Clarius IR illuminator Archives

Why buy the Clarius IR illuminator ?

For many years, infrared lighting for surveillance has been defined by huge IR lights hanging off the bottom of a camera and generally beyond the realms of affordability to most. As a result it has only been used to enhance images where a site is considered to be of extreme high risk. Recently however LED lighting technology has advanced so quickly and as a result costs have plummeted. This means IR lighting is now available to pretty much anyone who realizes the benefits it can bring to your CCTV system. The Clarius IR illuminator range from Advanced lighting is a classic example of how a product manufactured here in the UK has been able to make deep inroads into the CCTV marketplace.

A whole new opportunity arose in this field when technology allowed the use of surface mount LEDs. The result was a unit capable of producing tremendous light output meaning we no longer have to rely on the cumbersome IR bulbs of the past. The advancement and wide usage in all areas of LED technology has ensured that the cost of surveillance illuminators has reduced rather dramatically in the last 3 years.

The main area of competition for The Clarius IR illuminator apart from other illuminator manufacturers is the bullet cameras with integrated IR LEDs. Often a cheaper option, many installers jump to put these cameras in rather that consider a camera and IR illuminator option. This often proves a very costly mistake. The reasons are simple. A spiders web spun on the housing of one of these cameras will effectively render it useless as all the IR simply reflects back into the camera and flares out the image. Trust us when we say that a Clarius IR illuminator and separate dual chip camera is the best way forward.

Clarius also produce a white light option and this is the preferred option when colour detail needs to be preserved. Another big benefit of Clarius white light illuminators is it can be used as a working light as well as enhancing our CCTV images and might be considered by some as a better option. However when used overnight issues such as light pollution do need to be considered at the point of survey.

The Clarius brand has in recent times been tested and compared to other similar products and it is to Advanced lightings’ credit that it is being mentioned alongside other market leaders such as Raytec and AXIS. The price also is extremely favourable against its rivals.

The Clarius range is extensive and illuminators are made up of short, medium, long and extra-long range versions. Perhaps though one of the most important features is the options that we can use to power the Clarius illuminators. As well as the traditional 12/24v option there is also the ability to power over the Ethernet better known as POE. In a world where IPCCTV is gaining more traction every day the POE option fits perfectly for a surveyors during the process of designing a CCTV system. Simple ,easy and cost effective.

The Clarius IR illuminators can be controlled via a telemetry input in addition an integral photocell is included. To ensure the lights are not switching on and off at dawn and dusk the photocell is adjustable for sensitivity. If required it can also be disabled.

Another benefit we need to consider is that power output can be adjusted. This can be varied between 10 and 100 per cent.Add to this the fact that the Clarius IR illuminator is a good looking unit to boot as it is housed in extruded aluminium. The toughened polycarbonate protective lens is vandal-proof, giving the unit the ability to be installed anywhere. Brackets are available or if you prefer your own design can be used.

One of the claims made by advanced lighting that makes them unique from others is the self-cleaning lens. When we consider that one of the big costs of lighting is ongoing maintenance this feature gives Clarius IR illuminator an edge in the market place that cannot be ignored.

Installation is made simple as the unit comes with a pre-made cable. This reduces installation time and eradicates any connection errors The illuminator is fitted with a pressure release valve as standard and one of the features that separates Clarius illuminators from others in the market place is its excellent build quality. This is apparent as soon as you open the box.

The light distribution has been extensively tested and the spread is even and meets the specification. It is simple ,well-built and “does what it says on the tin”. Overall it is meeting the increasing needs of 24 hour surveillance on CCTV installations that may not fall into the high risk category but certainly needs the sort of quality images that the Clarius IR illuminator can help to provide.

Benchmark test the Clarius IR illuminator

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

IR illuminators, HD CCTV and why they need to go together

If you decide your CCTV system is in need of an upgrade most forward thinking people will decide to use HD CCTV cameras. The reason is fairly simple, better live images and better recorded images. The improvements over analogue cameras are dramatic. Facial recognition becomes possible where before it was almost impossible. Registration plates can be recorded where before this was very much hit and miss and a as a management tool HD CCTV is second to none, in addition as a security deterrent HD CCTV wins every time. Well almost every time !!! The big exception is at night. The reason is simple, they are light hungry.

