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Weather Station Hardware => Weather Web Cams => Topic started by: Axelvold on December 30, 2011, 03:48:49 PM
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I have ordered 2 Wireless IP Cameras with IR light, and now I'm wondering how will the IR light be effected if I put the camera in front of a window?
They are for indoor use, but if I get a good enclosure could they then be mounted outside?
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The IR will reflect off the glass blinding the camera. I'm not sure why, but it does.
I picked up one of the Foscams and am working on an enclosure for it. With the IRs on, I see nothing. At least I can turn them off from the web page.
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How can you weather enclose it if any glass in front of the IR LEDs will blind the camera?
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Like I said, I can turn the IRs off with a mouse click. I'll use other lighting outside the dome if I need it. You can buy separate IR floods or just use standard visible yard lighting.
Mine will be about 40' up in the air, so the built-in IRs won't be useful anyways.
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Ok, then I know that, If I cane turn off the IR so could I maybe use this instead.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/IR-Infrared-75-LED-5x-1W-LED-illuminator-150M-Distance-light-Night-Vision-/220894438647?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item336e55a4f7 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/IR-Infrared-75-LED-5x-1W-LED-illuminator-150M-Distance-light-Night-Vision-/220894438647?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item336e55a4f7)
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I don't know exactly what would happen facing a glass window, but this is what happens with the IR on inside a lexan dome:
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This kinda explains it: http://www.dandydesigns.org/id58.html
Glass is a kind of optical filter letting visible wavelengths through while rejecting longer IR wavelengths.
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A window or glass looks a lot like WeatherHost's lexan dome. I tried mine through a window at a steep angle for a while, but that was not a solution. Mine is currently mounted under the eaves on the porch with no enclosure, about 30cm back from the gutter/dripline. It has never gotten wet and we had some driving rains the last few days. Astak Mole, which is probably the same weather-tolerance as the Foscam.
Apparently, moths like IR light as much as visible light, because in the summer they are constantly tripping the motion detection by flying into the camera. But I also catch the occasional spider winning a midnight snack.
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This kinda explains it: http://www.dandydesigns.org/id58.html
Glass is a kind of optical filter letting visible wavelengths through while rejecting longer IR wavelengths.
But can Superman see through leaded glass, like in an xray lab? It's one of those paradoxes for the ages.
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I don't know exactly what would happen facing a glass window, but this is what happens with the IR on inside a lexan dome:
Then one can ask the question, why put an IR cam in a glass dome when it does not work with the IR light on?
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^^Gotta protect the camera from the weather. The one I have isn't intended for outside. I haven't found anything else that will pan and tilt for a reasonable price.
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^^Gotta protect the camera from the weather. The one I have isn't intended for outside. I haven't found anything else that will pan and tilt for a reasonable price.
That I could understand, but why have it outside in a glassdome at night when it's no good.
But maybe there is some glassdome that don't reflect the IR light?
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I'll just kill the IRs. They wouldn't be effective in my case anyways due to their limited range. IRs are only good for about 30 feet or so and my camera will be higher than that.
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You are all correct. IR will not penetrate glass, it has to do with the wavelengh of the IR light. You can get special glass that IR will pass but it is very expensive. I sell them in my day job for electrical switch gear. They use IR cameras to measure heat build up on connections to detect shorts or overloading. Normal glass will act as a reflector / mirror.
Also you have to understand there IS a distance that IR light will travel. You ever take a picture with a normal camera and the flash goes off, everything near to you has the flash light, but as you go pass it will get dark. Same principle... So I would say turn off the IR... Just my 2 cents worth to this. :lol:
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Lars,
Check out this link for some pics of my experience with an IP camera with IR LED's.
http://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=3931.msg34487#msg34487
A year later, the manu put out firmware to turn off the LED's, but when I first asked, they were like "why would you want to turn them off, no one would, its a day/night camera"
The only way to properly do IR assist on a night vision camera is to have the IR emitters on the outside of the glass the camera is shooting through. The problem isnt really IR penetrating the glass, its the bounce back reflection which floods the low light capabilities of the night vision mode on the camera...
Andrew
ps: I attached an image of a q see security camera, the black ring around the lense, prevents any reflection from the IR's which are technically behind the same glass, but cant reflect into image sensor.
(http://lh5.googleusercontent.com/public/CiarMSqKYqNRiXJ6X0GN0KZMDfPGSzgtDR3ZuZHWoWmgExxrtTc0mrvxtm5lT_840IG-2vzCxXMdZu4n12JayIpSI6P6FzVdiumCIrPJkAIlNESVeEYd2FwjCaEz-rTgdsFky-c9OPG2)
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I will get my cameras tomorrow, it's gonna be very intresting to see how it will be.
Just a idea, if the camera don't point direct towards the glass how would that effect the IR light?
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I still think you will see the glow. Just for regular reflection its a good idea to angle. Are you putting inside behind a window, or actual enclosure.
Backstopping with black cloth is a good way to make the image better.
Just with hall lights, and random lights in my two camera rooms, without the blackbackground, you get some odd images due to reflection.
Andrew
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I still think you will see the glow. Just for regular reflection its a good idea to angle. Are you putting inside behind a window, or actual enclosure.
Backstopping with black cloth is a good way to make the image better.
Just with hall lights, and random lights in my two camera rooms, without the blackbackground, you get some odd images due to reflection.
Andrew
I will put it inside behind a window, and there will be no backlight where I will put it.
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I just installed this IR camera last weekend with a night distance of 30 meters. Before mounting it, I tried different locations outside on the front porch. Even when it was 2 inches from the white railing, enough IR light was reflected to cause a glare on that side of the image. Attached is a picture after it was finally mounted.
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Done some experimenting with the IR light.
Before:
(http://www.axelvold.net/cover_ir/before.jpg)
And the did I make a cover for the IR light
(http://www.axelvold.net/cover_ir/front.jpg)
(http://www.axelvold.net/cover_ir/back.jpg)
(http://www.axelvold.net/cover_ir/side_1.jpg)
(http://www.axelvold.net/cover_ir/side_2.jpg)
(http://www.axelvold.net/cover_ir/done.jpg)
The result with the cover on
(http://www.axelvold.net/cover_ir/after.jpg)
And this is the result when it's dark outside.
(http://www.axelvold.net/cover_ir/night.jpg)
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That's basically the same idea I have, but I'm using a thick black tape/membrane as a mask.
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Done some experimenting with the IR light.
That cam takes nice pictures - what kind is it?
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Done some experimenting with the IR light.
That cam takes nice pictures - what kind is it?
It's this model, http://www.easynp.com/ShowProducts.asp?id=436 (http://www.easynp.com/ShowProducts.asp?id=436)