Ok, maybe this is a stupid question, but it’s late and I was just thinking.
If you put a lens designed for a camera for IR photography (blocks out visible light) would you have a decent IR light?
Just a thought.
Ok, maybe this is a stupid question, but it’s late and I was just thinking.
If you put a lens designed for a camera for IR photography (blocks out visible light) would you have a decent IR light?
Just a thought.
If you are talking about adding the lens to a “standard” flashlight I don’t believe that will work. You would need a diode that is made for IR. A normal LED doesn’t make enough IR for that.
I am sure someone much more light savy can correct me if that s wrong.
An incandescent lightsource (or anything that heats up) puts out much ir as a side-effect.
A white led does not make light by heating up stuff and it does not put out any ir. For ir you need dedicated leds, there are several options.
Even if you produce IR, your eyes won’t see it. Creating IR and detecting it are two different things. What’re you trying to do? Heat something up?
I want a powerful IR illuminater, I have modified one of my cameras for IR photography. I want to light up some night shots.
How is your modding skills? Mtnelectronics.com has Olson black leds, currently the best single emitter IR led.
Works better than those x-ray specs that were sold on the back of comic books. Try to behave yourself.
I have actually never modded a light, but I am skilled with electronics. Seems modding may be the best way to go.
850nm will give the best illumination but looking towards the emitter, human eyes will see a dim “red” glow. 940nm will have little to no visible glow but most cameras have less sensitivity to 940nm so you get less illumination for a given power. IR lights for security cameras often use 940nm to avoid the glow.
Modding a light with Oslons provides an extra challenge: you want the led on a DTP copper board for optimal performance but the thermal path is connected to the anode (+) so you need to electrically insulate the board from the flashlight body.
A friend asked me, if I could built him a Convoy C8 IR flashlight with 940nm and three modes. In the past I combine only Cree LEDs with a Nanjg drivers (or similar pieces like the AK47).
I found IR LEDs, but it is written in the description:
1.
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Freeshipping-5W-Infrared-IR-940NM-High-Power-LED-Bead-Emitter-DC1-4-1-7V-1400mA-with/591276736.html
Technical Parameters:
Quantity: 1pcs
Power: 5W
Emitted Color: 940nm Infrared
DC Forward Voltage (VF) : 1.4V~1.7V
DC Forward Current (IF): 1400A
Maximum Pulse Current : 2000mA
Viewing Angle: 120 degree
2.
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/3W-3535-EPILEDs-Infrared-IR-940NM-High-Power-LED-Bead-Emitter-with-16mm-Platine-Heatsink/32221129233.html
Technical Parameters:
Quantity: 1pcs
Emitted Color :Infrared/IR
Chip Brand:Epileds
Wavelength: 940NM
DC Forward Voltage (VF): DC1.4 ~ 1.7V
DC Forward Current (IF): Typ 700mA
Emitting Power: 150-250mW
Viewing Angle: 120 Degrees
I think about a 105C driver with 1400mA (LED1) or with 700mA (LED2)
If a usually LED gets to much mA it will be killed, but what happens with to much Voltage? The Cree LEDs I know support much more Voltage and worked well with the 105C, but what will happen with DC Forward Voltage (VF): DC1.4 ~ 1.7V in combination with the 105C?
Do I have to modify the 105C in a way, to get the Voltage down? If the answer is yes: How could I do this?
The 105C driver will turn the excess voltage into heat, not sure how much they will handle.
If you search for red led drivers you might find some more info, they also also use low VF.
nope. you’d get a lot better light if you use ir source, as it was mentioned, 850nm are most powerfull but they have slight red glow. very faint glow.
i have build ir light for my night camera. i have no problem with faint glow, but some may have.
you can see one beamshot is using build in camera ir led (also 850nm), other pic is same place illuminated by my light,
it has 2 10w lz4 ledengin leds. and 38mm ledengin tir lenses. 3 18650 cells, and flexblock driver. there is no handle, i attach it straight to the camera
Some people will see more red glow, other people less. Perception to wavelengths at the edges of our normal visual range varies from person to person. I’ve read some people say they can see 940nm laser (emitted wavelength for lasers is narrower, almost just 940).
The best IR emitter that I have for use with night vision equipment is an incandescent mini-mag with an IR filter. It beats the pants off its nearest LED competitor. Puts out a slight visible red glow that is hard to see from a few feet away.
A big problem with 940 nm LED flashlights is knowing when the damn thing is on. Mine puts out NO visible light and a cell phone camera does not see it either. It does not work very well with 2nd or 3rd gen night vision equipment.
Hi texaspyro. Interesting comment… I saw Mitko made the following comment here ’’…most of nowadays 2 and up generation scopes works best with 940 nm”
I’m have a friend with an ATN Trident Pro4x-2 scope - 850nm does not work well with this scope. Mitko gave me confidence to order some 940nm LEDs and give it a go with this scope. But, in contrast with your comment, 940nm might not work well.
Anyway, just pointing out the contrast in opinion.
Also read this comment from Conradg82. “…Gen 3 night vision will have a harder time seeing 940nm compared to 850. What kind of NOD are you using?” Mmm, interesting.
Among others AN/PVS4, PVS5, PVS7, TVS9, ANVIS-6, ANVIS-9… The PVS series stuff in Gen2, Gen2+, and Gen 3. I once bought out the inventory of a night vision sales/repair depot that was closing down…