Today, there is an increased awareness of security among everyone.Security SurveillanceIn light of this, real-time monitoring during the day alone is no longer sufficient to meet people's needs, so infrared...CameraThis sector, including infrared night vision low-light cameras, is widely used and represents a trend. In this article, let's discuss some common issues with infrared surveillance systems:
Red Storm Issue:
Some manufacturers promote the ability to produce non-flashed infrared lights as a technical issue, as if flashing is a sign of low technology and non-flashing indicates high technology. In reality, whether or not there is a flash is just a choice, not a technical issue. Light with a wavelength over 700nm is called infrared, and infrared above 900nm typically has no flash. The shorter the wavelength, the stronger the flash, and the higher the infrared sensitivity. Currently, there are two mainstream types of infrared lights on the market: one with slight flashing, with a wavelength around 850nm, and another with no flash, with a wavelength around 940nm. For the same camera, the sensitivity at 850nm is 10 times better than at 940nm. Therefore, the 850nm infrared lights with slight flashing offer high efficiency and should be an option for infrared night vision surveillance.
Life Expectancy Issue:
The lifespan of cameras can exceed 10 years; can the lifespan of infrared lights also reach this level? To accurately answer this question, one must first understand the current manufacturing principles of infrared lights. Currently, there are three main manufacturing methods for infrared lights: 1. Halogen lamps, 2. Multi-chip LEDs, and 3. Single-chip LEDs. Halogen lamps are a relatively traditional technology with high energy consumption, significant heat generation, and a shorter lifespan. Due to their low efficiency, they are expected to gradually fade out of the market.
Multi-chip LEDs come in two forms: one contains 4 to 8 chips, and the other is an array-type light-emitting panel with 10 to 30 chips. Why opt for multi-chip designs? Some manufacturers suggest that the insufficient照射 distance of infrared lights is due to insufficient energy. More chips combined, of course, result in greater energy, and it's logically assumed that this leads to a longer照射 distance. While it's true that longer distances require more energy, it's not necessarily the case that the infrared light emits how much infrared light the camera can receive.
Multi-chip LEDs lack a focused light-emitting point due to inherent structural flaws, an irrational optical system, and relatively low light efficiency (though, they are several times more efficient than halogen lamps). Their advantages are not effectively utilized. For instance, arrayed LEDs, with currents exceeding 1000mA, are essentially the size of a penny, making heat dissipation a significant issue. After all, LEDs are prone to damage from high temperatures. Additionally, the production of multi-chip LEDs demands strict quality control; even the slightest performance variance in a single chip can render the entire unit unusable. Overall, the lifespan of multi-chip LEDs is far inferior to that of single-chip LEDs.
The single-chip LED production process is simple, quality is easily ensured, heat generation is low, and the optical system of emission is reasonable, making it an ideal component for infrared lamps. Theoretically, its lifespan can exceed 100,000 hours. But does that mean the lifespan of all single-chip LED lights is excellent?
In fact, it's far from that. There are many reasons, such as some LED chips having low levels and exceeding the allowed impurities; some production processes are substandard with leakage issues; some are used beyond their power ratings, with a rated 20mA but being used at 50mA or more; and some lack protective circuits or have circuit designs that are not reasonable, all of which can lead to the rapid failure of single-chip LED infrared lights.
To ensure the longevity of infrared lights, it's crucial to first select high-grade LED chips. High-grade chips have greater power, better consistency, higher luminous efficiency, and minimal heat generation. A high-grade LED is ten times better in quality than a standard LED, although it comes at a significantly higher cost. Secondly, the optical system design must be reasonable, ensuring even illumination, high efficiency, and rapid heat dissipation. Thirdly, the working voltage must be strictly controlled. LEDs are highly sensitive to voltage; even a slight increase can burn out the LED core, while a slight decrease will drastically reduce luminosity. It's ideal to match high-quality switch-mode power supplies that can maintain stable voltage from 170V to 270V, suitable for harsh power supply environments. Fourthly, the input power cord should be chosen for its resistance to high/low temperatures and its ultra-soft, bend-resistant properties. A manufacturer's infrared lights have an input power cord that operates normally at temperatures ranging from -60°C to +250°C, remaining as soft as silk at -40°C to -50°C, making such products trustworthy.
