Equipment security cameras

[Hay Dude]

LittleBittyBigJohn, that negates a number of my points, good job.
Now all he needs is a way to power it, a way to protect it, and good cell service.

I don't happen to like Reolink due to their terms of service, but if they have this then others must, too.

I have all those.
Power: tractor batteries or solar panel.
Protection: Mounted inside the cab-probably hung from ceiling.
Good cell serivice: I have that most everywhere.

 

[Hay Dude]

The biggest problem I have found with game cameras (besides what was mentioned above about facial recognition) is that they don't always sense movement. I have one cam that I have set to take pics once a minute between 7pm and 7am. 99% of the pics that have an animal (including animals the size of deer) on them are on the timed pics and not motion detected. Matter of fact, I've had it where consecutive timed pics shows the dear moving across the field of vision. Not one was from motion triggering it.

With that said, I'd think you'd have to set it close to the equipment where they will see it and just trash that as well. Only saving grace would be is if it was able to upload the image before they trashed it. That will depend on how good of a cell signal the camera has. I know around here, the middle of no where, cell service is spotty at best.

I plan on putting the camera inside the locked cab. They might not ever see it. Ot they might realize the camera is videoing them and run away.

 

[sandman2234]

I think you should install multiple cameras on at least one tractor, powered by the tractor battery and running all the time. While you are using the camera, keep it sending pictures to wherever you can send them. The reason? Sooner or later someone is going to pull out in front of you while hauling that tractor, and cameras from a different angle besides your dash cam might be just what you need. Plus, if they are always online, you don't have to spend time setting them up. Whoever is doing the damage is very likely to see you setting them up, and act accordingly. You don't want them to know the cameras are there, or they will break into wherever they are to destroy them. Most likely, you won't have to run them more than a few months, because if they are good cameras and take good pictures, and well hidden, you will catch your culprits. Once they are caught, and you prosecute, word will get out. Won't be much need in keeping the cameras active after that. (but I would if it is not cost prohibited)
Most likely a couple of cameras on one tractor should be able to pick up enough of a wide view to catch someone approaching. Might require a little thought on how you park the other tractors around it, to give the cameras the best chance.
The semi truck I drive has cameras rolling all the time, and the images are constantly being uploaded. If something happens (I had a chicken run out of a yard all the way to the road and nail my truck in the side of the sleeper). I was driving 30mph and saw the chicken coming. I called safety and they backtracked about 5 minutes to watch it on video. They couldn't believe it once they saw it.
As far as getting multiple angles without having more cameras, consider adding rear view mirrors in the path of the camera. My forward facing windshield camera can see both front fender mirrors and has viewed several instances where people were caught trying to get into the truck or fuel tanks.
David from jax

 

[ptsg]

Interesting that you posted this. I was just watching a video from a local logger asking if anyone could identify the $%$&#&!" that was stealing his fuel on the forwarder.

He put a camera inside the cab, pointing the front of the machine which would cover the fuel tank area too and caught the thieves face very clearly.

Fuel stealing along with batteries and other parts is sadly a way too common occurrence. Lots of people have been using those hunting cameras hiding outside the machine. This another option.

At the end of the day, it needs to be something practical, quick and easy to setup. So a single camera might be the way to go.

I would go for something small, hiding in a corner inside the cab or something, covering the front of the tractor. Something that they can't see easily from the outside, specially at night.

 

[WranglerX]

Game camera on tree near equipment, usually are motion activated.....

 

[Hay Dude]

I don’t have time to set up and break down a game camera(s) every time I move a tractor to a new field.

Needs to be part of the tractor, inside the cab, motion activated and swiveling.

I have a few customers that have security cams on their barns and I can usually park near them, but many places I don’t.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

Could you use one of the ReoLink cameras mounted on a magnet? When you get out of the tractor, put it on top of the cab so that the solar panel gets sunlight.
But, that would make it vulnerable to a thief. And your cab roof would have to be metal.
Or, maybe there is a place to mount one inside the cab? And the solar panel is not attached to the camera, so you could mount the solar panel on a magnet and move it to where it will get sunlight. Or even put it outside the cab and just run the wire through a window.

 

[Hay Dude]

Could you use one of the ReoLink cameras mounted on a magnet? When you get out of the tractor, put it on top of the cab so that the solar panel gets sunlight.
But, that would make it vulnerable to a thief. And your cab roof would have to be metal.
Or, maybe there is a place to mount one inside the cab? And the solar panel is not attached to the camera, so you could mount the solar panel on a magnet and move it to where it will get sunlight. Or even put it outside the cab and just run the wire through a window.

That’s exactly what I want to do.

 

[2manyrocks]

Probably light enough to velcro mount in the cab

 

[Hay Dude]

Probably light enough to velcro mount in the cab

I think there’s some decent plastic hard points.