Building a Helmet Camera

[If_Rider]

I've had a Sony digital camcorder (DCR-TRV22) for awhile and I've been wanting to build a helmet cam setup. Then I acquired a bullet camera from a friend and started looking into how to control the camera remotely and how to protect it from impacts and other damage that can occur while MTB’ing. Trying to explain to my wife that I trashed the camcorder biking and could not film my son's Birthday or first day of school etc. would be a bad thing, a very bad thing.

First, I mounted the bullet cam to my skatepark style helmet using an old broken waterbottle mount off my Son’s bike (who says being a packrat doesn’t pay off?). I mostly use this helmet when it’s cold out so I wouldn’t have to mess with removing the camera during the project. Also, the vent holes lined up perfectly for it too. Later I’ll figure out how to put the bullet cam on my regular helmet with decent venting for those hot weather rides. I also want to trim off that turret on the top of the mount. Here it is:

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/1436/helmetsm1my.th.jpg (http://img189.imageshack.us/my.php?image=helmetsm1my.jpg)

Next I needed a case. I found a Pelican case locally at REI ($19.95) that was waterproof and crushproof. It fit the CC perfectly but once the bullet cam was plugged in, the cover wouldn’t close. I didn’t want to waste more time looking for a different case so I decided to modify it. I cut a hole where the bullet cam plugs in using a drill and a dremel tool. I also had to cut a hole for the cable to exit the case. The case is Polycarbonate so it cuts easily and can be trimmed with an Exacto too. Here it is unmodified:

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/1125/case7gl.th.jpg (http://img27.imageshack.us/my.php?image=case7gl.jpg)

Here it is after cutting the holes with the cable plugged in:

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/4249/lidholesm3ay.th.jpg (http://img27.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lidholesm3ay.jpg)

Now I needed to protect the protruding cable from impacts that could damage the CC. I cut the bottom off a film container and glued it over the hole so it would spread out any impacts over the surface of the lid and not damage the connector (in theory anyway).
Here it is prior to gluing:

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/5259/lidholeblksm1ln.th.jpg (http://img212.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lidholeblksm1ln.jpg)

Now I needed a 12 volt battery pack for the bullet camera. I scavenged some battery holders from a scrap printed circuit board at work and glued and wired them together.

http://img322.imageshack.us/img322/8199/bpack4nx.th.jpg (http://img322.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bpack4nx.jpg)

Then I put it in an old screwdriver case:

http://img322.imageshack.us/img322/6374/bpackcasesm0ru.th.jpg (http://img322.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bpackcasesm0ru.jpg)

...and threw a strap around it to keep it secure. Here it is completed:

http://img322.imageshack.us/img322/1170/packcomplete0me.th.jpg (http://img322.imageshack.us/my.php?image=packcomplete0me.jpg)

I found a good way to control the camcorder is with a Lanc remote, which allows the CC to be turned off and on, record start and pause etc. Some helmet cam websites offer a nice waterproof "one-button" solution with LED feedback for record mode and power on or off. They were a little pricey at $60+ so I bought a Sony RMVD1 from Amazon for $35 with free shipping. Turns out, after some testing, this remote only works in the “camera” mode. For a helmet cam setup, the CC needs to be in “VCR” mode. Back to Amazon with it and for the time being I’ll have to start the recording manually.

I haven’t done any field testing yet but I’m looking forward to playing with this new toy in the woods. I’ll try to post some video if I can and a review later.

Lengthy but hey, it’s my 500th post. ;D

Mike

[C.P.]

Wow - cool project Mike. I cant wait to see the "results" of your hard work - y' know, goin down the "jump line" on the new 'nam trail ;)

[Ben-O]

That's awesome! Start to finish, how much time do you think you put into it?

Can you easily adjust the angle of the bullet camera (ie up/down)?

Although, from here on, I'm never riding in front of you again.... ;D ;D ;D

[If_Rider]

That's awesome! Start to finish, how much time do you think you put into it?

Can you easily adjust the angle of the bullet camera (ie up/down)?

Although, from here on, I'm never riding in front of you again.... ;D ;D ;D


Not counting Internet time (of course), maybe 8 hrs?

The angle is difficult to adjust with the mount I'm using right now but I don't expect it to be the final version. I have a few other prototypes from my homemade lights to experiment with. I'm doing a test run around the yard tonight so we'll see.

Who said the camera had to always point to the front???

[Quo Fan]

Ok Mike, you film them crashing on the trail, I'll film them crashing on stunts, deal?