[image|1525674]
[image|1525685]
[image|1525686]
Yes, the large, permanently attached USB connector requiring a 7/8” hole is ugly and poor design practice. Also way off the mark is Nest’s idea of using a within-reach outdoor 120 volt outlet (unless the outlet is high up under an overhang). It’s also obvious that Nest’s engineers never owned a structure and realized one has to weatherproof exterior holes to keep out moisture, insects and other varmints out of structure walls.
This method is for powering your camera from inside your house. It allows relatively easy removal/replacement of the camera without modifying the permanently attached USB cable and USB plug (and probably voiding your warranty). Admittedly, it’s UGLY but it does work effectively.
Materials Needed (from any good hardware store):
# 1” PVC LB (aka “condolet”)
# Tapered rubber stopper to fit the bottom hole of the LB (like what you used in high school chemistry class).
# Silicon rubber seal (RTV) or siliconized water-clean up caulk (“Alex Plus”). RTV is better, but a mess to apply or clean up; “Alex Plus” works quite well and can be cleaned up with water.
Method:
# Make a clean 1-1/8” hole in your exterior wall and line up a 7/8” hole in your interior wall. Make the exterior hole just large enough so that the LB fits very tightly into the exterior wall (you may have to use a hammer gently to insert the LB into the wall). When you are satisfied with the hole, remove the LB and apply the caulking around the outside circumference of the LB hole on the back side of the LB itself. Ditto to the inside circumference of the hole you just made in your exterior wall (an index finger work best).
# Using a sharp knife (or even a kitchen serrated knife), make a v-shaped slot in the “side” of the rubber stopper, just deep enough for the flat camera wire to clear the “edge” of the stopper.
# Insert the stopper into the bottom hole of the LB.
# One the camera is tested and exterior cable clamps are in place, you can cover the inside hole using a single-gang blank outlet plate. Simply file a small notch for the flat cable at the bottom of the plate. You can attach the plate to the wall using small sheet metal screws, or more professionally attach the plate to the wall, using a “single-gang low voltage box”: https://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Betts-SC100RR-Carlon-Voltage/dp/B000W09PQI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1534713837&sr=8-1&keywords=carlon+sc100rr[br]