How to make an infrared lantern

Infrared lighting has always been relevant for the development of various security systems, as it allows you to see objects even in complete darkness. Recently, the manifestation of the positive influence of the IRwater has been noticed in the cultivation of greenhouse plants. The cost of professional equipment is quite high, and components do not always correspond to the set goals. Therefore, consider how to make an infrared lantern with our own hands.

Table of contents

1. The principle of operation of the infrared lantern
2. Components for assembly of an infrared lantern
3. Infrared flashlight assembly process
4. Infrared flashlight
5. Safety precautions when working with infrared lantern

The principle of operation of the infrared lantern

First of all, we determine what an infrared lantern is and for what purposes it is used. Such lanterns provide the opportunity to carry out additional illumination of objects for observation using rays in the infrared range.

The light distinguished by such a lantern is invisible to the human eye, however, it allows you to make out the subject of interest even in complete darkness through the use of infrared LEDs. This will be especially relevant for the security sphere, because it is difficult to put a powerful spotlight at the facility, from which there will be more inconvenience. In this case, it is worth using an infrared backlight flashlight, which has such a number of properties:

• increased observation range,
• facilitation of identification of the object,
• observation of the area and objects at night,

Such lighting will be the best choice, since such lanterns have a number of advantages:

• low energy consumption,
• the durability of the LED service,
• range.

Components for assembly of an infrared lantern

It’s not so difficult to assemble an infrared lantern with your own hands. To begin with, you will need the simplest tools:

• cross screwdrivers (various sizes),
• soldering iron with a thin sting, with a capacity of 60 watts,
• infrared LEDs (average cost from $ 1 apiece),
• food wire from LEDs to the battery,
• actually, the battery itself for the infrared background

In addition, you should use the isolet and take the base for the lantern. A simple lantern will also be made, which will be converted into infrared. To create such a device, something specific is not required, any components can be purchased in the first electrical engineering store.

Infrared flashlight assembly process

The creation of an infrared lantern is also not difficult. In fact, if it is constructed on the basis of a simple LED, then it is often enough by replacing ordinary LEDs with infrared - and the device is ready. If you need to create a technique more complicated, then you will have to carry out a little more manipulations:

• the old lantern is disassembled and the lens is extracted (protective glass, if it is - it is better to leave),
• for infrared LEDs (or LED, if one is used), power wires are soldered,
• following the power element (battery or battery), the second end of the wire is soldered,
• the final step will be the isolation of the compounds. When sparkling, it is advisable to close the soldered elements using the tube of thermal shrinkage, the wires should be fastened together with electrical tape.

After the actions were completed - the infrared lantern is ready.

Quite often, to carry out spectacular monitoring of remote objects, something more significant should be used than a simple IR Fund. For these purposes, it is quite possible to assemble an infrared spotlight. In people who are unprepared for such work, at the mention of the word, a spotlight may have an association with bulky lighting equipment, but this is not so. Roughly speaking, spotlights are powerful infrared lanterns and with a significant number of infrared LEDs.

For the base, a case is required, which in the future will be an IR-projector. In the event that it is planned to create a low -power lighting device for household needs (for example, for night shooting) it is not necessary to close the LEDs with a protective glass, in other cases, if it is supposed to use a spotlight as a lighting device for video surveillance systems, it is extremely recommended to conclude a finished structure In the moisture -proof case.

Assembly process:

• in the selected case (for example, having the form of a plastic box), marks are made (for example, 8-10 for the same number of LEDs in each row, which there will also be several) should take place at an equal distance from each other (it is optimal to choose the difference of 5 mm),
• with the help of a drill and a low -power drill or screwdriver, holes are drilled at the indicated marks to insert the LEDs. On the other side of the case, the mounting system should also be considered. If an amateur IR-projector will join a camera or video camera, then it is enough to make one hole inside which a bolt will be inserted and subsequently tightened with a nut,
• the layout (for the installation of LEDs) is cut using simple scissors to the necessary sizes for the installation,
• then infrared LEDs are located in it so that the cathodes and the anodes are located in a row, and the IR-VediodiDs themselves fall into the drilled holes in the box building,
• the legs of the LEDs are bent into one line for further adhesion, each row separately,
• with the help of a soldering iron (a model with a thin sting and heating power of 60 W is optimal), the paths of the LED legs are soldered in the line,
• after the indicated actions, the black force wire connects the paths of the anodes (for example, if the IR-VediDs are located in three rows and, accordingly, will have six rows of legs on the back of the board, then the anodes are three rows. The wire is soldered to the extreme of them, with the rest it is connected by rows using a jumper),
• save the cathodes along the resistor with a resistance of 220 Ohms, after which the jumpers of the resistors are connected into a single whole and the red power wire is soldered to them,
• on the other side of the cables, the battery must be connected,
• after the indicated actions, the case is also collected by an amateur IR-projector assembled, ready.

It is advisable to add the ability to turn off the supply of power to the LEDs. Despite their small energy consumption, it is simply inappropriate to supply nutrition when there is no need in the IR-backlight (especially in daylight hours).

Infrared flashlight

As has already been written slightly higher, the main environment for the use of infrared lamps and spotlights runs in the field of security. Lanterns are most optimally suitable for the following purposes:

• as a backlight at night before intercom and door video, to be able to directly see a person,
• illumination of internal video surveillance systems (especially relevant for small rooms),
• additional lighting of the space at night (for external surveillance cameras),
• infrared spotlights (excluding an amateur class, which, in terms of work range, should be attributed to the IR Funds class) are used in cases where it requires a good degree of observation of objects at medium (from 20 to 50 meters) and distant distances (up to 400 meters) ,
• ensuring effective backlight for video surveillance systems in the protection of buildings with a large area,
• viewing the guarded perimeter,
• additional lighting for night vision devices,
• with the inadmissibility of using lighting spotlights that can cause inconvenience when working with them.

Separately, it is worth highlighting another entertaining aspect of the use of infrared lamps, since it came to video surveillance. For any reason, not every person will wish that the video camera can fix it. In this case, there is a simple and extremely cheap option, how to provide yourself with camouflage and hide your face from video surveillance cameras. To do this, it is enough to create a simple device operating on the principle of an infrared lamp. According to the indicated assembly methodology, such a lantern should be fixed on the headdress (a conventional cap is suitable) several infrared LEDs connected to a nine -fiber battery. A similar system will not be distinguished by its appearance at all, however, for video surveillance cameras, the upper part of the human body will be a bright spot in which the face cannot be distinguished.

Attackers may not rush to rub their hands joyfully, the indicated method acts only against budget surveillance chambers, more expensive models are not so sensitive to the influence of IR radiation on them. Therefore, such tricks do not act on a good video surveillance system, the person’s face will be well distinguishable even when using several rows of IR-VediDs.

Safety precautions when working with infrared lantern

It is important to remember that the use of this technology can harm human health in case of improper compliance with safety requirements.

• infrared radiation from powerful sources with a direct hit on the retina can dry the mucous membrane, which will lead to eye fatigue and even painful sensations. Therefore, when using a device such as an infrared laser laser, you should in no case send it to a person (except if such a lantern is used for self -defense purposes),

• the contacts through which the power passes should be reliably isolated from the possible effect of moisture on them, which will cause corrosion or short circuit circuit,
• the soldering of contacts should be carried out well -working soldering equipment to prevent the possibility of obtaining burns during work,
• you should try to avoid direct exposure to sunlight on infrared LEDs in order to avoid their overheating,
• the body of infrared equipment should be reliably assembled to prevent the possibility of getting inside the pollution or moisture system.

These devices have recently gained more and more popularity due to their quality and durability of the service life. Low power consumption, the budget value of infrared lighting equipment in conjunction with its capabilities will become a convincing argument in the direction of choosing such devices to ensure safety. The assembled amateur systems will allow you to get a widest to the camera or video camera without unnecessary costs Full auxiliary equipment for making photo and video shooting at night.