INTELLIGENT VIDEO
ChaseCam PDR100 User Manual – 4/10/09
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A PDR100 with Supercaps and GFORCE, with the AUTO ON switch pushed to the outside can
then have the menu settings to AUTO RECORD on START UP and GFORCE TRIGGER set to
ON with DIFFERENCES of 0.19Gs. Insert a larger CF Card. Set the unit to LOOP or RECYCLE
RECORD if you want to have continuous recording. This means that the PDR100 will ALWAYS
record automatically when the car is on and moving, without anyone having to push anything.
To recap. if you want a totally automatic unit, make sure the red switch is set to automatically
power on. Set the unit to AUTO RECORD at START. Set unit to RECORD with GFORCE
TRIGGER based on DIFFERENCES. Set GForce trigger to some value like 0.25gs. Reboot unit
to set. The bottom line of the LCD screen should tell you if the unit is armed and you will see a
slow blinking red light to indicate the armed condition. NOTE! You must have a video signal and
a Compact Flash card installed in order to be properly armed.
Batteries and Power Sources
The PDR uses four AA sized batteries for internal power (or optionally is supplied with internal
Supercaps) and can use an external power source (battery pack, vehicle power, etc) that is
plugged into the PDR using either the DC jack, or the 2 pin Terminal Block. It is recommended
that if you are using external power, that you also install the internal batteries as a back up for
any possible power loss, or use the Supercap model.
Battery types
We recommend using Energizer AA Lithium, Duracell Ultra (not regular Duracells), or good
rechargeable NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) batteries. You can use standard alkaline AA batteries
to power the PDR for short periods of time, or as a power back up, but if you are powering an
external camera from the PDR, alkaline batteries will only enable about 3-10 minutes of usable
power to the PDR. As a comparison, the Energizer Lithium batteries will enable over 3 hours of
continuous use. Good (2500mah or better) NiMH rechargeable batteries should last over 2 hours.
Do not leave batteries in the PDR for long periods of time. Battery leakage can destroy the
electronics.
Installing the batteries
Open the access door by turning the thumbscrew counterclockwise. When free, swing the door
down to where it contacts the rubber bezel. Note the orientation of the batteries that is printed on
the circuit board and take care to insert each battery in the correct direction! Insert each battery
into the housing. Close the access door while guiding the thumbscrew into the captive nut.
Tighten the thumbscrew by hand.
External power connections
You can use various methods to connect external power to the PDR. A cigarette lighter adapter
with a DC jack is a common method. You can also use insulated wires and connect to the power
input pins on the green or gray terminal block. This terminal block is removable and also able to
be locked in place with a small flat bladed screwdriver. On older PDRs, you also can use the
power output pins on the terminal block to provide power to other 12VDC devices that draw
300ma or less. It is intended to be used for powering a bullet camera, not other higher current
devices. DO NOT POWER ANOTHER PDR OR SS1000 from the output. This power output is
not available on newer model PDRs.
External Battery Packs
You can connect an external battery pack to the PDR. Using an eight AA cell pack will allow you
to use standard alkaline batteries and run a PDR and camera from the eight batteries for
approximately 4 hours. ChaseCam offers external battery packs.
Low Battery Warning
If you are running off of batteries and the PDR senses a low voltage condition, the LED indicator
will change to a red flash and the LCD screen will note that a low battery condition exists. If the
voltage drops below a certain point, the PDR will stop recording, save the file, and shut down.