FAQs

Where do I start to develop a custom solution Industrial Camera System?

The simple way is to call us for a free consultation. We know industrial process video applications—not just discreet parts manufacturers but industrial process operations like refineries, chemical plants, paper mills, steel mills. Applications like bark/recovery/combination boilers, incinerators, furnaces, kilns, conveyors, dumpers, vessels, crushers, chippers, extruders, flares, etc. are our specialty, not a sideline. One way to start is to request product selection assistance. After answering a few brief questions, we will send you information customized to your location and a product selection questionnaire to assist in selection of the optimal equipment for your application.

Why do I need a stainless steel camera enclosure?

Do-it-right the first time 

using Stainless Steel as an enclosure material solves a major problem – if you need* cameras for even mildly corrosive atmospheres. Many common corrosives—salts, alkali’s and acids will corrode and destroy any Printed Circuit Boards (PCB).

The solution:

  • Stainless steel gaskets, not reactive with the corrosives at hand, are part of the solution.
  • Stainless steel is well respected for being a “sure thing”
  • Except for the Bass Electronics SSE, no economical camera enclosure on the market is pressurizable and made of Stainless Steel.
  • Painted/cadmium/zinc coated aluminum or steel is a poor substitute. Aluminum, and worse yet, carbon steel, react with many corrosives.
  • Paints often become nicked, scratched or otherwise compromised. This leaves only the bare aluminum or carbon steel, which is easily attacked by corrosives.
  • Corrosion permeates under the coating compromising the circuit operation.
  • Stainless steel is the best all around solution as everyone we have consulted agrees. No more worries about “whether the paint is good enough” with a Bass Electronics SSE (Stainless Steel Enclosure Camera).
  • Only one known non-metallic enclosure on the market is pressurizable (BassCam’s owner designed it 20 years ago). It, however, won’t stand elevated temperatures like stainless steel. This SSE design has many features not available on the 1987 design. See the FAQ on pressurizable enclosures for the final chapter of this story.

*If you are our normal camera prospect your:

Environment is demanding and has some corrosives and or moisture,
Maintenance costs are high compared to a non-industrial facility,
Cameras must function 24/365 days as a process requirement not just a shoplifting deterrence as in the security world,
Redesign, repurchase or repair of a camera is something you would rather not consider (it is always expensive for an industrial operation to re-work, re-design, or re-purchase for any application in your facility and devalues your company’s bottom line of productivity in product qty. per day per dollar spent.)
The Bass Electronics SSE Camera is the way to do-it-right the first time.

Why do I need Pressurizable camera enclosures?

Using Pressurizable enclosures, along with it being built from a non-corroding material, solves a major problem – if you need* cameras for even mildly corrosive atmospheres. Many common corrosives—salts, alkali’s and acids will corrode and destroy any Printed Circuit Boards (PCB).
“Pressurized” or at least an enclosure capable of receiving a positive pressure and containing this pressure indefinitely without recharge, confirms the enclosure is TRULY GAS tight. Any enclosure can be “pressurized” by having a continuous charge line. Through this can be done, the initial and ongoing costs are exceedingly high. Except for the Bass Electronics SSE series, no economical camera enclosures on the market are gas-tight. Even the rating “NEMA4X” and, in most cases, the often un-defensible term “waterproof” only means the sealing is LIQUID tight, at best. Asian specs often tout “waterproof. When verified one will find this is a poor Asian to English translation meaning ‘falling rain water tight’, not submersible, which is inferior to NEMA4X.Gas-tight is a far more stringent and NECESSARY seal rating for our customers.

Why? Ambient barometric pressure changes and temperature related pressure changes will cause any enclosure, without GAS tight seals, to “breath”, in and out ambient air, corrosives and moisture causing the PCB to be destroyed. PCB failure can occur in as little as a week. A high quality PCB should last for many years. (Low cost, import PCBs generally won’t last that long. In many cases, temperature, vibration, corrosives and moisture take their toll far more quickly on inferior PCBs.) No electronic equipment will last very long if exposed to corrosives and moisture without the proper barrier.

Moisture- Water/moist air will increase the corrosiveness of many chemicals by exponentially. The Bass Electronics SSE gas tight seals protect the camera against gaseous water (humid air) intrusion (“breathing”) and thereby remove the possibility of corrosion induced PCB failure. A great side benefit of Bass Electronics’ SSE gas tight enclosures is that they are inherently non-fogging. Fogging is often a problem with non- pressurizable enclosures. Recognize that even if a lesser brand enclosure shell survives but it does not seal out corrosive gas atoms from the PCB, then the enclosure has not done its duty. The SSE Series is both stainless and pressurizable.

*If you are our normal camera prospect your:

Environment is demanding and has some corrosives and or moisture,
Maintenance costs are high compared to a non-industrial facility,
Cameras must function 24/365 days as a process requirement not just a shoplifting deterrence as in the security world,
Redesign, repurchase or repair of a camera is something you would rather not consider (it is always expensive for an industrial operation to re-work, re-design, or re-purchase for any application in your facility and devalues your company’s bottom line of productivity in product qty. per day per dollar spent.)
The Bass Electronics SSE Camera is the way to do-it-right the first time.

What is the difference in Industrial vs. Security camera equipment?

Security cameras and the people, who build/sell them, operate in the commercial realm of banks, grocery stores, and malls. Their cameras are not designed to resist high dust levels, corrosion, physical abuse, high temperature and explosive gasses. Their products are built with a strong emphasis on low cost rather than the durability needs of a process facility. Their products are built adequately, or barely adequate, for their intended environmental use. INDUSTRIAL cameras are built specifically for highly demanding environments.

What value is there to Bass Electronics vs. security products?

Bass Electronics provides video equipment designed to last for years under the worst conditions with little or no maintenance. The products deliver high image quality, durability and simplicity of installation and maintenance to allow the customer to spend his/her time working on something other than the camera system. With Bass Electronics you get purpose built equipment made for your demanding applications and demanding environments. You would not use a $10 kid’s walkie-talkie in the mill. You use a serious 2-way radio system provided by a top notch radio supplier. Why treat video any differently?

If my application is unique, can Bass Electronics really help me?

For 20 years the Bass Electronics team has developed scores of products just to enable cameras to function where they never could before He has devised new products, methods and techniques for a host of applications to improve and prolong the operability of valuable camera applications. Odds are your “unique” system is not unique to the Bass Electronics Team.

A camera is a camera is a camera, right?

Maybe. Not only is there color vs. monochrome (Black & White) there are 5 current sensor format sizes. None of them are inherently “superior”, but one should consider several issues about formatting size. Resolution may or may not be an issue for you. In many cases the actual viewable difference in high versus standard resolution cameras may be indistinguishable. Often environmental factors are of much greater significance to an industrial process application. Dust accumulation over the lens will quickly negate any benefits of a “high resolution” camera. Regions of the image that are too dark versus regions that are too bright or portions of interest that are too small/ large are far more debilitating than the resolution variations in 99% of applications. Bass Electronics has solutions.

How do I select the right monitor? Is bigger better?

Monitors: Bigger is not always better. In a computer application larger screens may help because the eye is only trying to read a word or a small symbol of maybe 2”x 2”. In a process video application one often needs to “visualize”, and “understand” the image on the entire display. Having too large a monitor is akin to viewing a large cinema screen from the front row. You can “see” the screen but you will have a hard time mentally comprehending the whole scene’s image. Select a monitor that has about 1” of screen diagonal size per foot of the AVERAGE viewer’s distance to the screen. Bass Electronics offers CRT and flat panel monitors as well as a large variety of monitor support mounts to enable mounting to walls, poles, pedestals, ceilings etc.

What if I need full services-CAD drawings, job scope, custom written specs for my job site services, etc.?

