera. Any tricks of the trade help with aiming the laser and/or knowing you got the perfect angle?

And the modules Moebius suggested...they all say "Duty Cycle" and X amount of minutes on then Y minutes off...I don't know what they're getting at there. A heating issue? Will the laser automatically shut off, cool down, then come back on...or is it a manual thing?

Again thank you in advance for all helpful replies!
And thank you to those who have already helped!

 

[ShortyInCanada]

Duty cycles indicate that the unit shouldn't be left on past the indicated time as heat build-up will cause damage. The required time off is to allow for cooling. (It may not feel hot to the touch but the diode element could be extremely hot and the heat transfer to the rest on the case for cooling probably isn't good enough.)
And usually if you can direct the beam into the lens of the camera you will cause enough of a "flare" in the lens that the image will be fairly useless. If you mount the laser in the field of view of the camera then even a low power one should overload the CCD imaging chip.
Just beware of the legal ramifications of your actions. If you are only protecting your privacy then you shouldn't have any troubles. Your neighbor could adjust his cameras so they don't see into your property and then you wouldn't be able to blind them for the same reason. No sightline = no blinding.
If, by chance, you use this for any other "covert type" activities then you are guilty of a crime and will be punished as such. Just trying this for the wrong reasons is enough to get you arrested.
BE WARNED !

 

[ptc]

I'm doing this for the exact reason that I stated but thanks for the warning anyway. I read where green lasers can cause permanent damage to a camera, while a red laser will only blind it with no permanent damage. Therefore I can't be sued or arrested since noithing is really damaged.

And I assume the laser doesn't automatically shut down when it gets too hot and then come back on...it is something I'd have to set with a timer or do it manually?..manually obviously not being practical

And all somewhat cheap low-powered red laser modules will have this heating issue? It comes with the territory?

Thanks again.
VERY much appreciated!!!

 

[Cyparagon]

You do not need additional cooling with 5mW lasers. They will run indefinitely.

 

[Jacob32123]

If you go 780nm it will be less visible to humans but most camera will still see it. Aixiz sells 780nm modules

 

[lasersbee]

As for supplying power off the house AC...
Get a low power (7-9VDC) AC filtered wall wart and
use a standard adjustable LM317 Voltage regulator
circuit and set it to the Voltage you need for your Dollar
Store <5mW Laser pointer...

It would probably fit into this heat sink if you feel you
need one..

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250864825699&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I don't think you need a heat sink for the cheap Dollar
Store pointers but the above heat sink makes it easier
to mount and would probably also keep the Laser's 'ON'
button pressed...


Jerry

 

[Ash]

Follow up questions if y'all don't mind.

Would a laser with more milliwatts do a better job of blinding a camera?
Yes. But shining anything over 5mW to another persons property is illegal.
And I assume the laser has to be PERFECTLY lined up with the camera. Any tricks of the trade help with aiming the laser and/or knowing you got the perfect angle?
No. As long as the laser hits somewhere on the camera lens, it will be effective at blinding it. Of course, the closer you are to "straight on" with the camera, the better.
And the modules Moebius suggested...they all say "Duty Cycle" and X amount of minutes on then Y minutes off...I don't know what they're getting at there. A heating issue? Will the laser automatically shut off, cool down, then come back on...or is it a manual thing?
Duty cycles are manual (not automatic) so you'd have to turn it off yourself (or use a timer). A heatsink helps with this, in that the larger the heatsink, the longer the duty cycle.
But what lasersbee said is likely correct, you may not need a heatsink for a cheap dollar store laser, but I would use a small one just to be safe if you are going to use it as constant-on.

Oh, and I would suggest an IR laser (808nm, 780nm, or 980nm) that's 5mW. It will still temporarily blind the camera, and won't be "visible" to the naked eye like a red one would.

Um,... Why not just plant some thick foliage between your "paranoid" neighbor any your property.

----
Side note: For some reason I thought it was illegal to point a camera onto someone's private property. Something about a right to privacy. Not sure though. :thinking: Have you asked the police if this guy can legally do that?

 

[Trevor]

Side note: For some reason I thought it was illegal to point a camera onto someone's private property. Something about a right to privacy. Not sure though. :thinking: Have you asked the police if this guy can legally do that?

It is illegal to record someone where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy. Outdoors or at night with the lights on with the curtains open does not count as a reasonable expectation of privacy.

-Trevor

 

[ptc]

Just an update in case anyone cared lol.

I got the bright idea to actually see how long my 2 AAA battery powered laser would actually last. Turns out it is pretty close to 24 hrs before the dot starts to lose brightness. I was assuming it would be like 3-4 hours...that's why you don't assume lol.

So that's plenty long enough to where it's not that big of a hassle at the moment. I borrowed some microphone and cymbal stands from my musician friend, atttached the AAA powered lasers with electrical tape, got the aim down, and bingo I'm in business!

And Ash, I don't want to plant foilage because my yard is a bit small so every inch counts, they attract bugs, and require maintenance. But I am building a fence to block all but one camera...and I have an idea to block that one too. If that doesn't work, I'll probably mount the permanent AC powered laser I was originally asking about...and I'm sure I'd be back to ask some more basic questions beyond what everyone has already stated here

Thank you 587321214652 times to anyone and everyone who replied!!!!!!!

Y'all have a neat hobby I never knew really existed. And I now know more about lasers than I ever thought I would lol. If I had more free time and extra funds just sitting around, I might be interested in checking out some of the exotic lasers you guys chat about here lol.