Review- New Design Tendelux 10 Watt IR illuminator.

The Automation Guy · Dec 4, 2023

This nearly identical model at HD has the same number of LEDs, a narrower field of illumination, and yet 1/4 the effective distance (which is probably the more accurate number). The reviews for both models are also terrible. While I am in the market for a new illuminator, I think I'll be passing on these models.

SPT 60-Degree Infrared LED Illuminator with 33 ft. IR Range 15-IL14 - The Home Depot

Infrared illumination is energy which is invisible to the human eye but can be seen by a high-quality black/white or true day/light camera (IR cut filter removed). This illuminator is covert, which means

www.homedepot.com

Parley · Dec 4, 2023

One way to tell is the current it draws. 1 amp for the high powered version and 4/10 amp for the lower powered version at 12VDC. Also 60 degree angle for license plate use.

StevenFromTexas · Dec 5, 2023

I can confirm, that at least for license plate purposes, the Iluminar IRC99-A60-24 IR illuminator is top notch when compared against Tendelux. The Iluminar IRC99-A60-24 IR illuminator has a more concentrated IR output. Parley has found an excellent product.

CaptainCrunch · Dec 5, 2023

StevenFromTexas said:
I can confirm, that at least for license plate purposes, the Iluminar IRC99-A60-24 IR illuminator is top notch when compared against Tendelux. The Iluminar IRC99-A60-24 IR illuminator has a more concentrated IR output. Parley has found an excellent product.

Have you tried out the Tendelux DI20 20 Watt IR illuminator? It's a 90* beam but claims an effective range of 150-240 feet. I have a z12e set up as an lpr at about 130 feet with a DI20 aimed in that direction to help out. The Iluminar claims a range of ~100 feet but the beam is a little more focused. It's also 2x the cost of the DI20 and 15 watts. I have a second z12e facing the other way I thought about adding extra ir to. I may try out the Iluminar is the extra money equates to much better performance.

wittaj · Dec 5, 2023

CaptainCrunch said:
Have you tried out the Tendelux DI20 20 Watt IR illuminator? It's a 90* beam but claims an effective range of 150-240 feet. I have a z12e set up as an lpr at about 130 feet with a DI20 aimed in that direction to help out. The Iluminar claims a range of ~100 feet but the beam is a little more focused. It's also 2x the cost of the DI20 and 15 watts. I have a second z12e facing the other way I thought about adding extra ir to. I may try out the Iluminar is the extra money equates to much better performance.

I have found the Tendelux to be useless for LPR. I could not see a difference with or without it on my LPR camera.

Further on my cams with 1/60 or 1/120s shutters, I do not see an effective range in the 150-240 feet range. More like 70ish.

Now with an auto shutter (that obviously is slowed down a lot), yeah it is bright out to 250 feet, but we aren't using auto shutters in these applications.

Parley · Dec 5, 2023

CaptainCrunch said:
Have you tried out the Tendelux DI20 20 Watt IR illuminator? It's a 90* beam but claims an effective range of 150-240 feet. I have a z12e set up as an lpr at about 130 feet with a DI20 aimed in that direction to help out. The Iluminar claims a range of ~100 feet but the beam is a little more focused. It's also 2x the cost of the DI20 and 15 watts. I have a second z12e facing the other way I thought about adding extra ir to. I may try out the Iluminar is the extra money equates to much better performance.

My Illuminar reaches out further than the specifications say. 100' is quite conservative for the 60 degree version.

CaptainCrunch · Dec 5, 2023

wittaj said:
I have found the Tendelux to be useless for LPR. I could not see a difference with or without it on my LPR camera.

I guess I need to unplug it to see if the captures are much different. I installed it at the same time as the camera but I don't recall testing the camera without the ir.

Parley said:
My Illuminar reaches out further than the specifications say. 100' is quite conservative for the 60 degree version.

That's good to hear. Most of the times, the numbers seem to be only in best case conditions. B&H says expected availability is in 3-7 business days so it wouldn't be that long of a wait. These cameras are becoming more expensive than my jeep.

Parley · Dec 5, 2023

CaptainCrunch said:
I guess I need to unplug it to see if the captures are much different. I installed it at the same time as the camera but I don't recall testing the camera without the ir.

That's good to hear. Most of the times, the numbers seem to be only in best case conditions. B&H says expected availability is in 3-7 business days so it wouldn't be that long of a wait. These cameras are becoming more expensive than my jeep.

I have found that the availability is about twice that time unless they have restocked a bunch of them. Mine was shipped from Southern California. I have found the wait time to be well worth it.

