Need storage solution for RV installation

Bean

Bean

n3wb
Jan 21, 2019
3
2
Florida
I'm going to be installing four cameras on an RV. While in motion the cameras will be recording constantly. My concern is that a spinning HDD may be damaged while running in a bumpy vehicle. A SSD would handle that fine but then I have concerns about the longevity of an SSD being used to constantly record video.

I would appreciate any insight, thanks!
 
  • Like
Reactions: area651
Bean said:
I'm going to be installing four cameras on an RV. While in motion the cameras will be recording constantly. My concern is that a spinning HDD may be damaged while running in a bumpy vehicle. A SSD would handle that fine but then I have concerns about the longevity of an SSD being used to constantly record video.

I would appreciate any insight, thanks!
Click to expand...

imho, spinning platters won't have any problem. I've worked for a storage company before and the length & severity of the shock & vibe tests are FAR beyond anything you could ever do. Or you could go with NVMe. That especially often has a warranty that will outlive the solution you build it to run. Realistically, how long would you expect to run this system you'd build to do this? 3yrs? 5yrs at best? My guess is that within 2yrs, you'll be changing it all up to newer tech like we all do. :)
 
You make some valid points!

I've already got a 2TB Seagate SkyHawk that I'd like to use if this setup won't slowly destroy it. But as you said, I'll likely replace it in a few years regardless.
 
Bean said:
You make some valid points!

I've already got a 2TB Seagate SkyHawk that I'd like to use if this setup won't slowly destroy it. But as you said, I'll likely replace it in a few years regardless.
Click to expand...

If it were me, I'd run that 2TB drive. If you did kill it after a year, you've only lost a 2TB drive that's already pretty cheap. Just imagine how cheap they'll be in another year! (and then of course they'll hopefully be tougher and maybe NVMe or regular SSD will handle a bazillion writes better.)
 
While I agree with @area651 I’d probably mount the hard drive on some shock absorbers and call it good, the endurance of SSD’s is also improving dramatically, and for your system you might consider a decent quality one (or even a cheap one that you are willing to swap out every few years). Meanwhile the cost continues to go down and capacities are increasing.

For your use case, the SSD would definitely avoid all shock and vibration problems, and I believe they are estimated at 1000-2000 write cycles per cell, so depending on how much a day of video space is for you I would think you could estimate when it would fail on you.

Nice read here, just Translate in Google: SSD-Langzeittest beendet: Exitus bei 9,1 Petabyte
 
  • Like
Reactions: area651
I'd stick with surveillance-rated HARD disk drives, like WD Purple. The reason?
They are rated minimum of 30G's shock resistance when operating, 250G's when non-operating.

So the "G" is simply a unit of measurement, but it's a convenient one for describing accelerations in terms people can identify with. Here's a handy table, reproduced from Physics, by O'hanian, 1989:

Protons in Fermilab accelerator 9e12 G
Ultracentrifuge 3e5 G (300,000 G)
Baseball struck by bat 3000 G
Soccer ball struck by foot 300 G
Automobile crash (100 km/h into wall) 100 G
Parachutist during opening of parachute 33 G
Gravity on surface of Sun 27 G
Explosive seat ejection from aircraft 15 G
F16 aircraft pulling out of dive 8 G
Loss of consciousness in man ("blackout") 7 G
Gravity on surface of Earth 1 G
Braking of automobile 0.8 G
Gravity on surface of Moon .17 G

What this means is, even at the lower rating of 30G's when in operation (reading/writing), a WD Purple can survive TWICE the shock incurred from the explosive ejection seat from an aircraft.
In non-operation, it's rated to survive over TWICE the shock of a auto crashing into a wall at 60 MPH.

If your vehicle is bumpier than that, then please don't offer me a ride if you see me hitch hiking! :cool:
 
  • Like
Reactions: looney2ns, Kevin_Essiambre, crw030 and 1 other person
Bean said:
I'm going to be installing four cameras on an RV. While in motion the cameras will be recording constantly. My concern is that a spinning HDD may be damaged while running in a bumpy vehicle. A SSD would handle that fine but then I have concerns about the longevity of an SSD being used to constantly record video.

I would appreciate any insight, thanks!
Click to expand...

When you say RV are you speaking of a motorhome or trailer? I've pulled travel trailers and 5th wheels for years and occasionally a bad road or pothole has totally rearranged the furniture. I can't imagine a spinning HD lasting too long.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom