Infrared LEDs vs White LEDs which one to choose

The cameras which do not have inbuilt LEDs can be made night vision cameras with external LED illuminators. External LED illuminators can be made of Infrared LED or white LED. Although both of them are quite similar, there exists some differences between them, especially in the output and advantages of each one of them. Here we have discussed both of them and their advantages and disadvantages.

Both IR LEDs and white LEDs are usually housed in durable IP66 casings. This makes them suitable for both outdoor as well as indoor usage and separate mounting brackets are available for them which are sold separately.

Most of these illuminators come with a narrow diverging lenses that offer wider beam angles to match the desired angle of view. Additional lenses can also be used and they can be individually configured to turn on and off via the integrated photocell or connected camera’s I/O port.

Unless it is a thermal camera, the CCTV security system requires some form of illumination, either through IR LED or white LED. The choice of which type of LED to use depends on certain factors like

1. The type, specification and capabilities of the cameras

2. The distance up to which the recording has to be done

3. Whether the use of illuminator is to act as a deterrent along with its normal use

4. Whether identification of object and people in the field of view is required and whether colored image is required

IR LEDs offer discreet surveillance minimizing the awareness of illumination. IR is also used where the use of artificial light is unsuitable. IR LEDs can offer fields of view at 150 meters or more.

White LEDs on the other hand act as a visual deterrent thereby preventing criminal activities. White LEDs also offer color images to be taken and helps in identification of person and things better. If the camera does not have a built-in IR cut filter then white LED is the only option to make the camera truly day/night.

After you have decided on which type of LED to choose, it is time to consider the angle of illumination and distance to be covered. A narrow beam of light falling on a wide angle of view produces white spots while a wide beam of light on a narrow angle of view causes wastage of light and power. So it is important to match the angle of illumination with the angle of view of the camera.