Re: Camera heater needed in NJ?

[Matt Ion <soundy106@xxxxxxxxx>]

DeanB wrote:

> Thanks both of you. I was not sure if those temperature specs were for
> an unenclosed camera. I can imagine a camera in a cold factory that's
> not in any box being a lot colder than an enclosed camera. But pretty
> much you're saying to just include the heater anyway - and since its
> not much different in price I'll d just that.

The heater in the enclosure isn't to keep the camera warm, it's to keep
the glass from fogging up (or icing up, if it's cold enough).  The
"heater" often consists of little more than a couple of large,
low-resistance, high-wattage resistors clamped directly against the
glass.  A blower is there to circulate air and further prevent fogging,
not to keep the camera cool.

Most cameras of the type you're going to put in an enclosure run
relatively warm on their own anyway, and their operating temperature
range is pretty wide.  In a sealed enclosure, they'll tend to keep
themselves quite toasty in winter.

The heater is a good idea in those climates though, just to help keep
the glass clear.  The important thing is, you also need to make sure to
seal the enclosure properly so it's not getting moist outside air in.