Infrared Security Camera vs. Night Cycle...Please Help

joesmiley210

Well-Known Member
I've installed security cameras into my grow room, and they're equipped with infrared l.e.d.'s for night vision.


  • Will the infrared l.e.d.'s affect my night cycle? :confused:
If you're not familiar with the l.e.d.'s once the light goes out you can visibly see the red ring of lights around the lens.


:peace: Any and all serious opinions are welcome. :peace:
 

Phinxter

Well-Known Member
noone that i have seen has specifically proven that they caused stress and hermaphrodism but i have seen several say that they covered the LED on their CO2 controller to be sure it doesnt.
i think i would cover it to be safe rather than sorry.
if the camera is for securety anyone that tries to steal yer plants will most certainly turn on a light so they can see what they are stealing and you wont need the night vision.
if its just so you can see yer grow when its dark. you may chance it and be ok .then again it may cause hermies
 

joesmiley210

Well-Known Member
noone that i have seen has specifically proven that they caused stress and hermaphrodism but i have seen several say that they covered the LED on their CO2 controller to be sure it doesnt.
i think i would cover it to be safe rather than sorry.
if the camera is for securety anyone that tries to steal yer plants will most certainly turn on a light so they can see what they are stealing and you wont need the night vision.
if its just so you can see yer grow when its dark. you may chance it and be ok .then again it may cause hermies
Thanks for your thoughts. It's mostly for me to be able to keep watch over my ladies when I'm away from the nursery, and make sure the temps, humidity, and circulation fans are within the proper parameters without having to physically go into the room.
 

Phinxter

Well-Known Member
the LED on this camera is it pretty bright ?
light during dark hours is probably the number 1 cause of hermies. if its no brighter then the LED on the front of a pc i probably wouldnt worry. but if its bright enough lets say for you to see around in there id definatly have to say dont use it
 

joesmiley210

Well-Known Member
the LED on this camera is it pretty bright ?
light during dark hours is probably the number 1 cause of hermies. if its no brighter then the LED on the front of a pc i probably wouldnt worry. but if its bright enough lets say for you to see around in there id definatly have to say dont use it
I will have to check some of the other cameras around the house to see if they illuminate enough for me to see with them. They're not bright like lets say an exit sign. For example, if you walk into my garage with the lights off you would not notice the camera unless you know where to look. The room would still be relatively pitch black with a red circle in the corner. But then again that's a large room compared to the camera in the nursery which is about 1-2ft away from my ladies
 

apc

Active Member
personal experience.... get those cameras outta there....

and yes the led's can cause hermies... turn off the lights and scope it if you don't believe me...
 

Jonus

Well-Known Member
Think of those LEDs as light the plants can see and you can't. Theyre basically an LED spotlight of light in the far red/infrared spectrum of light, so as far as the plants are concerned its not so much that there is a torch on in the room, its that plants have the ability to sense infrared light as a way to trigger a chemical reaction when the sun is coming up...telling them that the big light in the sky is about to show, time to switch from night to day mode.
 

naturalhigh

Well-Known Member
i cant imagine a little light causing herms..unless you have a unstable genitic.... as long its dark enough where you cant see your hand infront of you should be find... i walk around all the time with my head lamp and have enver had any problems... with it...
 

GrowTech

stays relevant.
IR light is invisible, and carries no true color... and It's not going to affect your plants. My grow cam is set up for IR and has been fine.
 

Jonus

Well-Known Member
Infrared radiation does not affect plants in their sleep cycle, and infrared light may be invisible to the human eye but plants do detect it as part of 'light' hitting it if you shine an infrared spotlight on it, which is essentially what those LEDs are on those cameras.

Some scientists are even suggesting that infrared light can be used to trigger the flowering phase of the growth cycle.

Heres a few papers written on the subject:

"PFR is sensitive to infrared light (730 nm), which converts it into PR. When PR levels build to a critical amount, scientists hypothesize that a hormone called floragen becomes active and induces the plant to flower."
- Infrared light

"If artificial light is the only source of light for growing plants, the quality of light or wavelength, must be considered. Plants require mostly blue and red light for photosynthesis, but for flowering, infrared light is also needed."
- Light, Temperature and Humidity

"Optical Observations of Plant Leaves
The domain of optical observations extends from 400 nm in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum to 2500 nm in the shortwave-infrared region."
- Leaf Optical Properties
 

BigBudBalls

Well-Known Member
Infrared radiation does not affect plants in their sleep cycle, and infrared light may be invisible to the human eye but plants do detect it as part of 'light' hitting it if you shine an infrared spotlight on it, which is essentially what those LEDs are on those cameras.

Some scientists are even suggesting that infrared light can be used to trigger the flowering phase of the growth cycle.

