Raspberry PI Zero-W Self-Hosted Security Camera Build

Brian McGonagill

• 1 min read

What Is This Project?

I've been wanting to do this project for a while, and have been working on it for a little over a month as time allowed.  I take a raspberry PI Zero W (actually 2 so far), and using an inexpensive Fake Camera housing, build a fully functional, open source, self hosted, home security camera.  

Part 1 focuses on the hardware, modification and assembly.  Part 2 will focus on the software options you'll have for self hosting, and controlling your video.

Why Do This?

I currently have a Ring doorbell camera, 2 Logitech Logi Circle 2 Cameras, and 1 Reolink Camera.  Each is very nice, and works fine, but each one has it's own "eco-system" where I have to use the manufacturer's app to access videos and feeds.  I don't like my video, from my home, from a camera I bought being held hostage by the manufacturer.  It's creepy, and honestly kind of wrong.  So, I decided to do something about it.  

I searched, quite a lot for open source cameras that I could run on my own...and just didn't find anything that I felt satisfied what I wanted.

How Much Does it Cost?

Raspberry Pi Zero W - $ 10.00
Fake Camera Casing - $ 7.00
SD Card / 32 GB - $ 5.00
Micro USB Cable for Power - $ 9.00
Camera Module / 5 MP - $ 8.00

Total Monetary Investment - ~ $40.00 US

Cameras
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QNSJ32M/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Pi Zero Camera Cable (it's smaller)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0716TB6X3/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Fake camera 4 pack
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074FTSR3M/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Pi Zero Wireless
https://www.canakit.com/raspberry-pi-zero-wireless.html

Power Supply for Pi Zero W and Camera
https://www.canakit.com/raspberry-pi-adapter-power-supply-2-5a.html

Other supplies you'll want
- Small saw that can cut smoothly through plastic
- Hot Glue or Glue / epoxy that can be used on a board without interrupting power flow.
- Small Philips (+) head screwdriver