Protection In The Dark: Infrared Security Cameras

You can learn a lot from those TV nature documentaries. I have - about human vision, for example. I have learned that as human beings we are completely unable to see anything in the ultraviolet or infrared range. In order to see with the naked eye, some amount of regular daylight is needed, unlike some other species.

But fortunately for us, we can let technology help us to compensate for our biological weaknesses. This is where infrared security cameras come into play. Infrared security cameras come equipped with all the electronic components necessary to capture images within the infrared range.

This means that infrared cameras are very useful in security monitoring situations. Areas that we would say are in total darkness (a Lux 0.0 condition) are visible through an infrared security camera. Businesses and industries, banks and warehouses have been monitored with infrared security cameras for many years. They have proven to be an effective crime-deterrent.

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.

Infrared security cameras make use of what has been called the 'stealth factor' -- the camera can be completely surrounded in darkness and yet still be actively monitoring the area. As is well known, most home intruders love to operate under the cloak of darkness. They assume that if there is no light, that they cannot be seen. Professional thieves will purposely choose to enter a home in darkness -- but an infrared security camera can catch them red-handed!

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.

Please do NOT confuse infrared security cameras with so-called 'low light' cameras. Low light cameras are capable of capturing images in very low levels of ordinary light - during the early morning hours, or at dusk, for example. Also keep in mind that infrared security cameras work best in monitoring small areas rather than really big lobbies and parking lots. Some models are dual-function cameras: they combine infrared technology with a 'regular' security camera unit - the infrared capability will switch on when the other technology cannot function.

Article Source: http://www.real-estate-article-directory.com

Author: Jennifer Metcalfe writes about home security, video surveillance and home security issues Read more abouthome security camera systems by visiting his website.
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