Heres a few papers written on the subject:

"PFR is sensitive to infrared light (730 nm), which converts it into PR. When PR levels build to a critical amount, scientists hypothesize that a hormone called floragen becomes active and induces the plant to flower."
- Infrared light

"If artificial light is the only source of light for growing plants, the quality of light or wavelength, must be considered. Plants require mostly blue and red light for photosynthesis, but for flowering, infrared light is also needed."
- Light, Temperature and Humidity

"Optical Observations of Plant Leaves
The domain of optical observations extends from 400 nm in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum to 2500 nm in the shortwave-infrared region."
- Leaf Optical Properties
Now IR goes out beyond 10,600nm IR not monochromatic.
Saying IR is bad is WAY too general a term. Ain't a 'green' light ok?

So, what the spectrum and intensity within of the IR?
 
O

ocean59

Guest
Hi there, I have been scouring the net for the last 8 hours trying to find the definitive answer to this thread, as I just purchased these types of cameras for security in my backyard.

The cameras I have emit 850nm IR light (30 LEDs per camera times 4 cameras). They work, perhaps, a little too well. When illuminated in night vision mode, it appears as if a flood light of IR is being produced. I mean, it lights up the picture so much it's ridiculous.

Now I came across all the Pfr stuff and got hopeful. But in the same articles you quote - it mentions that the LACK of this far red light is what triggers the plants into knowing the night has begun.

So is it really harmless to be using these cameras? Any real life experience out there???


Much appreciated,
Jason

Infrared radiation does not affect plants in their sleep cycle, and infrared light may be invisible to the human eye but plants do detect it as part of 'light' hitting it if you shine an infrared spotlight on it, which is essentially what those LEDs are on those cameras.

Some scientists are even suggesting that infrared light can be used to trigger the flowering phase of the growth cycle.

Heres a few papers written on the subject:

"PFR is sensitive to infrared light (730 nm), which converts it into PR. When PR levels build to a critical amount, scientists hypothesize that a hormone called floragen becomes active and induces the plant to flower."
- Infrared light

"If artificial light is the only source of light for growing plants, the quality of light or wavelength, must be considered. Plants require mostly blue and red light for photosynthesis, but for flowering, infrared light is also needed."
- Light, Temperature and Humidity

"Optical Observations of Plant Leaves
The domain of optical observations extends from 400 nm in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum to 2500 nm in the shortwave-infrared region."
- Leaf Optical Properties
 

Treeth

Well-Known Member
I'm pretty sure that 850 is high enough not to disrupt flowering...

as the cycle mentioned above,

ir exposure trips the decay of some hormone into another which causes flowering. indoors, you can do this also, by just having a dark period long enough to let the signals decay on their own and induce flowering...

It is the near red that is destructive, i wouldn't want to be below god idk 700 750nm or so,

i mean,


the cutoff is there, and from what I remember reading, I think it was an article from Ed entitled something about the frontier of lighting or something like that,

that,

the cutoff for what red does and does not affect flowering to be a pretty good switch, meaning you aren't going to be having hermies unless you really force it to happen,

meaning,

you'll be able to tell if the plants arent flowering right, due to the disrupted night cycle, as near red is the switch, the clock.

- which implies that all other frequencies are good to use, all the time, as long as you take out the near red for some part of the day.

IR is only really necessary as the off switch for a couple minutes a day, but outdoors, IR is bouncing around perpetually.

So i think that your safe. I mean , leds at 850 are not going to range below 820. so its "high" enough.
 

Treeth

Well-Known Member
and it aint that red either, at least not until the harvest moon! (when its much too late to convince the plant to stop flowering anyways)
 
O

ocean59

Guest
I'm pretty sure that 850 is high enough not to disrupt flowering...

as the cycle mentioned above,

ir exposure trips the decay of some hormone into another which causes flowering. indoors, you can do this also, by just having a dark period long enough to let the signals decay on their own and induce flowering...

It is the near red that is destructive, i wouldn't want to be below god idk 700 750nm or so,

i mean,


the cutoff is there, and from what I remember reading, I think it was an article from Ed entitled something about the frontier of lighting or something like that,

that,

the cutoff for what red does and does not affect flowering to be a pretty good switch, meaning you aren't going to be having hermies unless you really force it to happen,

meaning,

you'll be able to tell if the plants arent flowering right, due to the disrupted night cycle, as near red is the switch, the clock.

- which implies that all other frequencies are good to use, all the time, as long as you take out the near red for some part of the day.

IR is only really necessary as the off switch for a couple minutes a day, but outdoors, IR is bouncing around perpetually.

So i think that your safe. I mean , leds at 850 are not going to range below 820. so its "high" enough.

Awesome, this is the conclusion my logic had led me to as well, just wanted to hear someone else come to the same conclusion. :)

Thanks so much for sharing your brain cells. I think to be sure, I will setup a 4 camera fence perimeter configuration at night, and point them at the plants during the day with advance motion config enabled. Should cover all the bases!

Thanks again, truly appreciated.

Jason
 
I know this is an old thread so sorry for posting but did anyone have any issues with their "in the dark" cameras with IR?

I ask because I went into flowering last night and pulled my camera, I would love to have it back in there.
 

Big Perm

Well-Known Member
I run them. If you are worried about it turn the leds on and off manually in the app. Leave them off and just turn them on when you want to look.
 
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