Darkness is the enemy of security system setups. Unless you have an infrared security camera, as infrared security cameras excel at capturing video in the dark.

Many new security personnel are aware of the large obvious drawback of using a infrared camera: it captures in black and white. However, there are many reasons why you would want an infrared security camera (or several) in your security setup.

An infrared security camera, admittedly recording in black and white, is often the only type of security camera that can record in adverse lighting conditions.

Many closed caption television security system cameras hinge on having good available lighting. Often times this means that a thousand dollar setup can many times be rendered useless and ineffective by simply removing the light source, by either destroying or disabling the light. In this situation a infrared security camera would make an excellent failsafe. Secondly, many times the lighting necessary to properly secure an outside location would be overwhelming to nearby residents or businesses, draw unwelcome attention, or otherwise be undesirable. This is another situation where a infrared security camera would be very beneficial.

Infrared security cameras measure infrared radiation (or IR). Infrared radiation sensors are often called heat sensors, as they are used in heat seeking missiles and night vision goggles. But this is a misconception as heat is felt from more than just infrared spectrum and the infrared spectrum contains more than heat (for example, your television remote uses an infrared sensor and infrared light, but does not get hot when you use it). For purposes of security systems, however, we will be primarily concerned with the infrared sensor picking up heat signatures of human bodies.

Infrared cameras come with many different numbers of infrared lights built into the lens. Some have as many as 64 or as few as 6 bulbs, but the number of bulbs is not the only thing to consider. The size of the infrared bulb is important as well. Generally the more infrared light, in both size and number, that a infrared security camera has the farther that you will be able to see with the camera.

A good rule of thumb is: if the infrared security camera has 12 or more infrared lights, it was not meant to be used indoors. Often times, the CCTV applications for indoor cameras is to help secure small rooms or tight spaces that have many flat reflective surfaces, such as windows, doors, coffee tables, fish tanks, or anything else glossy ” including some types of glossy interior paints. Many users assume that more lights will automatically make a better picture, but this is not the case. It is generally better to know the application for your security camera before you purchase.