{"id":2414,"date":"2015-10-28T21:14:09","date_gmt":"2015-10-28T21:14:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stevepedwards.today\/DebianAdmin\/?p=2414"},"modified":"2023-10-28T21:25:06","modified_gmt":"2023-10-28T20:25:06","slug":"raspberry-pi-cameras-ir-sensitivity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stevepedwards.today\/DebianAdmin\/raspberry-pi-cameras-ir-sensitivity\/","title":{"rendered":"Home Made Outdoor Surveillance PiCams, Pi Cam's IR Sensitivity, with TalkTalk Powerline"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Pi Noir camera is known to be sensitive to IR by having the IR filter removed that are included in the generic Pi cameras, but how different are the stock cams from the noir in the IR region? Is the stock camera sensitive to IR to any degree? I found it is, but how that translates to specific utility depends on what you are trying to achieve.<\/p>\n

I also found my Sony Arc phone camera is also quite sensitive (as most video sensors are, which has been known for decades since vid cams were noticed filming TV IR remote control LEDs).<\/p>\n

This enabled me to use an Android\u00a0\"Thermal\u00a0Vision\" app to check if the sensor worked when I was soldering it, not having to fire up the Pi Noir. Even though this app states it only converts usual colours to an \"IR view\" I found it did tell me the difference between the array on and off with a colour change, so was useful.<\/p>\n

\"1445574809232.jpg\"<\/a> \"1445574813108.jpg\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The IR LED array I used for these pics came from the DOA chinese surveillance camera whose housing I am now using to build a PiCam based surveillance unit instead.<\/p>\n

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The 1m long ribbon cost \u00a35 from Ebay, but I cut one track on the sharp metal edges before finding a rubber grommet\u00a0- beware - the cable is very fragile.\u00a0I had to buy another ribbon due to this carelessness.<\/p>\n

I will use 20mm flexi cable conduit to run the ribbon\u00a0through my garage wall hole I have drilled once all is checked as working.<\/p>\n

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I cut a Pi cam case housing front face to super glue to the glass cover plastic mount. The Cam board clips into this via the 4 corner pins in the case front.<\/p>\n

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IR array switched off:<\/p>\n

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Sony Arc pic of the IR LED array. This looks dimly red to the human eye.<\/p>\n

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The IR array has a photo resistor in the circuit of 36 LEDs in 3 sections (I assume in parallel) separated by 6 resistors - so I had to experiment putting my finger over it, using a multimeter on the 20k range to read values and work out what wires to connect to the original 12V PSU. PSU positive (red) to the 12V connector position, and the other 3 (black, yellow, red) are soldered together to the PSU negative. Just don't touch the negative to an LED pin by accident, as the spark will destroy a 6 LED section - as you see I did above...dick...use tape before you\u00a0switch on!<\/p>\n

You can buy these arrays for \u00a31.25 from Ebay:<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.ebay.co.uk\/itm\/Infrared-IR-36-Led-Illuminator-Board-for-CCTV-CCD-Security-Camera-MJ-\/321863104383?hash=item4af089377f:g:EksAAOSwEetV9EWI<\/a><\/p>\n

So how do the different Pi cameras view the LEDs in the dark? Both are the same distance from the array.<\/p>\n

The only light comes from the laptop screen facing me, as you see in my glasses reflection from the normal camera.<\/p>\n

As you would expect, the Noir is much more sensitive, making the LEDs look light a spotlight, but the normal cam still sees a little in infra-red:<\/p>\n

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And here's the image from the now mounted camera - a little more \"foggy\" than usual with the housing glass:<\/p>\n

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The field of view and detail is excellent at 960 x 720 here.<\/p>\n

The camera case is tiny, and I used some 20mm flexi tube from an aquarium store to seal and waterproof the 15mm ribbon cable with then used window silicon sealer type goo for the camera rear and wall hole:<\/p>\n

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Just got to replace the broken motion sensitive garage night light and I'm good for winter nights - I hope it can stand the UK wind and rain, and not leak...<\/p>\n

I used a pair of these very good TALKTALK (DLink) Powerline units to connect the garage based Pi to my router over the house electrics:<\/p>\n

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You can use as many Powerline Adapters as you like in your home, and if you wish to buy additional adapters please visit the TalkTalk shop.<\/a> Please note, we recommend adding the same type of Powerline Adapters to your network as you already have, because adding non-TalkTalk Powerlines to existing TalkTalk Powerlines may affect performance.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

To connect your additional Powerlines, you will need to use the Pair button (black Powerlines) or Security Button (white Powerlines). Follow the simple steps below:<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Unpair existing Powerline Adapters<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Before you can connect your additional Powerline Adapters, you will need to unpair your existing adapters, and then pair them again\u00a0to create a new network.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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  1. Press and hold the pair\/security button<\/strong> on Powerline A<\/strong> for 10 seconds and release when the power LED flashes.<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n
  2. Press and hold the pair\/security button<\/strong> on Powerline B<\/strong> for 10 seconds and release when the power LED flashes.<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Powerlines A and B are now unpaired and ready to be connected.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

    Connecting your Powerline Adapters<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Press and hold the pair\/security button <\/strong>on Powerline A<\/strong> for 2 seconds then release. The power LED will flash.<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n
    2. Within 2 minutes, press and hold the pair\/security button<\/strong> on Powerline B<\/strong> for 2 seconds then release. Powerlines A and B are now connected.<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n
    3. Press and hold the pair\/security button<\/strong> on Powerline C<\/strong> for 10 seconds and release when the power LED flashes. The Powerline is now ready to be connected to the existing network.<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n
    4. Press and hold the pair\/security button<\/strong> on Powerline A<\/strong> for 2 seconds and release. The Power LED will flash.<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n
    5. Within 2 minutes, press and hold the pair\/security button<\/strong> on Powerline C<\/strong> for 2 seconds then release. Powerlines A, B and C are now connected.<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      To add more Powerlines to\u00a0your network, simply repeat steps 3-5\u00a0above.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

      Troubleshooting Tips<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

      If you're experiencing an issue getting your additional Powerline Adapters to work try these steps:<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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      1. Press the pair\/security button<\/strong> on one adapter for 2-3 seconds (the Power LED will start blinking after you release the button). Within 2 minutes press the pair\/security button<\/strong> on the second adapter for between 2-3 seconds.<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n
      2. Press the Reset button<\/strong> (using a pin) on each adapter for 1 second. Then repeat step 1<\/strong>.<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Nload shows a 60kb\/s avg between my laptop, via the router over the mains to the Pi, which is sufficient\u00a0to view at this resolution over the Internet to the router external IP.<\/p>\n

        \"NloadGaragePi.png\"<\/a><\/p>\n

        The normal outside light view is not so good - I would have liked to use the NoIR cam with an IR light for this, but I want to use that for future possible telescope\/microscope projects, so until I get the 150W sensor garage light connected:<\/p>\n

        \"OutlightView.png\"<\/a><\/p>\n

        To give you an idea of the time lapse quality at this resolution, I had the camera running when installing it which was amusing afterwards! Cue the Benny Hill theme tune..:<\/p>\n