Similar to most industrial products an industrial camera system may not lend itself to a ‘Catalog’ concept. Each industrial application has specialized concerns as one considers camera monitor or multiple monitors, multiple cameras to one monitor, use of switchers, multiplexers, quads, etc.… We have experience in a great variety of systems such that no two systems ever seem to be exactly alike

Bass Electronics offers complete estimation proposals, custom line diagrams, custom installation manuals, equipment CAD drawings, Job scope, plans, blueprints, MSDS, safety programs, on site service, installation, project supervision etc. Turn-key projects are available for your Industrial process video systems from BassCam.

 Our norm is working with Industrial Process Facilities such as Pulp and Paper, Petro-Chemical, Primary Metals Processing etc. and the Engineering companies that service their needs. We are familiar with the technological, documentation and consultant needs of your operation.

Can’t I just select the parts I need and place an order?

Often a complete system for an Industrial application would benefit from the advice of a Bass Electronics professional. To provide the most value for your dollars, allow our free consultants to assist you to make the most cost effective selections for your particular application. We want to serve you.

What light type, fixture type and wattage do I need?

Many applications already have existing light fixtures that may be used. However, the light types: High & Low Pressure Sodium and Mercury Vapor produce “monochromatic” spectral outputs. This means they do not provide full, even color spectrum illumination as would sunlight. Depending on the application these types may prove adequate. When installing Illumination we highly suggest using Metal Halide or Quartz fixtures. Though both produce fairly full spectrum light outputs, Metal halide has a longer life rating than Quartz does.

Are there solutions for scenes plagued by very bright and very dark regions of the image?

Some scenes contain both very bright and very dark regions. This is a common and difficult problem for video cameras. Often the viewer would like to observe both the light and the dark regions of the image but cameras are often incapable of managing these variations. Even an automatic iris often does not solve this problem. An example is a camera viewing into a vessel or conveyor cover through an opening. The ambient sunlight on the cover or vessel exterior is far greater than that inside the unit. Bass Electronics offers several proprietary solutions for this problem. Call for details.

Should I use Pan Tilt Zoom or fixed cameras?

Pan Tilt and Zoom (PTZ) has unequalled flexibility. Consider, however, that PTZ has higher up front costs in equipment, cabling and controls. PTZ also may have higher maintenance cost. Also be aware that operators and sometimes visitors in the control location often enjoy ‘testing’ PTZ equipment, leaving the camera pointed at a scene other than what is most important to the facility.

What do all these optical and video terms mean?

There is a list of video terms and optical terms in the PDF section containing many terms common to closed circuit video applications. Also included are technical diagrams and helps on these topics.

What does the term “Nitrogen Pressurized enclosure” mean?

Do-it-right the first time Pressurized “Nitrogen”: Like the term “pressurizable” (see the FAQ on this definition) this implies the enclosure is well sealed and the manufacturer will fill it with nitrogen instead of air. The idea is, ‘if it will hold Nitrogen in, it will keep corrosives out’. A fair analysis. Nitrogen, abbreviated N2 in chemistry, is very inert (non-reactive to materials) and is generally a very dry gas. Clean, dry air in the enclosure, pressurized or not, will be no less beneficial than nitrogen. The Bass Electronics SSE will hold Nitrogen. Service procedures offer a simple means to assure that clean, dry air is left in the gas tight SSE enclosure, solving the problem of corrosion.

Why should I be concerned with corrosion of cameras?

Do-it-right the first time Corrosion will literally consume the tiny circuit board “traces” on circuit boards that carry electronic signals from one place to another. If a single trace or jumper is compromised, the entire device will generally fail completely. Some of the jumpers’ diameters are measured in microns in modern electronics. It does not require very much corrosion to open circuit these signal passageways. Worse yet, repair is often not economical because if one conduction path has been open circuited by corrosion then many others are soon to fail. The product is not considered repairable. In most cases a single conductor fails in either the camera or the lens. When this happens then one will usually find that both the camera and the lens must be disposed of and replaced because they were both exposed to the same corrosive environment.

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