StevenFromTexas · Dec 5, 2023

CaptainCrunch said:
Have you tried out the Tendelux DI20 20 Watt IR illuminator? It's a 90* beam but claims an effective range of 150-240 feet. I have a z12e set up as an lpr at about 130 feet with a DI20 aimed in that direction to help out. The Iluminar claims a range of ~100 feet but the beam is a little more focused. It's also 2x the cost of the DI20 and 15 watts. I have a second z12e facing the other way I thought about adding extra ir to. I may try out the Iluminar is the extra money equates to much better performance.

Yes, I had been using the black Tendelux DI20 IR Illuminator for each license plate camera and just threw both of them away! They are on their way to the City of Lubbock dump site. I still have a third one in case I want to use it for comparison purposes. Another good thing about the Iluminar IRC99-A60-24 is that it has a metal body and looks more imposing than Tendelux.

StevenFromTexas · Dec 5, 2023

Parley said:
My Illuminar reaches out further than the specifications say. 100' is quite conservative for the 60 degree version.

I must agree with Parley again!

CaptainCrunch · Dec 5, 2023

StevenFromTexas said:
Yes, I had been using the black Tendelux DI20 IR Illuminator for each license plate camera and just threw both of them away! They are on their way to the City of Lubbock dump site. I still have a third one in case I want to use it for comparison purposes. Another good thing about the Iluminar IRC99-A60-24 is that it has a metal body and looks more imposing than Tendelux.

I'm glad it's metal. It looks kinda plasticky in the pictures. I went ahead and ordered it.

StevenFromTexas · Dec 5, 2023

CaptainCrunch said:
I'm glad it's metal. It looks kinda plasticky in the pictures. I went ahead and ordered it.

You may need the female connector from a pair of these Chanzon 12V DE Power Jack Connectors to connect the Iluminar IRC99-A60-24 to a power supply.

CaptainCrunch · Dec 5, 2023

StevenFromTexas said:
You may need the female connector from a pair of these Chanzon 12V DE Power Jack Connectors to connect the Iluminar IRC99-A60-24 to a power supply.

Thanks...I've got some jack connector pigtails and solder seals in my "holiday lighting synced to music" hobby.

StevenFromTexas · Dec 5, 2023

CaptainCrunch said:
Thanks...I've got some jack connector pigtails and solder seals in my "holiday lighting synced to music" hobby.

Good! Contrary to my last post, it may be the male connector that is needed instead. But you're ready regardless.

Parley · Dec 5, 2023

StevenFromTexas said:
You may need the female connector from a pair of these Chanzon 12V DE Power Jack Connectors to connect the Iluminar IRC99-A60-24 to a power supply.

Those are the ones that I also used.

StevenFromTexas · Dec 5, 2023

Parley said:
Those are the ones that I also used.

Yeah, I neglected to give you credit on that one. :banghead:

Here's your well-deserved acknowledgement. :clap:

I already use these power supply adapters -- Chanzon 12V 3A UL Listed 36W AC DC Switching Power Supply Adapter. Geez, did you recommend those at one time? :idk:

The Automation Guy · Dec 6, 2023

Anyone powering the iIuminar emitter via POE? I have a dedicated ethernet line run to the emitter location and I'm using these currently.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09YVQLVVR/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

I'd rather be able to just swap out the current emitter vs having to find another way to power it.

StevenFromTexas · Dec 23, 2023

Well, I purchased and installed a third Iluminar IRC99-A60-24 IR Illuminator. So I've got two of those in use on one license plate capture camera, and the third one in use with a Speco Technologies IR60 IR Illuminator on the other license plate capture camera. The Iluminar IRC99-A60-24 IR Illuminator absolutely runs circles around the Tendelux models for license plate illumination purposes.

cordes · Feb 18, 2024

My Tendelux DI20 IR Illuminator died after only 2 months. I thought it might have been the power supply, but it wasn't that. I'll inspect the unit at the mounting site tomorrow, but since I used high quality dual walled heat shrink tubing when I installed the connector at the unit, I'm 99.99999% sure it's not water infiltration into the connection causing the issue. I can't recommend it at all, though the performance was decent for the money given my low expectations initally.

Bottom line, is that I do not recommend it at all. I ordered a unit from Univivi per the above good reviews. We'll see how this one holds up.

wittaj · Feb 18, 2024

cordes said:
My Tendelux DI20 IR Illuminator died after only 2 months. I thought it might have been the power supply, but it wasn't that. I'll inspect the unit at the mounting site tomorrow, but since I used high quality dual walled heat shrink tubing when I installed the connector at the unit, I'm 99.99999% sure it's not water infiltration into the connection causing the issue. I can't recommend it at all, though the performance was decent for the money given my low expectations initally.

Bottom line, is that I do not recommend it at all. I ordered a unit from Univivi per the above good reviews. We'll see how this one holds up.

Is the wall wart exposed to rain or is it protected?

Review- New Design Tendelux 10 Watt IR illuminator.

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