Hardware Installation (GigE Cameras)#
General Considerations#
The pylon Software Suite for Windows must be installed.
Make sure that the following items are available before starting the hardware installation:
- A Basler camera with a GigE interface.
- A computer with a suitable GigE network adapter.
- As applicable, a power supply or a PoE power injector.
Make sure that the power supply meets all of the requirements listed in the topic about your camera model.
If you want to use PoE, your camera supports PoE, but your computer doesn't, use a PoE injector. Alternatively, you can make your computer PoE-capable by using a network card with added PoE capabilities, for example this one. - As applicable, a C-mount or CS-mount lens for the camera.
If you already know what lens you will be using in your actual application, use this lens during the camera installation and setup. If not, Basler suggests using a zoom lens for the installation and initial setup. Contact Basler technical support if you need assistance in determining the best lens for your application. - A standard Ethernet cable. Basler recommends using Cat 6 or Cat 7 S/STP cables. If you're using a PoE injector, you need two Ethernet cables.
Suitable cables are available via the Basler website.
Recommended GigE Network Adapters#
Basler 1GigE Cameras#
The following GigE network adapters are recommended for use with Basler 1GigE cameras:
- Intel Pro 1000 series
- Intel i210 series
- Intel i340 series
- Intel i350 series
These adapters have been tested and generally work well with the pylon GigE Vision drivers.
However, for best performance, Basler recommends using the Basler GigE Interface Cards.
Basler 5GigE Cameras#
The following GigE network adapter is recommended for use with Basler 5GigE cameras:
Marvell AQtion AQC107
For best performance, Basler recommends using the Basler GigE Interface Cards.
Info
You can operate a Basler 5GigE camera with a 1GigE network adapter. However, the camera's bandwidth will be limited to 1/5 of its maximum bandwidth.
Network Adapters and Network Drivers#
Although Basler recommends the adapters listed above, the cameras should work with any compatible network adapter card.
Info
If the adapter is not a recommended network adapter, you may experience stability issues, e.g., image data loss. Also, the performance of your system may be degraded.
Using a recommended network adapter also lets you benefit from the pylon GigE Configurator, which automatically optimizes your system for optimum performance and reliability.
The pylon GigE Vision drivers and tools optimize and lower the CPU load caused by network traffic between the computer and the cameras. In addition, they come with very robust packet resend mechanisms to assure maximum stability and reliability of your GigE Vision setup.
Installing the Camera#
This procedure assumes that you want to establish a peer-to-peer connection between your GigE camera and a computer.
ace, ace 2, and racer 2 S Cameras#
How to achieve IP67 compatibility for ace 2 IP67 cameras, see ace 2 IP67 Cameras.
To install the camera:
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Make sure that you observe the mounting instructions (i.e., the order of tightening the screws when mounting the camera into your system). It depends on your system set-up whether you want to mount the camera in your system first and afterwards do the installation steps from this topic or vice versa.
- Remove the protective cap from the lens mount.
- Mount a C-mount or CS-mount lens onto your camera. Be careful not to insert the lens any deeper than specified in the Maximum Allowed Lens Intrusion topic.
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Connect the camera to the computer and power.
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If you are using Power over Ethernet (PoE) with a PoE-capable computer (recommended option)
- Plug one end of the Ethernet cable into the Ethernet connector of the camera and plug the other end of the cable into the PoE-capable GigE network adapter port of your computer.
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If you are using Power over Ethernet (PoE) with a PoE injector
- Plug one end of an Ethernet cable into the "In" (or similar) port of the power injector and plug the other end of the cable into the GigE network adapter port of your computer.
- Plug one end of an Ethernet cable into the "Out" (or similar) port of the PoE injector and plug the other end of the cable into the Ethernet connector of the camera.
- Use the power cord that shipped with your power injector to connect the injector to an AC outlet.
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If you are using a power supply
- Plug one end of an Ethernet cable into the network adapter port in your computer and plug the other end of the cable into the Ethernet connector of the camera.
- Plug the 6-pin connector of the cable from your power supply into the 6-pin connector of the camera.
- Switch on the power supply.
