A couple of years ago, there was a need to install a video peephole on the front door in front of the vestibule of a city apartment, to control uninvited guests.
The apartment is on the ground floor, and the elevator area is just opposite our door, so there are many outsiders in the corridor.
We did not need an intercom for the door, because there was no desire to talk to anyone, and if one of his own comes, then he can be allowed to go home without talking, just by seeing in the monitor.
For simplicity of soul, I first asked Yandex, where, what, how much.
It turned out that the cheapest monitor with a peephole - a camera in our area costs at least 2500 rubles. And the screen is miserable, only two inches. It is even smaller than my old phone.
Then I thought that I could probably adapt a kit from a small-sized LCD TV and an ordinary compact video camera for this. I had such a television in stock, but a visit to the shops where the cameras are sold plunged me into a gloom. At least 1200 rubles for the simplest camcorder. Somehow cool.
The idea came unexpectedly. On the way back, while standing at the traffic lights, I saw a small rear view camera on the rear bumper of a cool foreign car. And I realized that for my task you can just use it!
An hour later, I already ordered a set for aliexpress on installation of a “moisture-proof rear view camera with a four-inch LCD screen for power supply from 12 Volts." For only 750 rubles, with free shipping.
In less than two weeks, the cargo arrived.
They sent a monitor and a camera. I did not order wires and adapters, I have this stuff full. Title and model I do not intentionally indicate the equipment, I am categorically against advertising, and whoever needs it will find it on the express train of a thousand species.
To install the monitor, it took only two dowels, but I had to tinker with the camera. First of all, I wanted it to not be too noticeable, to be as vandal resistant as possible and to show the largest possible area of the corridor.I did not want to drill and disfigure the iron door either. In addition, the installation time was strictly limited, the less people know and see it, the better and more reliable.
In the morning, when the neighboring people ran away on business and work, I quickly drilled a hole in the wall between the lintel and the entrance iron door with a puncher, and then made a recess there, into which I extended the wires and ... camouflaged the video camera with cement and putty. When the solution froze a little, I went into the corridor, checked the angle of the camera, adjusted it, and by weight connecting the wires and plugs, checked the image quality. Everything turned out very wonderful.
It remains only to connect the plugs on the monitor, hide them away, connect the 12V 2 Amp power adapter to the nearest outlet from the old router, and solder the switch.
To make everything look neat, I used two pieces of cable duct with Velcro for laying wires.
Now, when someone rings the front door, we press the button and see what happens there and who is there. If the guest is needed, then we go to the vestibule, open the external entrance door. And if someone is a stranger, then let him stand there, we have everything at home, there is nothing to bother people in vain.