CCTV and IR sensors 'glowing'

Ant555

There are loads of CCTV posts here but does anyone know of the type or spec of camera I would need where you can see the feint red glow at night. (does that make sense?) I know its the IR night vision but is it a particular type as not all camera seem to be the same.

I know most systems I could buy nowadays will 'see in the dark' but there are one or two houses near me that have cameras that you can definitely see the tiny ir sensors glowing slightly and, to my mind, that looks like more of a deterrent and some houses with CCTV cameras dont have this characteristic.

Thanks

stator

Well the type is just 'IR' . I don't think there is anything special about cameras where you can see the red glow, it just means they emit some light out of the desired range.
I am tempted to say it is probably the cheaper IR cameras, but I have no proof of that.

If you are looking for an Analogue High Definition CCTV Camera then I could possibly check my cameras and recommend which of them you can see the red glow at night? Mine are all AHD 1080p. Is it DOME cameras you are looking for?

Lorian

You can see the more expensive ones too. The EXIR LEDs on my turret cams are reasonably noticeable.

Ant555

stator wrote: »

Is it DOME cameras you are looking for?

Thanks for the reply,
I didnt want to start another "which cctv is best" thread but I am am starting to look for a system.

As its largely intended as a visible deterrent, I thought id start with the obvious feature I think is going to be useful. I am only able to mount onto the side brick walls (not eaves etc) so I dont know if im going to opt for dome or bullet style.

Lorian

If you want IR lights then watch out for internal reflections into the sensors off some dome models. Bullets and Turrets don't suffer from this.

Owain_Moneysaver

"invisible" infra-red lighting is usually specified as 940 nm (nanometre). 700 nm is usually considered the edge of the visible spectrum.

It is not the sensor that glows, but the infra-red lighting (usually LEDs) around it.

Ectophile

The glow is simply a cluster of infra-red LEDs mounted around the camera lens. They should be invisible, being infra-red, but in practice the human eye can just about see them if they are bright enough.


You can also get separate IR illuminators, for use with cameras that don't have them.

Ant555

I know this question is 18 month old but I thought id post back with my findings just incase anyone else has the same question in the future.
I purchased a ReoLink CCTV bundle before the lockdown and the boxes sat there for a while but ive now used some time at home to fit it - answering my own question  - the LED lights are very visible at night (and also seem to provide decent night vision).  This may be a trait of more modern systems however the RLC-410 cameras that came with my RKL8-410B4-5MP bundle definitely provide what I was looking for in an overt indication at night that a camera is there and watching...

Stay safe everyone.

BillTrac

Hi Ant, the reason some IR lamps can be seen is that as said earlier, they are at a lower wavelength. probably 700-750nm. You need something at a level nearer to 900nm for them to be 'non-visible'. Nothing to do with overt/covert, more to do with cost, etc..