5 Top Benefits of IR Illuminators
The use of infrared with video cameras has been a proven partner for military, law enforcement, aviation and scientific research for several decades. And as costs decrease and awareness grows, infrared technology is becoming more widely used for home and business applications. Here are some of the top reasons you should consider infrared:
1. Perfect for covert applications. Infrared illumination is invisible to the human eye, but perfectly visible to most video cameras. So if your goal is to catch a bad guy in the act – and they usually strike in the darkness - then infrared can be an invaluable tool to obtain irrefutable evidence of a suspect who believes he is not being watched.
2. Save on energy costs. Infrared illuminators typically use LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) to produce illumination. In comparison to incandescent lighting (normal light bulb), LEDs use 80% or less energy while still producing the same level or sometimes greater intensity of light.
3. Save even more over time. Infrared illuminators are usually equipped with photocells that turn IR lighting on/off, giving you IR lighting only when necessary and thus boosting the LED life. Additionally, LEDs last between 20,000 and 25,000 hours of constant use, compared to the lifetime of a normal light bulb of 700 to 2000 hours.
4. Improve light penetration. Infrared light penetrates atmospheric haze better than visible light. Underwater researchers have long been leveraging this unique benefit of IR to help cut through murky waters. Similarly, areas with high humidity and pollution can experience better video quality using infrared versus normal illumination.
5. Decrease light pollution. In the past, 24/7 security typically meant lots of lights placed around houses, yards, parking lots, and driveways. Today's infrared devices offer you the perfect blend of surveillance without punishing your neighbors with glaring lights.
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