IR Illuminators?

Archy54

Archy54

n3wb
Mar 30, 2024
19
3
Australia
Just curious, I've got 5 t54/et's 5442s3 (and 1 tioc oops), saving up for another 3-4.
Having one annoying issue. Frigate going nuts because onboard IR and I've read spiderwebs will grow, bugs fill the motion tracker (I'm trying to find mice in footage for the shed). LOVE the cameras. Friends have bought them or want them.

But the bugs, omg. What IR illuminators do you recommend for front yard 50m wide x 30m+ to road, backyard is 50mx20, Other areas are around 5-10m x 5-10m and how far away from the camera? (I'm metric/kangarooland). Do any have zigbee? I could put it on a modbus waveshare poe eth relay for each to home assistant 8channel or manual switch I guess but that's no fun right. I'd probably run it back to the "spare room" aka server rack, low voltage enclosure.
 
Archy54 said:
Just curious, I've got 5 t54/et's 5442s3 (and 1 tioc oops), saving up for another 3-4.
Having one annoying issue. Frigate going nuts because onboard IR and I've read spiderwebs will grow, bugs fill the motion tracker (I'm trying to find mice in footage for the shed). LOVE the cameras. Friends have bought them or want them.

But the bugs, omg. What IR illuminators do you recommend for front yard 50m wide x 30m+ to road, backyard is 50mx20, Other areas are around 5-10m x 5-10m and how far away from the camera? (I'm metric/kangarooland). Do any have zigbee? I could put it on a modbus waveshare poe eth relay for each to home assistant 8channel or manual switch I guess but that's no fun right. I'd probably run it back to the "spare room" aka server rack, low voltage enclosure.
Click to expand...
To get you started, this is one of several threads on IPCT that has really good info on external IR devices:

F

Thread 'More recent IR illuminator recommendations?'

One of my outdoor cameras really needs some help with light. I’m looking to add an IR illuminator but I’m really struggling to find one that doesn’t have reviews that are trash, or is recommended within at least the last 3 years. The FAQs here are recommendations from 2018 and I have to imagine there are newer options. Was looking at some of the CMvision ones on Amazon and half the reviews say it’s the best thing since sliced bread, the others say they might as well ship them straight to the landfill. Was also looking at some of the univivi ones and they’re kind of same deal.

What are...

I found this quickly using the 'Search' function at the top of forum home page.

Pay particular attention to some of the regulars on this forum like @looney2ns or @wittaj . There are many others that are very knowledgeable, and you will see their posts if you are a regular on IPCT.
Later on you will want to become an IPCT+ member, and support the forum. It is an invaluable source, which you probably already know.
 
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Archy54 said:
Do any have zigbee? I could put it on a modbus waveshare poe eth relay for each to home assistant 8channel or manual switch I guess but that's no fun right. I'd probably run it back to the "spare room" aka server rack, low voltage enclosure.
Click to expand...

Many, if not most, have a built-in photoelectric sensor that switches them on at dusk and off at dawn.

Most operate on 12VDC, usually supplied by a 120VAC-powered wall wart fitted with the standard power connector for 12VDC, a 5.5mm outside x 2.1mm inside barrel connector.
 
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I started a thread 6 years ago about 4-watt IR illuminators. The 2-year summary in post #9 is still holding true today. I think I've had one of the IR-40s fail since 6 years ago, and still use the AI4 in a couple of places where the black face is important to me. I've painted all of the IR-40 cases a dark color. Where a wide angle or brighter light is important, I prefer two IR40s over a single more powerful light to achieve a wider coverage angle and distribute the hotspots. My single more powerful illuminator, a Univivi 6-watter, has been totally reliable.

4 watt IR illuminator comparison
 
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Thanks, I'm having trouble finding them for Australia - "Amazon doesn't ship this to here". Were there any others?

Thank-you a lot for the barrel size. Saves a headache. I have 14/0.070 alarm 6 core cable, should I also get something like some 100m roll of 2-4core 16-14awg inwall cable? It'll be fused to prevent fires. I am very cautious about that and have a decent electrical knowledge. Just trying to decide what DC cable size to get for some 12v siren, lights, and IR illuminators.

