Indoor security cameras that can record out through glass window

Buntyboo1

Hello. I’d like to have some security cameras (indoor) around the home pointing outside through the windows (at some point I’ll be able to afford wireless WiFi outdoors cameras. ). I want them to record at night as well as day which I’ve heard is impossible with some Makes, but doable with others. I can’t do any drilling, internal wiring etc, but can do ones that have a lead and plug if necessary. I’m prepared to pay more for quality cameras that can do what I need them to do.

Can anyone recommend any, please?

teaselMay

Your problem at night will be that the light from the infra red LEDs used for night vision will reflect off the window and so you won't be able to see much if anything at night.

ThisIsWeird

Yes, built in IR lights will just reflect off the windows, causing massif glare.
A solution - if you have an external.power supply, or are happy to replace batteries - is to turn off the camera's IR lights, and fit an IR 'floodlight' outside.
Cheap - from around a £10-ish - but you'll need some form of outside power.
As for the camera types, I'd buy external types from the off, and just use them inside for the time being until ready to mount outside.
I've just bought a couple of Imou cameras, WiFi, add a card, remote camera positioning, superb image quality, and I got them for just over £20 each, new - eBay auction.

Buntyboo1

teaselMay said:

Your problem at night will be that the light from the infra red LEDs used for night vision will reflect off the window and so you won't be able to see much if anything at night.

Thanks for that. I did wonder about that.

Buntyboo1

ThisIsWeird said:

Yes, built in IR lights will just reflect off the windows, causing massif glare.
A solution - if you have an external.power supply, or are happy to replace batteries - is to turn off the camera's IR lights, and fit an IR 'floodlight' outside.
Cheap - from around a £10-ish - but you'll need some form of outside power.
As for the camera types, I'd buy external types from the off, and just use them inside for the time being until ready to mount outside.
I've just bought a couple of Imou cameras, WiFi, add a card, remote camera positioning, superb image quality, and I got them for just over £20 each, new - eBay auction.

Wow! A bargain! Yes, I think that it will probably be better to just get the external security kit as I don’t have external power supply like you suggested. I’ll get the wireless WiFi ones. Thanks for replying

ThisIsWeird

Buntyboo1 said:

ThisIsWeird said:

Yes, built in IR lights will just reflect off the windows, causing massif glare.
A solution - if you have an external.power supply, or are happy to replace batteries - is to turn off the camera's IR lights, and fit an IR 'floodlight' outside.
Cheap - from around a £10-ish - but you'll need some form of outside power.
As for the camera types, I'd buy external types from the off, and just use them inside for the time being until ready to mount outside.
I've just bought a couple of Imou cameras, WiFi, add a card, remote camera positioning, superb image quality, and I got them for just over £20 each, new - eBay auction.

Wow! A bargain! Yes, I think that it will probably be better to just get the external security kit as I don’t have external power supply like you suggested. I’ll get the wireless WiFi ones. Thanks for replying

They still need a power supply - the WiFi is just for the captured signal.
You can get battery-powered cameras, and versions powered by PV panels, but I cannot comment on how well they'll perform - or the obvious hassle of replacing batteries.
I'd assumed you were going to have a supply outside at some point, but just wanted internal use for the time being.
Bear in mind that the supply is typically 12V DC via a plug-in adaptor, so only requires a small access hole or gap, with no risk of dangerous voltages.
What's your situation? Where would they be mounted outside?
The option presumably remains for internal mounting, and you'd only need to thread a slim flat wire - like 'bell' wire - out via a window to power an led flood. You should be able to safely close a window on it - I think.
If you give us more details, we may have more options.

Buntyboo1

ThisIsWeird said:

Buntyboo1 said:

ThisIsWeird said:

Yes, built in IR lights will just reflect off the windows, causing massif glare.
A solution - if you have an external.power supply, or are happy to replace batteries - is to turn off the camera's IR lights, and fit an IR 'floodlight' outside.
Cheap - from around a £10-ish - but you'll need some form of outside power.
As for the camera types, I'd buy external types from the off, and just use them inside for the time being until ready to mount outside.
I've just bought a couple of Imou cameras, WiFi, add a card, remote camera positioning, superb image quality, and I got them for just over £20 each, new - eBay auction.

Wow! A bargain! Yes, I think that it will probably be better to just get the external security kit as I don’t have external power supply like you suggested. I’ll get the wireless WiFi ones. Thanks for replying

They still need a power supply - the WiFi is just for the captured signal.
You can get battery-powered cameras, and versions powered by PV panels, but I cannot comment on how well they'll perform - or the obvious hassle of replacing batteries.
I'd assumed you were going to have a supply outside at some point, but just wanted internal use for the time being.
Bear in mind that the supply is typically 12V DC via a plug-in adaptor, so only requires a small access hole or gap, with no risk of dangerous voltages.
What's your situation? Where would they be mounted outside?
The option presumably remains for internal mounting, and you'd only need to thread a slim flat wire - like 'bell' wire - out via a window to power an led flood. You should be able to safely close a window on it - I think.
If you give us more details, we may have more options.

Thanks for this. Yes, I eventually want outside security cameras and was going with battery powered ones. Changing the batteries isn’t a problem as there is someone to do that. Or I’m looking at those with solar supply. I really don’t want wires coming down off them and into the house. 
Basically, I just wanted a couple of cameras indoor for the mean time to point out of the windows and secure front of house and back. They can be plugged into electrical sockets. For nighttime and daytime when I’m not here.

ThisIsWeird

Buntyboo1 said:

Thanks for this. Yes, I eventually want outside security cameras and was going with battery powered ones. Changing the batteries isn’t a problem as there is someone to do that. Or I’m looking at those with solar supply. I really don’t want wires coming down off them and into the house. 
Basically, I just wanted a couple of cameras indoor for the mean time to point out of the windows and secure front of house and back. They can be plugged into electrical sockets. For nighttime and daytime when I’m not here.

The issue still remains that, for nighttime use, you'll almost certainly require Infra Red lighting to flood the area, and if you shine that from within your house, it will reflect off the insides of your windows and cause camera-blinding glare.

It may be possible to make it work by having a separate IR floodlight pressed firmly against your glass, ideally a different pane from the one the camera is pointing through. I think there's every chance that this would work, but cannot be certain.

What won't work is to use the IR lights that are integrated in to the camera, as this will reflect and glare when using the camera internally.

I am not familiar with battery or PV-powered cameras, I'm afraid, so cannot comment on how long they'd run for each time. Some seem to suggest around 4 months on a charge, which is pretty impressive - if true. I guess there's always the option of setting up your own external battery pack, if you have somewhere to position it - eg inside a weatherproof box on a flat roof. Most cameras require 12V DC to run, and I'd imagine you'd be able to set up such a battery with a longer life than the built-in types.

Keep an eye on this? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/387976754587?

They are around £40 each new: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/404938542187? Something to bear in mind, tho', is - when the battery is depleted, it looks as tho' you need to recharge them using a USB cable. That means they'd either need taking down to do this, or else you run a USB cable temporarily to charge. They don't appear to have removable batteries that you can just swap.