What about buying some Refurb V3 cameras? Refurbished would be cheaper than new, provide actual monitoring and would be in service once more of your existing cameras die.
I have a 30x40 metal building where I keep all my toys (tractor, mowers, tools, etc). It gets really dark around it at night, so I got some non-working security cameras, not Wyze, and mounted one on each outside corner of the building. They light the area up like daytime (black-and-white) at night. My V3 cameras don’t look like security cameras. A couple of months ago, some young neighborhood troublemakers and hooligans (16-17 yr olds) came by about 2am looking in the windows. It’s pitch black dark, inside and outside. By keeping their faces away from the “cameras” (which were just IR lights), they were looking straight at my V3s and not knowing it. They didn’t steal anything, so I just sent the videos to everyone in the neighborhood saying beware because “someone” is looking in windows at 2am. Most people in the neighborhood knew and recognized these boys. And so did their parents. We haven’t had any trouble since.
I have a similar setup inside the building as well.
So, if I understand correctly, you’re using “non-working security cameras” as IR illuminators for the fully-functioning Cam v3s? I like this! Good story, too.
Crease - yes, you understand it correctly.
The subject of this thread is where to obtain dead cameras. Here’s my answer.
I went to a local company that installs security cameras. I figured when someone called them saying one of their cameras quit working, they went out and swapped it for a new one. I explained what I wanted to use the dead cameras for and they said they would gladly save the dead ones for me.
I understand that I might get a dead camera once in awhile that is really dead. So far, that hasn’t happened. Also, they don’t come with power adaptors. I can get 5 of them for $20 on Amazon. So for a total of $4 each, I can get unlimited IR illuminators. I put them up everywhere.
This is excellent. I really like that you’re getting use out of equipment that otherwise would likely go into a landfill. Nice work!
Just in time for Halloween
This is the type of post I’m saying to look for to go DM a user about selling their whole Wyze stash because they’re looking for a way to get out already:
That’s a win-win for everyone when they’re serious about selling everything (the guy getting out, gets something instead of throwing them away, and you get them cheaper than buying new ones).
We get posts like that every so often. You just have to watch for them.
You could actually do the same thing in basically any smart camera company’s forums. I see the same posts for literally every camera company. I have cameras from at least 5 different companies and every single one of them has people occasionally say the same things. So you just look for those and offer to buy them out. The benefit of doing it with Wyze is that they’re much more likely to sell them for cheaper because they didn’t pay as much to begin with, so they’re more likely to stay lower.
1% usable is some hope.
I think they had better luck. 37% of the Titanic passengers survived.
You changed your avatar again . Is that homage to McDonalds
Nah, just havin’ fun. Are you lovin’ it? I’m lovin’ it!
I’m not lovin’ the E. coli, though.
Para pom pom pom
Is that Canadian or French?
I’ve always gotten my quarter pounders without onions, so this has just validated my pickiness.
I love when I’m right
Well. like I wrote
It seems that there is NOT well known clearing house for non-functioning Wyze cams.
Suggestions of other models, refurbs, etc. just don’t make it on a time involved or cost basis.
Thanks for the discssion
FWIW:
That’s exactly what should happen to wyze.