ESP32-CAM Water Meter AI Housing - AI on the edge

This enclosure is designed for AI-based water meter reading using an ESP32-CAM module and fits standard residential water meters commonly used in Germany.

The Holder sits directly on top of the water meter and features cut-outs that engage with the locking tabs (“noses”)found on typical meters, ensuring correct alignment and preventing rotation.

The design supports water meters with a maximum outer diameter of 87.50 mm.

Included Parts

• Holder

  Mounts onto the water meter and aligns with the meter’s locking tabs.

• Funnel

  Attaches to the holder and guides the camera vertically while blocking ambient light.

• Lid

  Holds the ESP32-CAM module, facing downward toward the meter dial.

• Diffuser

  Light diffuser ring to soften the ESP32-CAM LED and reduce reflections on the meter glass.

Assembly Instructions

• The Holder and Funnel are fastened together using screws from the top side.
• The printed holes have a diameter of 2.7 mm and are intended for self-tapping into the printed plastic.
• A slightly oversized screw is recommended to form its own thread in the material.

Recommended Screw

• M3 × 8 mm or M3 × 10 mm
• Pan head or cylindrical head (socket head)
• At least 4 mm thread engagement into the printed part

Printing Notes

• The Diffuser should be printed in white or translucent filament.
• For installations in humid environments, PETG or ASA is recommended.
• PLA is sufficient for indoor, dry installations.

Compatible Hardware / Required Modules

This enclosure is designed for the ESP32-CAM development setup consisting of two stacked modules:

• ESP32-CAM board (AI-Thinker compatible) with OV2640 camera module
• ESP32-CAM-MB USB adapter board

Both boards are plugged together and installed as a single unit inside the housing.

The ESP32-CAM-MB is required to supply 5 V power via USB and therefore remains permanently installed in the enclosure.

These modules are commonly advertised together as:

“ESP32-CAM WiFi/Bluetooth development board with OV2640 camera and ESP32-CAM-MB USB adapter”.

Power is supplied via the Micro-USB port on the ESP32-CAM-MB.

This housing provides a precise, stable mounting solution for edge-AI water meter reading, optimized for standard German water meters, reliable camera alignment, and controlled illumination.