Seeing in the dark — Infrared Security Cameras

If you need to capture security video in the dark, you need an infrared security camera. Infrared security cameras have advantages and disadvantages that must be considered when designing a security system.

Let’s start out by acknowledging a infrared security camera’s obvious drawback: they capture black and white video. With that said, we can begin to speak about the benefits of having an infrared security camera in your security setup and the different types of infrared cameras.

An infrared security camera, admittedly recording in black and white, is often the only type of security camera that can record in adverse lighting conditions.

Many closed caption television security system cameras hinge on having good available lighting. Often times this means that a thousand dollar setup can many times be rendered useless and ineffective by simply removing the light source, by either destroying or disabling the light. In this situation a infrared security camera would make an excellent failsafe. Secondly, many times the lighting necessary to properly secure an outside location would be overwhelming to nearby residents or businesses, draw unwelcome attention, or otherwise be undesirable. This is another situation where a infrared security camera would be very beneficial.

Infrared security cameras measure infrared radiation (or IR). Infrared radiation sensors are often called heat sensors, as they are used in heat seeking missiles and night vision goggles. But this is a misconception as heat is felt from more than just infrared spectrum and the infrared spectrum contains more than heat (for example, your television remote uses an infrared sensor and infrared light, but does not get hot when you use it). For purposes of security systems, however, we will be primarily concerned with the infrared sensor picking up heat signatures of human bodies.

Infrared security cameras vary by having different numbers and sizes of infrared bulbs. Some lights range from 64 bulbs to as few as six. Generally more and larger bulbs means that you will be able to see farther with the camera.

A good rule of thumb is: if the infrared security camera has 12 or more infrared lights, it was not meant to be used indoors. Often times, the CCTV applications for indoor cameras is to help secure small rooms or tight spaces that have many flat reflective surfaces, such as windows, doors, coffee tables, fish tanks, or anything else glossy ” including some types of glossy interior paints. Many users assume that more lights will automatically make a better picture, but this is not the case. It is generally better to know the application for your security camera before you purchase.

In general, an infrared security camera has a specific application in a security camera setup: to see in total darkness and thus be a fail safe to your other devices. For more information and models please see www.security-camera-warehouse.com

Tags: Business, camera, cctv, closed caption television, Computer Protection, Computers, infrared security system, protection, safety, security, security system, television, video, video cameras

This entry was posted on October 18, 2009 at October 18, 2009 and is filed under Computer Protection. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.