IR - night video

[McEve]

Hi,

I want to make a video of my fish, in pitch black. And I want it on my web
cam :) So how should I go about this? I'm thinking IR light, but where can I
get an IR almp that doesn't cost a fortune (it doesn't need to be larger
than a diode really), and what extra equipment do I need for the web cam?

Or is there a different solution to this that I haven't thought of? i want
to have a web cam set up that will show me what's going on inside a cave. I
have the plans ready for how to set this up, as soon as I find the equipment
needed (IR - lamp - diode - filter for the web cam, do I need a special web
cam so on) - and it doesn't have to be water proof.

Any ideas, hints or tips?

[Quatermass]

This should really be in rec.aquaria.tech group.

Ok, you need some IR LEDs which you can get from any decent electronic
store.

Maplins (UK), Radio Shack (USA)?

Most web cams will be sensitive to IR. So no special things required.

http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&product%5Fid=980-1479
This product is ideal but pricey.

http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&product%5Fid=276%2D143

This is a high output IR LED.
Just wire it up to a resistor to drop V1.28 across the LED at 100mA.

Say a 38 ohm resistor of 0.5W in series to a 5V supply.

So a 5v power supply capable of drawing 0.5A will allow you to use 5 of
these LEDs.

These LEDs are only about 2 dollars each. Resistors and wire is
pennies.

Cut out a bit of card to fit over the camera and push the LEDs through
them in a circle.

There, a IR light source for less than $20. :-)

[Nikki Casali]

Quatermass wrote:
> This should really be in rec.aquaria.tech group.
>
> Ok, you need some IR LEDs which you can get from any decent electronic
> store.
>
> Maplins (UK), Radio Shack (USA)?
>
> Most web cams will be sensitive to IR. So no special things required.
>
> http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&product%5Fid=980-1479
> This product is ideal but pricey.
>
> http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&product%5Fid=276%2D143
>
> This is a high output IR LED.
> Just wire it up to a resistor to drop V1.28 across the LED at 100mA.
>
> Say a 38 ohm resistor of 0.5W in series to a 5V supply.
>
> So a 5v power supply capable of drawing 0.5A will allow you to use 5 of
> these LEDs.
>
> These LEDs are only about 2 dollars each. Resistors and wire is
> pennies.
>
> Cut out a bit of card to fit over the camera and push the LEDs through
> them in a circle.
>
> There, a IR light source for less than $20. :-)
>

Just one point: I wouldn't put the circle of LEDs around the camera as
you'll find the reflection of the IR lights, from the aquarium glass,
blind the camera. Keep the LEDs 6" or more to the side. Those CCTV
cameras with built-in IR LEDs are practically useless outside the
aquarium, unless you get a waterproof version to bypass the glass.

I had to keep 24 hour watch on a sick fish once and dropped in one of
those waterproof cameras to do it from afar.

[McEve]

I made an inquiry to a company that manufacture IR cameras, and this is
their reoly:

Thank you for your interest in Infrared, Inc. Unfortunately we are unable

to assist you with your request. Infrared imaging can not see through

water.

>"Nikki Casali" > wrote in message
...
> I had to keep 24 hour watch on a sick fish once and dropped in one of
> those waterproof cameras to do it from afar.
>

Did you use an IR camera or a night vision camera?

I had to rethink how to do this after the reply I got from this company.
Anybody done something similar in the past?

>"Quatermass" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> This should really be in rec.aquaria.tech group.
>


You're right, it should be, so I'm cross posting this reply there. And thank
you for your other suggestions too!

[Nikki Casali]

McEve wrote:
> I made an inquiry to a company that manufacture IR cameras, and this is
> their reoly:
>
> Thank you for your interest in Infrared, Inc. Unfortunately we are unable
>
> to assist you with your request. Infrared imaging can not see through
>
> water.
>

I think you asked for the wrong type of camera, maybe thermal imaging
cameras? Any cheap B&W camera will pick up infrared light, even in
water. I know because I have my house wired up with a couple for
security and I used a spare waterproof one, with built-in LEDs, inside
my aquarium. No issues with water, unless you've got salt in there, in
which case it will corrode.

These are the type I am talking about:
http://www.rfconcepts.co.uk/cameras2.htm#IR%20Cam

Nikki