Are these the ones mentioned? I can get those. Amazon.com
 
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Archy54 said:
Thanks, I'm having trouble finding them for Australia - "Amazon doesn't ship this to here". Were there any others?

Thank-you a lot for the barrel size. Saves a headache. I have 14/0.070 alarm 6 core cable, should I also get something like some 100m roll of 2-4core 16-14awg inwall cable? It'll be fused to prevent fires. I am very cautious about that and have a decent electrical knowledge. Just trying to decide what DC cable size to get for some 12v siren, lights, and IR illuminators.

Are these the ones mentioned? I can get those. Amazon.com
Click to expand...
I’ve wanted to do a siren for a while. Pls share pics when you do.

Flood lights are without a doubt among the best deterrents to nighttime shenanigans and criminals. At one point I considered mounting a 600W LED stadium light bar array up in a tree with a smart switch to trigger on alert, but I get too many false positives and am not far enough from neighbors.

There’s a user one here that had a pretty powerful light setup like that which basically made it look like daytime and would be sure to send someone running.
 
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algertc said:
I’ve wanted to do a siren for a while. Pls share pics when you do.

Flood lights are without a doubt among the best deterrents to nighttime shenanigans and criminals. At one point I considered mounting a 600W LED stadium light bar array up in a tree with a smart switch to trigger on alert, but I get too many false positives and am not far enough from neighbors.

There’s a user one here that had a pretty powerful light setup like that which basically made it look like daytime and would be sure to send someone running.
Click to expand...


Most here find that cameras and motion activated floodlights ends up causing problems with image exposure and are bad for surveillance cameras.. What happens is then the camera is momentarily blinded and you lose the ideal capture when the lights kick on and the camera adjusts from basically no light to a lot of light. The newer cameras are better at that, but it can be a concern.

But also most here find that motion activated lights are not a deterrent.

There are enough videos here and about every Nextdoor post showing that perps do not flinch when a floodlight turns on. They avoid homes all lit up, so go with floodlights on all night.

Watch this video someone posted and how the floodlight comes on and they don't even flinch. But then the audio comes on and they don't know which way to run LOL.


Either keep the lights on all night or not at all to ensure the best chance of capture.
 
wittaj said:
Most here find that cameras and motion activated floodlights ends up causing problems with image exposure and are bad for surveillance cameras.. What happens is then the camera is momentarily blinded and you lose the ideal capture when the lights kick on and the camera adjusts from basically no light to a lot of light. The newer cameras are better at that, but it can be a concern.

But also most here find that motion activated lights are not a deterrent.

There are enough videos here and about every Nextdoor post showing that perps do not flinch when a floodlight turns on. They avoid homes all lit up, so go with floodlights on all night.

Watch this video someone posted and how the floodlight comes on and they don't even flinch. But then the audio comes on and they don't know which way to run LOL.


Either keep the lights on all night or not at all to ensure the best chance of capture.
Click to expand...
Yes it’s definitely not the greatest for capturing an image, but as we see there our perps are all covered up anyways.

My experience has been pretty different though actually. Definitely depends on the situation and location, and now I’m thinking that it’s the fact I live in an extremely dark area. No street lights or home lights on late and low traffic. Makes it easy to lurk around, but people tend to get really spooked when they get hit with a bright light and it’s the only light around (in my area that is).

There’s also something to be said for the shock factor of actually getting blasted with giant stadium lights vs a regular flood light. I’m not suggesting it, but even the most experienced and unphased burglars are going to be at least a bit shaken by something like that.
 
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A couple years ago I bought stuff to try an automated CO2 cannon setup with a mechanical relay that opened a regular valve. Never followed through and the parts have sat in my closet of other knickknacks, but it goes really far and makes a huge cloud.

Idk abt you, but if I were prowling and got lit up and gassed with a giant cloud of co2 I would be sprinting…

Harmless too - CA approved :thumb:
 
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