Protection In The Dark: Infrared Security Cameras

Have you ever watched any of those nature documentaries on TV? One of the fascinating things that I learned from those shows is that we, as human beings, have a very limited sense of sight. We only see a tiny fraction of the available spectrum of light. This means, for example, that we cannot see in either the ultraviolet or infrared wavelengths -- we need a minimum amount of 'normal' daylight.

But even though our bodies are limited in their vision capabilities, we can make up for that lack through technology. A good example of this would be the infrared camera. Unlike our own eyes, infrared security cameras can 'see' using light in the infrared wavelength spectrum.

And what makes infrared security cameras very useful for home security is that with them, we can monitor areas with absolutely no visible light (what the professionals call a Lux 0.0 environment). Business and industry have been big users of infrared security cameras for years - with them they can monitor a darkened warehouse or bank vault area after business hours, when the lights may be turned out.

But in the home? Yes - we can use infrared security cameras there as well. Perhaps we need a basement family room monitored, or a large backyard. Many rural dwellers use them to detect the presence of animal intruders - such as wolves, rodents, stray dogs, and deer - on their properties.

Yes, infrared security cameras can be placed in a pitch-black environment - yet they will still function and provide a good image. This is bad news for all the home thieves -- these are the guys who specialize in breaking into your home when it is darkened. They believe that the darkness will protect them, that they will not be detected. But with a properly installed infrared security camera, you can catch them - every time!

If you are shopping around for a good infrared security camera, make sure that it has an 'auto-scan' feature. With auto-scan, the camera will move back-and-forth, over-and-over the same area, throughout the day. If you have to monitor a large area - one that is too big for one camera to scan, then you can use several infrared security cameras, each one auto-scanning a particular section of the room, hallway, driveway, etc.

One interesting thing about infrared security cameras is that they do not depend on light from the sun or moon for illumination; instead they generate their own light - and they do it in one of two ways. Some infrared cameras shine a beam of concentrated light out, just like a flashlight - except that since it is infrared light, you won't see it. Other models rely on a separate, detached light emitter. When it is turned on, the emitter shines a light into the area, which the camera unit uses to capture images.

Now don't confuse infrared security cameras with 'low light' cameras. These low light types simply have the capability to function with very little daylight - but they do need some daylight, even if it's very small amounts of it. One weakness of infrared security cameras is that they cannot illuminate a large area - they function best when you set them up to monitor a small place. If you need to monitor a large area - like a large building lobby - then you will need to install several of them, each covering a small section. Finally, some models incorporate a dual-function feature, which allows them to switch from a regular camera to an infrared camera when the lighting conditions are bad.

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Author: Jennifer Metcalfe writes about home security, cameras and home security systems Learn more abouthome security camera systems by visiting his website.