The camera starts up and will go through several initialization steps including IP address assignment. This takes some time.
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Info
If your system is configured to show network connection icons in the Windows system tray, you may see a yellow exclamation point on the icon. You may also see a message about limited connectivity. You can ignore the icon and the message as they don't affect the camera.
ace 2 IP67 Cameras#
To achieve IP67 compatibility with ace 2 IP67 cameras, make sure that you have the following IP67-compliant components available:
- Blanking plug and O-ring are pre-installed on ace 2 IP67 cameras.
- Lens housing adapter ring
- IP67-compliant lens housing
- Ethernet cable
- Power cable: Use an IP67-compliant cable to make sure that the camera is IP67-compliant when completely mounted and installed.
To install the camera and make it IP67-compliant:
Info
Make sure that you observe the mounting instructions (i.e., the order of tightening the screws when mounting the camera into your system). It depends on your system set-up whether you want to mount the camera in your system first and afterwards do the installation steps from this topic or vice versa.
NOTICE – Obtaining IP67 compatibilty.
- ace 2 IP67 cameras have a blanking plug pre-installed on the M8 connector (I/O connector) and an O-ring on the camera thread.
- Sealing surfaces must be clean and dry during installation.
- The camera isn't IP67-compatible until the steps below have been carried out and all cables have been screwed in place. Basler recommends to use the Basler Cable GigE, Cat 6, M12/RJ45, DrC and, if required, a Basler power cable for ace 2 IP67 cameras. These cables become IP67-compliant as soon as they are screwed into the camera (power cable and Ethernet cable).
- Make sure that all screw connections in the following steps are tight so that the seals/O-rings are compressed.
- The first step depends on whether you want to use the M8 connector of the camera or not:
- If you don't use the M8 connector of the camera:
Leave the pre-installed blanking plug on the M8 connector. - If you want to use the M8 connector:
Remove the blanking plug from the M8 connector.
- If you don't use the M8 connector of the camera:
- Remove the protective cap from the lens mount.
- Make sure that all sealing surfaces are clean and dry.
- Make sure that the pre-installed O-ring rests on the sealing surface of the camera thread.
- Attach the lens housing adapter ring onto the camera thread.
- Attach a C-mount lens onto your camera. Be careful not to insert the lens any deeper than specified in the Maximum Allowed Lens Intrusion topic.
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Screw the lens housing onto the lens housing adapter ring, thus inserting the lens in the lens housing.
Further installation steps:
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Connect the camera to the computer and power.
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If you are using Power over Ethernet (PoE) with a PoE-capable computer (recommended option)
- Screw the Ethernet cable into the Ethernet connector of the camera and plug the other end of the cable into the PoE-capable GigE network adapter port of your computer.
Basler recommends using the Basler Cable GigE, Cat6a, RJ45 sl hor/RJ45, S.
- Screw the Ethernet cable into the Ethernet connector of the camera and plug the other end of the cable into the PoE-capable GigE network adapter port of your computer.
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If you are using Power over Ethernet (PoE) with a PoE injector
- Plug one end of an Ethernet cable into the "In" (or similar) port of the power injector and plug the other end of the cable into the GigE network adapter port of your computer.
- Plug one end of an Ethernet cable into the "Out" (or similar) port of the PoE injector and screw the other end of the cable into the Ethernet connector of the camera.
- Use the power cord that is shipped with your power injector to connect the injector to an AC outlet.
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If you are using a power supply
- Plug one end of an Ethernet cable into the network adapter port in your computer and screw the other end of the cable into the Ethernet connector of the camera.
- Screw the 6-pin connector of the cable from your power supply into the 6-pin connector of the camera.
- Switch on the power supply.
The camera starts up and will go through several initialization steps including IP address assignment. This takes some time.
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Info
If your system is configured to show network connection icons in the Windows system tray, you may see a yellow exclamation point on the icon. You may also see a message about limited connectivity. You can ignore the icon and the message as they don't affect the camera.
dart M Cameras#
To install the camera:
NOTICE – Mechanical stress on the Ethernet connector may damage the interface board.
If mechanical stress is applied to the Ethernet connector (RJ-45 jack), provide strain relief for the cable to prevent mechanical damage to the interface board.
