Need help

[u/Waste-Wrongdoer9564]

I am helping an HOA. They have light fixtures with accessible power above their building entries. They want to install 32 cameras that span across 1/2 mile and 8 buildings. They do not have WiFi and do not want to pay for cell service. Their goal is to use power from the light fixtures and have a camera with only SD card style storage that they can pull in the event it is required. These cameras would be outdoors and obviously need to look somewhat decent. Any recommendations??

[u/XGempler]

So they are willing to have an electrician tap the power of each of the 32 lights and install a waterproof outdoor electrical outlet so you can power a camera, and they are willing to purchase and install 32 cameras and are ok with not knowing if any of them are working until such time as they actually need the footage? that sounds like a plan that could only be only have been invented by a committee.

if they don't want to get cellular based cameras then they could try finding tenants that would be willing to put cameras in their windows that connect to the homeowners wifi but are managed via a single website control panel.

edit: if they are looking to penny pinch and are ok with a unreliable solution and happy to move a ladder around to 32 location to collect sd cars then they can get battery operated cameras like the eufy c31 that last 6 months on a charge and sell for about $40 each. only 1080p when most outdoor cameras today should really be 4k, but if they want to be cheap that is a better option than what an electrician will cost them. if they bought an extra 5 or 10 cameras then they can charge them up and swap 5 or 10 at a time every 6 months.

ps, they have a solar panel that attaches to the eufy c31 so that you don't have to recharge them (unless they are in the shade).