Archive for the ‘Digital Surveillance’ Category
Intro to Digital Surveillance: What is LUX?
August 28th, 2009
When you are researching which surveillance camera to buy you will notice that a number of the cameras will claim to be "low light" cameras and they will have a lux number associated with them. Simply put lux is a unit of measurement for visible light.
The lower the lux number for the camera the better it can see in dark situations. Generally I advised my clients to purchase cameras with .002 lux. At this level a camera can see in lighting conditions a person cannot see anything in.
Please do not confuse low light cameras with infrared cameras. Infrared cameras contain a spot light that emits infrared light. The infrared camera can then see the infrared light just like you and I see visible light. These cameras are much less expensive then low light cameras. I dislike them though because many times the infrared light will be so bright it washes out the features of a person if they get too close.
Here is a lux chart that I found on Wikipedia. Take these numbers into account when purchasing your cameras.
| 0.002 lux | Moonless clear night sky with air glow | |
| .01 lux | Quarter moon | |
| 0.27 lux | Full moon on a clear night | |
| 1 lux |
|
|
| 3.4 lux |
|
SuperCircuits.com: A One Stop Shop for Surveillance Equipment
August 28th, 2009
If you are looking to setup your own surveillance system, or are installing one for a client you should take a look at SuperCircuits.com. They are a one stop place for buying CCTV equipment online. They have a very large selection, and they’re prices and quality are very good.We have used them in the past for purchasing cameras for clients with no problems.
If you are looking to get into the CCTV installation business you might want to start buying products here, but you should find a real distributor as soon as you can. When you are trying to install various cameras into miscellaneous situations you need a sales rep that can explain your options. When I installed CCTV systems I sometimes would send digital pictures of the site to my sales rep to ask what the best options were.
Take a look at their selection at www.SuperCicuits.com . Please remember to research what you want before you buy anything. I’ve had numerous clients go out and buy $1000-$2000 worth of gear only to realize they don’t have the foggiest idea how to set it up.