Dual chip HD cameras require IR illuminators to ensure image quality does not drop as the light fades. Either Clarius white lights or the Clarius IR illuminator range will ensure your system functions at it’s peak as the dark nights approach.

The Clarius range is built to a high specification. One benefit is a self cleaning lens which means the IR illuminator can be installed in even the most hostile environment. The main places where IR lluminators will be found is airports, quarries and heavy industry the self cleaning lens is so important here and this USP will help to keep images crystal clear.

This one feature alone leads to low maintenance costs. The Clarius IR illuminator has and a ten year life span and a built in photocell to keep running costs down and as a result this means return on investment can be achieved in months rather than years.

The Clarius IR illuminator has a consistent light spread and as the light is invisible there is no light pollution associated with halogens, it also means of course that a more covert security operation can be achieved.

So in summary HD CCTV and Clarius IR illuminators go hand in hand, if you have one you need the other.

Clarius IR illuminators to enhance your night time images

Why use Clarius IR illuminators?

Inappropriate lighting will result in very poor video quality of CCTV cameras at night. In order to resolve this CCTV experts and domestic CCTV installers have turned to Clarius IR illuminators. CCTV cameras are perhaps relied upon more at night than during the day so it makes sense to ensure images don’t deteriorate when you need them most. of course there are some excellent low light cameras out there but when you use dual chip cameras, adding Clarius IR illuminators makes a huge difference to the pictures you can record. After all if the pictures are unusable due to lack of definition then there is little point in installing the cameras in the first place.

What are Clarius IR illuminators?

Clarius Infrared illuminators are devices that emit low frequency IR light. This is in fact a form of electromagnetic radiation, It is invisible to the human eye but when using your CCTV camera in mono mode (black and white ) the IR light is detectable and enhances the image with great effect. So Clarius IR illuminators are used widely together with the night vision cameras to achieve this high quality, clear images in the dark.

They work best with dual chip cameras and do not work with colour only cameras. However, a dual chip camera is able to switch modes between colour and mono and this enables the Clarius IR illuminators to perform as designed.

IR illuminators is a better Solution With CCTV Systems.

Clarius Infrared illuminators offer one of the best solutions on the market. They are a quality build with a patented self cleaning lens in addition they offer exceptional reliability and performance. As Raytec’s closest competitor they can be purchased for less but ultimately offer more. Claruis IR illuminators are a must in conjunction with your CCTV system when you need night time images.

IR illuminators will eliminate the need for outdoor lights entirely so no light pollution. Clarius IR illuminators are also able to offer covert recording if this is a necessity. All in all a clever device and one that can ease the pain of poor night time images.

Buy Claruis IR illuminators

Why use Clarius IR illuminators?

IR illuminators allow around-the-clock surveillance.

Infrared lighting has always been an important part of CCTV surveillance but in the past it has been cumbersome, expensive and unreliable. With the development of advanced led technology, IR lighting is now an affordable and essential part of CCTV design. The popularity of Clarius IR illuminators has grown recently as well because of fears over light pollution.

The Clarius white light illuminator is also available as well and if you ask most end users, and their preference would probably be for the Clarius white light. The benefit of white light illuminators of course is that this allows the capture of colour images at all times. It also allows lighting to offer secondary benefits, such as enhancing general security and safety where as infrared illumination uses light frequencies that cannot be viewed by the human eye.

IR illunination though is growing fast but why? Benchmark tell us with this review. they say”

“The reality is that rules governing light pollution are often misunderstood, as is system design that remains sympathetic to ‘dark sky’ thinking. Regulations can change from area to area, and a more intelligent approach to lighting design can add costs and time to installations that might be price sensitive. The simple solution is infrared illumination, and rightly or wrongly it has become a favoured approach for security applications.

In general, if installers and integrators stick to established manufacturers that specialise in the surveillance sector, they shouldn’t end up with a poor quality illuminator. The most important issues are light quality – does the illuminator achieve the stated range without a drop in light intensity – and light consistency – does the level of illumination remain consistent across the viewed scene?

Of course, other issues do come into the debate, and these involve additional functionality such as power control or intelligent intensity, ease of installation, switching options and price! Finally, there are a raft of claims and counter claims made about illumination products, and whilst the science behind lighting is admittedly fairly complex, the reality is that most installers and integrators will buy these products for one reason only – to achieve genuine around-the-clock surveillance!