What is Infrared Camera Surveillance? How Does It Work?

Infrared camera surveillance provides clear, detailed video even in complete darkness. Whether you're looking for the best home IR camera surveillance, or have an IR camera surveillance system and want to hide IR light, you'll find all the answers here. So what is infrared camera surveillance? How does infrared camera surveillance work?

1. Understand infrared camera surveillance

Infrared camera surveillance, also known as an IR CCTV camera, is a video surveillance camera that provides clear, recognizable video in low-light or no-light areas. In terms of appearance, IR security cameras usually have multiple built-in red lights around the outer edge of the camera lens. Some of you may be wondering, why do infrared surveillance cameras have red lights?

In effect, so-called red lights (IR LEDs) allow your outdoor infrared camera surveillance to "see at night". They can provide lighting for cameras to see in dim conditions or in complete darkness. Although security cameras with infrared lights are often referred to as "night vision" security cameras due to their excellent night vision capabilities, they are not to be confused with day and night security cameras.

Infrared camera surveillance vs security cameras: The main difference between them is that day and night security cameras are not CCTV security cameras with infrared technology, so they cannot work in complete darkness. You can use day and night security cameras in low light situations. But for places without ambient light, wireless infrared security cameras are more ideal.

2. How does infrared camera surveillance work?

Infrared camera surveillance uses infrared LED lights to capture information in the dark and works by detecting infrared radiation or photons from objects that heat up. Afterwards, infrared security camera systems convert the photons into electrons, which are then processed into the images we see on our phones or monitors. In well-lit locations, infrared night vision security cameras will provide color pictures. When it gets dark, the wireless infrared camera surveillance system automatically adjusts and switches to the infrared mode where the camera records in black and white. Because of how it works, the performance of outdoor IR camera surveillance is not affected by heavy fog or rain that can obstruct the light and cause blurry images from other non-IR security cameras.