- The camera modules are delivered with a protective foil on the sensor:
Remove the protective foil from the sensor. - If you are using a mount: Mount a dart M camera mount to the camera module.
See dart M section in the Mounting Instructions topic. - Mount a lens onto the camera. Be careful not to insert the lens any deeper than specified in the Maximum Allowed Lens Intrusion topic.
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Connect one end of the dart M FFC Cable to the camera module.
Make sure to insert the cable in the correct orientation, as indicated on the cable.
The ends of the FFC cable are not specific, i.e. you can connect each end either to the camera module connector or to the interface board connector. But it's important that you make sure to insert the cable in the correct orientation, i.e. the red conducting paths of the FFC cable must face the boards as shown in the following image.
For information about how to provide heat dissipation, refer to the following documentation:
- Providing Heat Dissipation topic (dart M section)
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How to Effectively Provide Heat Dissipation for dart M Camera Modules application note
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The following steps depend on whether you use a custom or a Basler interface board:
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If you are using a custom interface board, connect and install the interface board according to your own specifications.
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If you are using a Basler dart M interface board, the next steps depend on the type of dart M interface board you want to use:
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Info
If you are using the dart M I/O cable: Make sure to insert the cable in the correct orientation on the interface board. The red wire of the I/O cable is for pin 1.
The camera starts up and will go through several initialization steps including IP address assignment. This takes some time.
Info
If your system is configured to show network connection icons in the Windows system tray, you may see a yellow exclamation point on the icon. You may also see a message about limited connectivity. You can ignore the icon and the message as they don't affect the camera.
Using an Interface Board dart M GigE RJ45 PoE#
If you are using an Interface Board dart M GigE RJ45 PoE, proceed as follows after having connected the FFC cable:
- Depending on whether you use a PoE-capable computer or a PoE injector, the following steps differ:
- If you are using a PoE-capable computer:
Plug one end of the Ethernet cable into the Ethernet connector of the board and plug the other end of the cable into the PoE-capable GigE network adapter port of your computer. - If you are using a PoE injector:
- Plug one end of an Ethernet cable into the "In" (or similar) port of the power injector and plug the other end of the cable into the GigE network adapter port of your computer.
- Plug one end of an Ethernet cable into the "Out" (or similar) port of the PoE injector and plug the other end of the cable into the Ethernet connector of the board.
- Use the power cord that was shipped with your power injector to connect the injector to an AC outlet.
- If you are using a PoE-capable computer:
Info
If you are using the dart M I/O cable: Make sure to insert the cable in the correct orientation on the interface board. The red wire of the I/O cable is for pin 1.
The camera starts up and will go through several initialization steps including IP address assignment. This takes some time.
Info
If your system is configured to show network connection icons in the Windows system tray, you may see a yellow exclamation point on the icon. You may also see a message about limited connectivity. You can ignore the icon and the message as they don't affect the camera.
Using an Interface Board dart M GigE RJ45 AUX#
If you are using an Interface Board dart M GigE RJ45 AUX, proceed as follows after having connected the FFC cable:
- Plug one end of an Ethernet cable into the network adapter port in your computer and plug the other end of the cable into the Ethernet connector of the board.
- Plug your I/O cable into the 10-pin I/O connector of the board.
Make sure that pin 1 is connected to ground (GND) and pin 2 is supplied with 12–24 VDC. - If you are using the dart M I/O cable:
Make sure to insert the cable in the correct orientation on the interface board. The red wire of the I/O cable is for pin 1.
Info
If you are using the dart M I/O cable: Make sure to insert the cable in the correct orientation on the interface board. The red wire of the I/O cable is for pin 1.
The camera starts up and will go through several initialization steps including IP address assignment. This takes some time.
Info
If your system is configured to show network connection icons in the Windows system tray, you may see a yellow exclamation point on the icon. You may also see a message about limited connectivity. You can ignore the icon and the message as they don't affect the camera.
Next Steps#
- Use the pylon Viewer to check whether your camera has been detected, acquire images, display images, and adjust parameter settings to improve image quality.
- In most cases, you must configure your network before you can use the camera.