IR illuminator life vs level?

[CJ133]

Has anyone experienced failures of the built in illuminators from running them too high?

Basically... Is there any harm in cranking the level up when it's beneficial?

 

[wittaj]

They are rated for X thousand hours whether you have them dim or full. Some would argue running them at full extends the life.

My main goal of the camera is to get a clean capture so I will run it at full IR and if it goes out then add an external.

I wouldn't let IR life decide what value to run it at as the goal of the camera is to get a clean capture not extend IR life.

By the time the IR goes out, I would probably want to replace it anyway.

 

[TonyR]

Has anyone experienced failures of the built in illuminators from running them too high?

Basically... Is there any harm in cranking the level up when it's beneficial?

Not sure how you'd go about it easily, as IR LEDs do have forward current limitations that can lower their life if exceeded.
If you need more IR why not install an outboard IR emitter?
They can be had in various sizes, watts, coverage angle and projected distance.

 

[Mike A.]

I've run most of mine at 100% and I've never had that fail on any. Have had various other things fail (IR filters, POE power side, etc.) so I'd kind of expect something else would be more likely to take it down before the IR died.

 

[CJ133]

Not sure how you'd go about it easily, as IR LEDs do have forward current limitations that can lower their life if exceeded.
If you need more IR why not install an outboard IR emitter?
They can be had in various sizes, watts, coverage angle and projected distance.

I don't need more than the cameras can give. At least not in the situation I posted about.

I was just concerned running them manually higher through the settings could shorten they're life a lot.


But I have also considered other external options as well.

If there's recommendations on IR floods etc I'd welcome them as well

 

[TonyR]

If there's recommendations on IR floors etc I'd welcome them as well

Floods?

Here's a review from @looney2ns that has some other versions of the same brand since 2019 and has had good luck with them ==>> Review- New Design Tendelux 10 Watt IR illuminator.

 

[Perimeter]

I've run most of mine at 100% and I've never had that fail on any.

Well, how would you detect the default "fail"? Because LED lifetime is often specified as the time it takes to drop to 70% brightness. Will you notice?

 

[The Automation Guy]

The other electronics in the device will fail long before the LEDs grow dim.

This is why the LED bulbs I buy for my home's lighting fixtures that are rated for some absurd length of time (20 years lets say) stop working after about 18 months.