IR for ALPR

[MikeLud1]

I just install the below 15 degrees IR so far I am see good results. Shipping took 10 days. The specs shows it is a 4.5 watt IR, I tested it and I am seeing it at 5.2 watts at 12VDC. The plate distance is about 100 feet. The only issue was the mounting holes was not tapped for a standard 1/4 20 so I needed to tap it to a 1/4 20.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251832773745675.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.4.2f7d18027otzZG&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa&_randl_shipto=US

Before new IR


After new IR and lowering gain and iris by 5


New IR before lowering gain and iris by 5

 

[bigredfish]

Nice!

 

[wittaj]

A lot cheaper than the Axton LOL.

Wonder how far this would work for?

 

[bigredfish]

Those have been for sale on and off for 5+ years, I recall seeing talk about them when i first joined. Notice the product page is still using the 2014 example images

 

[MikeLud1]

A lot cheaper than the Axton LOL.

Wonder how far this would work for?

The specs has the range at 30-100 meters, my plates are about 30 meters

 

[MikeLud1]

I checked the FOV for the IR at 100 feet and it looks to be about 15 degrees. At 100 feet it has about 25 feet FOV. How I tested it I went out in the street and moving from left to right in the FOV and I can only see the IR for about 25 feet

 

[samplenhold]

Are any of those plates a front plate?

 

[MikeLud1]

Are any of those plates a front plate?

No, all rear plates, the street is a one way.

 

[MikeLud1]

Those have been for sale on and off for 5+ years, I recall seeing talk about them when i first joined. Notice the product page is still using the 2014 example images

Below is the original post that I think you remember. The post was about an adjustable IR, when I was looking for one I could not find any that are adjustable.

IR Cannon w/Adjustable Focus

Sample Video of the 4500mW IR Cannon going through adjustments manually.. the cannon is just a nickname, it could also be considered an IR Laser as this is basically what you'll find on those cameras. Camera: 4MP Dahua w/6mm Optics (HFW4421D-AS) Places to buy, these will get ~$60 on sale: CCTV...

ipcamtalk.com

 

[bigredfish]

Yep that’s the one!
At 100-150 ft and for $50 it would seem to be a great option

 

[The Automation Guy]

Wow. Glad to know this is an option.

Honestly I am not sure your original captures had any IR reflecting back. If it did, it was certainly at a lower level than the license plate light itself. You can tell by the uneven coverage of the plate with the brighter upper corners where the license plate lights are. Now with the new IR emitter, those plates are clearly being illuminated by the IR emitter based on the even coverage of the whole plate without the license plate lights having any affect on the image. That should help provide much more consistent results and even allow good captures when the license plate light is dim or non-functioning.

I have a similar situation with slightly uneven lighting on my plate captures based on the license plate lights. I even have an aux IR emitter, but it doesn't have a focused coverage range like this and while it has helped, it isn't strong enough to base my exposures on the IR light only.

 

[Flintstone61]

Does it glow red in the dark?
Or do all IR's glow red in the dark?

 

[wittaj]

850 always has the red glow. The 900 something or another is harder to see the red glow but cameras can struggle with that wavelength

 

[DLONG2]

My old 900nm IR helped a bit to illuminate plates for the 5241z12, but I recently opted for an 850nm to get cleaner images, albeit at Axton prices.

 

[samplenhold]

So a couple of questions:
How did you power the illuminator?

How did you mount it? A pic would be great!

Is the illuminator close to the cam, like having direct bounce back? Or is it offset quite a bit?

How hot does it get?

 

[MikeLud1]

So a couple of questions:
How did you power the illuminator?

How did you mount it? A pic would be great!

Is the illuminator close to the cam, like having direct bounce back? Or is it offset quite a bit?

How hot does it get?

Are these question for me, if so I will take some pictures

 

[samplenhold]

Are these question for me, if so I will take some pictures

Yes.

 

[MikeLud1]

Yes.

Ok, I will take some photos later today when the sun come up. So far it is working well. The second to last photo is a overall camera next to my ALPR camera, I tweaked the camera settings so I can see how wide the FOV is the IR. The only IR is from the new IR that I installed. The last image is with my ALPR camera's IR at 100%

 

[MikeLud1]

So a couple of questions:
How did you power the illuminator?

How did you mount it? A pic would be great!

Is the illuminator close to the cam, like having direct bounce back? Or is it offset quite a bit?

How hot does it get?

How did you power the illuminator? With the below 12V 2A Power Supply

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077PW5JC3?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

Is the illuminator close to the cam, like having direct bounce back? close to the cam


How hot does it get? Warm to the touch, I can hold it when it is on.

 

[samplenhold]

^ Thanks so much for the info. I am trying to get more IR for one of my LPR cams as sometimes the plates are not very good. Hoping I can solve it with more IR. But I cannot place the illuminator close to the cam. It will be at about 25-30 degrees off axis. Not sure it will help.