Infrared light on video camera - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 24, 2013, 07:07:08 pm
content: Well I have had yet another tampering with my car. This time they too the rear wiper blade off the car and dumped it on the floor. So i'm thinking, they have stopped going for the front of the car possibly because of the way i now park but i can't expose all sides of the car to try and stop people feeling secure in messing with it and the back was not exactly obscured anyhow.The police just keep asking the same stupid question: any idea who may have done it ? well fuck no! else i'd have told the stupid police already duh !So next plan, catch them out or permanently deter them. i already have a dash camera at the front which may also be the reason they have stopped messing with the front. Now what if i put one in the back. As there is no street lighting i'm going to need my own. blaring off a light every time someone approaches is i think a bit of a crude way of doing it and knowing the poor quality of the camera's a waste of time unless it is real powerful. but what it I use infrared ? the camera in the front already has some pathetic IR LED's in it so if they do pick up infrared on perhaps i could use some powerful IR lighting/LED's to get a nice bright video without my car becoming the local light house every time someone approaces.Good plan ? i get the impression that sensors are more sensitive to Ir than day light anyway ?

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2013, 08:24:58 pm
content: Yes you can get a pretty bright IR emitter that will run off 12V, sold as a surveillance camera. Good enough to get an image with recognisable resolution off the camera at 30m away depending on the camera. Uses around 1A and is about 100mm in diameter.I looked at my Logitech dashcam and it has a motion detect in it, so you can buy 2 of these cheap ones, a pair of 32G cards and run them all the night in the car with an extra illuminator placed to give good coverage. Will at least give some video of the scumbag local kids doing it so you can get the ASBO and annoy the parents. You might need to cover the blue LED on the camera with black tape to disguise it, and hide it so it is not easily seen. Turn off the internal illuminator and black tape it as well so they cannot see it at all.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 24, 2013, 09:33:30 pm
content: Well i'm not looking to actually hide the whole thing. My front camera hangs off the windscreen quite visible and seems to have deterred them from interfering with the front as in the past, after all taking the front wipers off means it is illegal to drive, taking the blade off the back one that is stuck half way up because it is obviously broken makes no difference at all. i do occasionally forget the front camera on at night which is pointless as the current "night vision" is not really what they want you to think it is but the flashing light on the back will have been noted.I just want the powerful lighting to be not lighting the place up and attracting any unneeded attention that might get me a slab through the window like the guy a few doors down.Naturally the police are clueless and if they were spending any of my money sensibly they would have the lights in the area put back on and some camera's put up.

author: notsob
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2013, 10:48:27 pm
content: Have you looked at this car reversing night vision unit - wireless.Not sure of the range but being wireless you may be able to monitor it from in your househttp://www.ebay.com/itm/Car-Night-Vision-Rear-View-Wireless-Reversing-Parking-Backup-Color-Camera-/151107299767?pt=US_Rear_View_Monitors_Cams_Kits&hash=item232eb269b7

author: pickle9000
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2013, 11:17:50 pm
content: Infrared will glare out the camera if it's on the same side as the glass. It works perfectly if on the outside. Security IR pods will work but try one of these.http://www.ebay.ca/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=infrared+ultrafire&LH_BIN=1They are fairly waterproof. You will need a camera on to set the location. You could run it off the car with a small power supply and when your done with the IR buy a new bulb assembly and you will have a very slick little flashlight for the toolbox. You should also be able to find them at a hunting shop (but at a much higher price).For best results locate the light as close as possible to the camera directed at the area, avoid lighting at 90degree angles because shadows will hide a great deal. As for mounting use a scope mount for a rifle or pellet gun they are made to fit.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2013, 11:45:13 pm
content: What about an IR motion detector wired to something inside the house that alerts you that something is moving near the car.You can then sneak out with a DSLR and get a really good pic of their faces.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 25, 2013, 07:21:02 am
content: Quote from: Psi on August 24, 2013, 11:45:13 pmthen I would never sleep at night and even my DSLR can't make head nor tail of pitch blackness

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 25, 2013, 07:22:33 am
content: Quote from: pickle9000 on August 24, 2013, 11:17:50 pmBack window is at 45 degrees so might no reflect back ? yes I has the visible version of those torches - washing machine proof !

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2013, 08:01:55 am
content: Quote from: Simon on August 25, 2013, 07:21:02 amYou use the flashNothing like thinking someone just took your picture to freak them out and stop them returning.And you mount the sensor so it doesn't go off unless someone is really close to your car.

author: pickle9000
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2013, 08:57:53 am
content: Quote from: Simon on August 25, 2013, 07:22:33 amThe only thing that works is to shroud the light. Cut a cardboard boot and put the lens as close to the glass as possible so the light shines through only a small portion. As for the angle it certainly helps but the imperfections in the glass, dust on the inside and outside everything reflects back.Don't forget to use your camera when setting up. There is no other good way to see the illumination from the IR.The IR flashlights usually use a simplified switch (hi,lo,off) if you are using an existing light use the high setting as the low setting or flash settings in some switches drive the cameras exposure system crazy.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 25, 2013, 01:03:03 pm
content: Quote from: Psi on August 25, 2013, 08:01:55 amthe original comment was that I should have a sensor that sets off an alarm in the house so that I can get up (in the middle of the night) and take pot shots, the distance is too great for flash to work and i'm not putting my DSLR in the car.I'll need either constant IR lights or sensor activated ones, I also thought I thought I could pulse the lights so as to get a brighter light (recent IR LED's I bought for the scalextric lap timer can take 1a pulses but work on 100mA continuos).I have bought two of these:http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370803869692No talk of night vision so i may need white lights after all.

author: DarkPrince
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2013, 03:00:10 pm
content: This reminds me a bit of my dad's motion detecting camera. It's a digital camera but also IR leds in front. When it detects movement (a animal walking by, etc.) it snaps a series of images with the LEDs on; so a sort of night vision. Results are pretty good actually!Quick search yielded this Amazon category:http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_st?qid=1377442563&rh=n%3A3375251%2Cn%3A!3375301%2Cn%3A706813011%2Cn%3A3412851%2Cn%3A162017011%2Cn%3A3413551%2Cp_n_feature_keywords_browse-bin%3A4816656011&sort=reviewrank_authority

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 25, 2013, 03:01:47 pm
content: yep that would be the end result but the camera does not come full of LED's I'll have to provide them.

author: pickle9000
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2013, 07:19:28 pm
content: I doubt you will have any issues with the cameras. Virtually all security type cameras have excellent IR sensing. Mainly that's because they are cheaper that way. You can pick up a PIR module off ebay for under 5 bucks search for HC-SR501 and you should find a bunch. I'd probably get two myself and place on the rear bumper, then it can double as a backup alarm and give better coverage.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 25, 2013, 08:34:10 pm
content: Yes they look good. I just need to setup a string of IR LED's now

author: pickle9000
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2013, 09:00:09 pm
content: This is a camera ir insert. Cheap 12 volt and they turn on only if its dark enough. They are cheap and work excellent up to 10 feet even with the crappiest camera. I've always wondered if you could get enough light out of a taillight lens with one of these. If so you would have a very dry location to fit them.http://www.ebay.ca/itm/36-LED-Security-Camera-Infrared-IR-Illuminator-Board-/170514434638?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27b373ca4e