DIY Vehicle Monitoring Setup with Wyze Cam and Portable Jump Starter

General
1

Hello everyone,

I wanted to share a successful setup I’ve created for monitoring my vehicle when it’s parked away from home. This project combines a few affordable devices to provide a reliable and cloud-connected surveillance system. Here’s how I did it:

Supplies Needed:

  1. Portable Car Jump Starter - I’m using the BEATIT G18 QDSP 2000Amp model. It provides a stable power source for the camera and other devices.
  2. Wyze Cam 1 - This camera serves as the eyes of the system, capturing video footage of the vehicle.
  3. Old Smartphone - I used an old iPhone 6 to set up a Wi-Fi hotspot. This ensures continuous internet connectivity for the Wyze Cam.
  4. USB Switch - The Onite 2pcs Micro USB Female to Male Cable Raspberry Pi 3, Pi 2, B+, Zero W Power Switch Cord helps manage power efficiently.
  5. Industrial Velcro - Used to securely mount the camera on the windshield without causing damage.

Setup Process:

  1. Power Management: Connect the car jump starter and the smartphone to the vehicle’s electrical system. This setup ensures that both devices are charged whenever the car is running, preventing any drain on the car’s battery.
  2. Camera Installation: Mount the Wyze Cam on the windshield using industrial-grade velcro. This ensures stability and prevents movement during vibrations. Connect the camera to the jump starter via the USB switch to control power usage.
  3. Wi-Fi Hotspot: Configure the old smartphone to act as a Wi-Fi hotspot. This provides the Wyze Cam with a continuous internet connection, enabling cloud-based recording and remote access.
  4. Wyze App Integration: Add the Wyze Cam to your account by connecting to the smartphone’s hotspot. This step ensures that the camera is integrated into your Wyze ecosystem, allowing for easy monitoring and recording.

Benefits of This Setup:

  • Continuous Monitoring: The system provides uninterrupted surveillance of the vehicle, even when parked away from home.
  • Cloud Recording: All footage is automatically uploaded to the Wyze cloud, ensuring that you never miss an event.
  • Energy Efficiency: The use of a portable jump starter and USB switch ensures that power consumption is managed efficiently, preserving the car’s battery life.
  • Affordable Solution: This setup avoids the need for expensive dedicated vehicle monitoring systems, making it accessible for most budgets.

Final Thoughts:

This project has been a great way to repurpose old devices and create a functional security system for my vehicle. It’s been incredibly reassuring to have this level of monitoring, and I’m excited to see how this setup evolves in the future.

I’d love to hear if anyone else has tried something similar or has suggestions for improvements! Thanks for reading, and happy tinkering! :blush: