Benchmark are known as the best in the business when it comes to testing and reporting on CCTV and related products. Recently they tested the Claruis IR illuminator and we have re-posted their findings. Honest and to the point. It does however prove what robust products are produced within the Clarius range. Please read through the findings and order your HD CCTV lighting here at HD CCTV solutions.
“PROFESSIONAL TEST: CLARIUS IL-8100
Many years ago, infrared lighting for surveillance was the exclusive preserve of high risk sites. However, changes in manufacturing have resulted in costs falling, as well as maintenance needs being reduced. The result is cost-effective illumination for virtually all applications. The latest option is the Clarius range.
One of the most significant developments for video surveillance in recent years was arguably the introduction of surface mount LEDs. This development forced the cost of surveillance illuminators downwards, with the result that now, almost any application can benefit from true 24 hour video surveillance.
The subsequent growth in true day/night devices, coupled with affordable secondary illumination, has eradicated issues with around-the-clock surveillance, and that in itself is no small thing.
Whilst white light is still the preferred option for many (as colour detail is preserved), concerns about light pollution have seen the rise in use of infrared lighting, to the point where it is almost the first choice nowadays. As the majority of cameras are IR sensitive, there are no real barriers to utilising infrared illumination.
While the number of manufacturers offering infrared lighting has grown in recent years, demand for the products is still high, and HD CCTV solutions are a relatively new entrant to this area. The company offers the Clarius range of infrared illuminators.
Specification
Clarius is Latin for ‘more brightly’ … or it could be a reference to Apollo, who was God of light and the sun. Either way, it isn’t important to those seeking illumination.
The Clarius range is made up of short, medium, long and extra long range units, and also includes PoE options. Our test unit was the IL-8100, a long range unit using traditional low power.
The illuminator is an 850 nanometre unit, which emits a red glow when in use. A more covert 940 nanometre variant is also available. Coverage is 100 x 50 degrees, with a total range of 48 metres.
The unit can be controlled via a telemetry input; it also has an integral photocell, with a photocell following contact to switch cameras to an appropriate mode as the illuminator turns on and off. The photocell is adjustable for sensitivity. The defaults allow the light to switch on at around 30 lux, and to switch off at around 70 lux. This differential is included to prevent the lamp flicking on and off during dawn and dusk periods, when light levels are at the switching threshold. The photocell can be disabled.
Power output can also be adjusted between 10 and 100 per cent. Both adjustments are via sideways-oriented potentiometers on the rear of the unit. There are no other adjustments. The illuminator is housed in an extruded aluminium housing, which is anodised with a black finish. The polycarbonate protective lens is billed as ‘vandal-proof’, which is a bold claim. The unit incorporates an integral mounting bracket.
The lens of the Clarius illuminator is treated with what the manufacturer refers to as a ClearLite coating. This is a self-cleaning coating, which is also claimed to make the surface of the polycarbonate cover more scratch-resistant. During the test we did replace a unit that had been outside for nearly five years with the new unit. Despite being in an exposed place, the lens of the older lamp wasn’t particularly dirty or scratched. Still, the coating is there as standard.
Connections to the unit are simple. The illuminator is fitted with a three metre six-core cable. The connections are for power input (12-32V DC or 24 AC), telemetry input and photocell following contact. The cable is pre-connected at the illuminator, eradicating the need for a specialist connection. Power consumption is stated as 39W.
The only other element of the illuminator is a pressure relief valve. This is a standard feature on most illuminators and doesn’t need any interaction.
Build quality is good, and the lamp is supplied with a brief but complete manual.
Performance
Once up and running, the Clarius IL-8100 worked as expected. We tried the unit using the photocell before shifting to our preferred method of operation using telemetry. A point to note is that some illuminators mount the photocell on the back of the unit. If mounted under roof eaves or in a restricted space, this can cause the unit to switch on well before it is actually needed. The Clarius unit has the photocell mounted on the top of the housing, which mostly eliminates mounting issues.
Switching using the photocell was consistent, and we didn’t experience any problems with the unit flickering during dusk and dawn periods. The degree of adjustment isn’t that wide, and whilst the unit switched on a tad early, there wasn’t that much in it.
That the cable is pre-connected is a bonus, as some units are supplied with specialist sockets, and if delivered to site there’s always the issue of ensuring you have an appropriate connector. With the Clarius unit, all that is required is a straightforward cabling connection.
The quality of illumination is good, with consistent levels of light across the viewed scene. We’d always recommend that the range of illuminators is respected, but we did push the distance a bit to see how it coped, and there’s a bit more capability than specified. However, for the sake of quality, don’t try to under-specify the lamps.
The image showed no hot spots or faded areas of illumination, and light intensity was consistent up to the edges of the image. There was also no sign of pooling or other aberrations, even when objects were in the foreground and closer to the illuminator.
Switching using the telemetry was reliable, and the power adjustment also allowed the unit to be used in a number of differing environments without any issues of over-reflectance or glare from nearby objects.
Verdict
The Clarius IL-8100 proved itself to be a well built and designed infrared illuminator. It is, to be truthful, a work-horse more than a Derby winner. That’s not a bad thing. It lacks gimmicks and additional functions that won’t be needed in most applications, instead concentrating on consistent illumination.
That the needs of a site in the real world have been considered is reassuring. Along with that, light quality was good and there were no issues with coverage. As such, the IL-8100 achieves Recommended status”
Many thank to Benchmark for this report
