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Infrared Security Cameras - Make An Informed Choice |
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Written by Mike Ward
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Thursday, 29 October 2009 11:29 |
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Everyday the world becomes more unsafe and we need to protect ourselves from all sorts of unwanted elements. There are excellent technologies out there that can be utilized for just that purpose. One of the technologies is infrared security cameras.
by MikeWard
Everyday the world becomes more unsafe and we need to protect ourselves from all sorts of unwanted elements. There are excellent technologies out there that can be utilized for just that purpose. One of the technologies is infrared security cameras.
To be able to see what's happening in your area at night is a massive advantage. But what is infrared you might ask? Well it's a beam of light which can be seen as red or violet, caused by electromagnetic waves. These waves transmit into images which can then be captured.
Infrared radiation can be incorporated and seen with particular equipment, which will allow us to view objects either totally in the dark or at regular conditions.
Because infrared can be incorporated with particular equipment such as a camera, it can be used in complete darkness. How this translates is as soon as the level of light drops to its predefined setting, then its emitters kick in and start beaming infrared light at the area in question.
A really good camera must be able to see everything in it's range, especially at night when there is little ambient light available. Some less expensive cameras with infrared will be bright in the center of the picture but the periphery or outer boundaries will be dark. A good camera should be able to provide infrared lighting to match the angle of the lens.
With the use of infrared illuminators, a regular surveillance camera that is B/W or turns to B/W in low light can be transformed into an infrared camera. This will allow your camera to record in black and white, using infrared radiation. How this works is the illuminator lights the area under surveillance with infrared light so that your regular camera can record black and white images with the use of infrared radiation, which is impossible for the naked eye to see.
If your existing system uses B/W cameras or cameras that turn B/W in low light, then there is also the option to install infrared illuminators. Then your camera will record motion in black and white by the use of infrared light which cannot be seen by the human eye. So your existing system without infrared will give you only coverage up until the light fades away. It will not record in a zero light area.
IR cameras nowadays are manufactured in all shapes, types and sizes. There are sizes in the market which can start from as small as a couple of inches or as large as paint cans. If you require a very large area to be under surveillance then there are cameras that come in block sizes, so that they can hold more IR emitters, which equates into more infrared light.
If you are considering a CCTV system, then look into a infrared system that can work in tandem with its counterpart. This will provide you with maximum coverage especially at night.
Some years back it was cumbersome to have these cameras installed because of their bulkiness. Today they are lightweight, easy to install and much more durable than a few years back.
Make sure you source from a reputable dealer who can explain the whole process to you thoroughly. Let them show you different recordings from various types of infrared security cameras. Buying online can be a great source for these cameras but you generally only have pictures to go by. Most reputable dealers will have a phone number to contact them. They should be familiar with the cameras and be able to help you decide. Also be sure they have a return policy and guarantee.
About the Author:
About the Author: Mike Ward is a technical advisor for Protection Depot, a leading online provider of infrared security cameras and digital video recorders. For more information about infrared security cameras, please visit Protection Depot. |
