Product Overview
Built for flood monitoring and environmental water surveillance, the Hikvision DS-2DF3C400SCG-D/4G/WL15(F1) is a 4 MP PTZ dome camera from the Special Series 3C range that combines visual surveillance with a built-in non-contact millimetre-wave radar sensor capable of detecting water levels up to 15 m away with ±1 mm accuracy. Designed to be mounted above culverts, storm drains, canals, retention ponds, and river channels, it delivers continuous full-colour imaging day and night using its DarkFighter sensor, 30 m white-light illuminator, and 120 dB WDR. Equipped with 4G LTE connectivity, the camera suits remote or infrastructure-poor sites where wired network links are unavailable. Built with IP67 weatherproofing and IK10 impact resistance, it withstands the harsh conditions typical of outdoor flood-monitoring installations. Standby power draw of less than 1 W supports low-power or battery-backed deployments. Note: this product has a lead time of 70 days from order confirmation.
Key Capabilities
Millimetre-Wave Radar Water-Level Detection
The integrated non-contact radar sensor measures water surface distance up to 15 m with ±1 mm precision. It supports configurable alert thresholds for multiple warning zones, enabling automated alarm triggering before a flood event reaches critical levels.
DarkFighter Full-Colour Night Imaging
The 1/1.8″ DarkFighter CMOS sensor achieves 0.0005 lux colour sensitivity at F1.0. Combined with a 30 m white-light illuminator, it produces full-colour footage in complete darkness, ensuring operators can visually assess flood conditions at any hour.
120 dB Wide Dynamic Range
With 120 dB WDR, the camera handles extreme contrast scenarios such as sun glare off water surfaces or headlights on flooded roads, keeping the video feed usable for operators managing emergency response decisions.
4G LTE Connectivity for Remote Sites
The built-in 4G LTE module allows this camera to transmit live video and water-level alerts from locations without wired network infrastructure. This is essential for culverts, rural drains, or bridges where cabling is impractical or cost-prohibitive.
IP67 and IK10 Weatherproof Housing
Rated IP67 for full dust ingress protection and sustained water immersion, with IK10 impact resistance and built-in surge and lightning protection. This level of protection is necessary for cameras installed in exposed outdoor flood-risk zones.
Ultra-Low Standby Power Draw
With standby consumption below 1 W, the DS-2DF3C400SCG-D/4G/WL15(F1) is suitable for solar-powered or battery-backed installations at remote monitoring points where mains power is not available year-round.
Best For
- Urban Stormwater Infrastructure: Culverts, storm drains, and pump station inlets where the camera can be mounted 3-8 m above the water surface and the 15 m radar range covers the full detection zone required.
- Remote Flood Monitoring without Wired Network: Sites such as rural bridges, creek crossings, or isolated retention basins where the 4G LTE module provides the only practical connectivity option.
- 24/7 Colour Visual Verification: Emergency management or council flood operations teams that need live colour video alongside radar data to visually confirm water rise conditions at night.
- Low-Power or Solar-Backed Deployments: Monitoring points where power infrastructure is limited and the sub-1 W standby draw allows the system to run on renewable or battery power between active monitoring intervals.
Why Choose the DS-2DF3C400SCG-D/4G/WL15(F1)
Standard IP cameras can show what a flood looks like, but they cannot measure it. The DS-2DF3C400SCG-D/4G/WL15(F1) closes that gap by combining a visual 4 MP DarkFighter camera with a dedicated millimetre-wave radar sensor delivering ±1 mm water-level accuracy up to 15 m, all within a single IP67/IK10 housing rated for the harshest outdoor conditions. A basic fixed bullet or dome camera provides no sensor data and requires a wired network connection, whereas this unit streams radar readings and live colour video over 4G LTE directly to a VMS, NVR, or HikCentral platform, with configurable alert thresholds that trigger notifications before critical flood levels are reached. The combination of DarkFighter low-light performance, 120 dB WDR, white-light illumination to 30 m, and under-1 W standby is not available in general-purpose cameras at this specification. Available at Security Wholesalers with a 70-day lead time, it is a purpose-built tool for flood monitoring teams, councils, and infrastructure operators.
Buyer Decision Tips
WL15 Mounting Height and Range: The WL15 variant detects water surface distance between 0.5 m and 15 m from the radar. Before ordering, confirm your intended mounting height above the normal water level plus any anticipated flood rise. If the camera will be mounted on a high bridge or needs to cover deep reservoirs or large rivers where the mounting point may exceed 15 m from the water surface, the WL40 variant with 40 m radar range is the appropriate choice. For city culverts, tunnels, canals, and creek crossings where mounting height is typically 3-8 m above water, the WL15 is correctly specified.
Lead Time and Deployment Planning: This is a specialised camera with a confirmed 70-day lead time from order confirmation. It is not stocked for immediate dispatch. If you are planning a flood season deployment or infrastructure project, factor this lead time into your procurement schedule. Orders placed late in the year may not arrive ahead of peak storm season without advance planning.
