10-14-2022, 01:36 PM
@Jack Houpe - As someone that works in tech and has done plenty of work on DVR apps (primarily ML/AI), I have familiarity with just about every non-mobile system you can buy on Amazon. Reolink are some of the most problematic, lowest quality units and they are notorious for buying fake reviews on Amazon and/or bribing people with bad reviews (eg - they'll refund the money to remove the bad review).
If you're just using this as a proof-of-concept and you don't mind replacing them in a year (a major benefit to PoE/IP-based cameras), then I'll address the 48v issue mentioned above:
The PoE is a benefit for sure and the 48v is also a benefit because running 12v over the tiny 24 gauge wire in Cat5/6, would be an issue over long lengths.
The 48v PoE in this instance is the *passive* variety (as with 95% of all PoE security cameras). In other words, just buy a DC-boost (vs buck) power supply to convert your 12v to 48v. The amperage is relatively low and you should be able to get by with a single DC-boost power supply. Wiring that to a pass-through PoE splitter is easy and very inexpensive, also available on Amazon.
This makes much more sense than going from AC-to-DC with the 110-to-48v POE because the inverter isn't required.
I would still recommend going with an alternative, higher-quality system; however, you can't go wrong because you'll always be able to upgrade/replace the REOlink easily because the wiring can be reused by any alternative PoE/IP based camera system.
If you're just using this as a proof-of-concept and you don't mind replacing them in a year (a major benefit to PoE/IP-based cameras), then I'll address the 48v issue mentioned above:
The PoE is a benefit for sure and the 48v is also a benefit because running 12v over the tiny 24 gauge wire in Cat5/6, would be an issue over long lengths.
The 48v PoE in this instance is the *passive* variety (as with 95% of all PoE security cameras). In other words, just buy a DC-boost (vs buck) power supply to convert your 12v to 48v. The amperage is relatively low and you should be able to get by with a single DC-boost power supply. Wiring that to a pass-through PoE splitter is easy and very inexpensive, also available on Amazon.
This makes much more sense than going from AC-to-DC with the 110-to-48v POE because the inverter isn't required.
I would still recommend going with an alternative, higher-quality system; however, you can't go wrong because you'll always be able to upgrade/replace the REOlink easily because the wiring can be reused by any alternative PoE/IP based camera system.