Key Features & Technical Specifications
| Model |
Hikvision DS-2DF3C400SCG-D/4G/WL15(F1) |
| Resolution |
4 MP, up to 2560 x 1440 |
| Image Sensor |
1/1.8″ progressive-scan CMOS (DarkFighter) |
| Lens |
Fixed 4 mm, F1.0 |
| Field of View |
Horizontal ~67°, Vertical ~41°, Diagonal ~75° |
| Minimum Illumination |
0.0005 lux (colour), 0.0001 lux (B/W) at F1.0 with AGC on; 0 lux with white light active |
| White-Light Illuminator Range |
Up to 30 m |
| WDR |
120 dB |
| Water-Level Radar Type |
Non-contact millimetre-wave radar (WL15 variant) |
| Radar Detection Range |
0.5 m to 15 m |
| Radar Measurement Accuracy |
±1 mm |
| Connectivity |
4G LTE (SIM card required); LAN also supported |
| Environmental Rating |
IP67 (dust and water ingress), IK10 (impact resistance) |
| Protection |
Surge and lightning protection built in |
| Standby Power Consumption |
Less than 1 W |
| Lead Time |
70 days from order confirmation |
Ideal Use Cases
Culverts and Storm Drain Monitoring
Mounted above a culvert opening or drain inlet, the 15 m radar range and ±1 mm accuracy provide early warning of rising water levels before infrastructure is overwhelmed. The 4G LTE module eliminates the need to run data cabling to remote drain locations.
Canal and Small River Flood Detection
For councils managing urban waterways or flood-prone creek corridors, the DS-2DF3C400SCG-D/4G/WL15(F1) delivers real-time radar readings and full-colour video confirmation of rising water conditions, supporting timely road closure and emergency response decisions.
Retention Basin and Stormwater Pond Surveillance
Retention basins require ongoing level monitoring to prevent overflow. The configurable multi-zone threshold alerts mean operators receive graduated warnings at low, medium, and critical levels, supported by live colour imagery from the 30 m white-light illuminator at night.
Pump Station Inlets and Flood Control Infrastructure
Pump stations and diversion inlets benefit from automated level monitoring tied to alarm linkages, including relay outputs that can trigger upstream controls. The IP67/IK10 housing and surge protection ensure continuity of operation during storm events.
Remote Rural Flood Monitoring Points
In rural or semi-rural locations where fixed network infrastructure does not exist, the integrated 4G LTE module combined with sub-1 W standby power makes this unit viable for solar or battery-powered deployments at bridge crossings, rural causeways, and isolated waterway monitoring stations.
Choosing the Right Model
- Choose this model if: Your installation site involves culverts, storm drains, canals, or creek crossings where mounting height above the water surface is within the 0.5-15 m radar detection range, and where 4G LTE connectivity is needed for a remote or cabling-impractical location.
- Choose a different model if: Your mounting point is more than 15 m above the water surface, or you are monitoring large dams, major rivers, or wide catchment reservoirs where a longer radar range is required. The WL40 variant of this same series extends detection range to 40 m at the same ±1 mm accuracy.
- Choose a different model if: Your site has a reliable wired network and you need general-purpose PTZ functionality such as motorised zoom or pan-and-tilt patrol across a wide area rather than fixed water-level monitoring at a single point. A standard PTZ without the radar module would be more appropriate for those requirements.
FAQs
- What is the water-level detection range of the WL15 variant?
The DS-2DF3C400SCG-D/4G/WL15(F1) uses a millimetre-wave radar sensor that measures water surface distance between 0.5 m and 15 m from the camera unit. Accuracy is ±1 mm across that range. The camera must be mounted so that the water surface falls within this detection window at all anticipated flood levels.
- Can this camera be mounted at an angle rather than directly overhead?
Yes. The radar sensor is designed to work vertically or at an acceptable angle above the water surface. However, you should ensure a clear, unobstructed line of sight to the water with no tree branches, debris, or highly reflective surfaces in the radar path, as these can interfere with accurate readings. Refer to Hikvision’s installation documentation for confirmed angle tolerances before mounting.
- Does the camera provide colour video at night or only black-and-white?
The DarkFighter sensor achieves 0.0005 lux colour sensitivity at F1.0 with AGC enabled. When light levels drop to zero, the built-in 30 m white-light illuminator activates to maintain full-colour imaging. This means operators see a colour video feed during night-time flood events rather than a monochrome image.
- How does the 4G module work and what does the installation require?
A standard SIM card is inserted into the camera unit to activate 4G LTE data transmission. The camera then connects to your VMS, NVR, or HikCentral platform over the cellular network. You will need to ensure adequate 4G signal at the installation site before deployment, as the camera does not include a SIM card. A wired LAN connection is also supported where available.
- What alarm actions can be triggered when a water-level threshold is exceeded?
The camera supports configurable alarm linkages including email notifications, push alerts via Hik-Connect or Hik-ProConnect, relay output activation for sirens or strobes, FTP snapshot and video upload, VMS pop-up alerts, and audio warnings if connected to an external speaker. Multiple threshold zones (for example, low, medium, and critical) can each trigger different actions independently.
- Is this camera suitable for a solar-powered installation?
The standby power consumption of less than 1 W makes the DS-2DF3C400SCG-D/4G/WL15(F1) well suited to solar or battery-backed installations. You will need to size your solar panel and battery bank to account for active operating power as well, but the low standby draw means the system can sustain extended periods between active events without draining the power supply. Confirm active operating wattage with Hikvision’s full specification sheet for accurate solar sizing.
- What is the delivery lead time and where is this camera available?
The DS-2DF3C400SCG-D/4G/WL15(F1) has a confirmed lead time of 70 days from order confirmation. This is a specialised product that is not held in stock for immediate dispatch. It is part of the Security Wholesalers range, so factor the 70-day lead time into your project timeline when placing orders ahead of flood season or infrastructure milestones.
Additional Information
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