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Lighting for network cameras
howtoobtainthebestnighttimeperformance
Sponsored by
SECURITY ACADEMY
LIGHTING FOR
NETWORK CAMERAS
detektor security academy
Match the illumination
to the lens angle
The reality is that most cameras
need a certain level of lighting
to produce an effective image at
night. Even the most advanced
cameras require dedicated lighting
to produce images with the ability
to detect, identify or recognize
people or objects in the scene.
It is critical to have the right
angle of illumination, matched to
the camera field of view. A narrow
light on a wide angle can produce
a bright spot on the screen and
wide angle illumination on a nar-
row scene results in light wastage
and reduced performance.
Above are some examples of
infrared and white-light CCTV
Images with the angle of il-
lumination perfectly matched to
camera field of view, with clear
facing down. Flat, adapter plate
brackets are available for mount-
ing illuminator and PSU on a
pole. Connect the illuminator to
the PSU. Installers can extend or
reduce illuminator cable length us-
ing appropriate cable and weather
proof box.
Align your illumination with
your camera at night for optimum
image performance. Adjust verti-
cal angle, and adjust horizontal
angle using adaptive illumination
to match the illumination to the
camera field of view.
mounts, corner mounts, pole
mounts and parapet mounts (used
for roof-mounted housings or to
raise the camera for a better angle
of view).
When installing a fixed camera
in an enclosure, it is important
that the lens of the camera is
positioned right up against the
window to prevent any glare. Oth-
erwise, reflections from the camera
and the background will appear
in the image. To reduce reflection,
special coatings can be applied on
any glass used in front of the lens.
Mounting the lighting
Mount the illuminator first. Posi-
tion the illuminator adjacent to
the camera and point it towards
the scene. Mount the illumina-
tor at least 1 meter away from the
camera (space dependent) to avoid
reflection into the camera. Lighting
must be mounted approximately 1
meter below dome cameras.
Do not position the PSU pho-
tocell facing illuminator or other
direct light sources. The photocell
monitors the ambient lighting
conditions. Mount the PSU on
a wall or flat surface with glands
The way to obtain adequate
CCTV lighting for a network
system at night time consists of
several steps, with many things
that should be kept in mind.
However, this guide covers the
most important points that will
get security users really close to a
good result.
Mounting the camera
First of all, before you set your
cameras rolling, it is vital that
you have correctly mounted and
aligned not just your cameras but
your illumination too, for the best
possible CCTV performance at
night.
Good. Bad.
Cameras need to be placed
in all kinds of locations and this
requires a large number of vari-
ations in the type of mounting.
Common mounting solutions
include ceiling mounts, wall
Achieving a well-lit environment for network cameras
during night time is not an easy task. The best way
is of course to go out on scene and try out a chosen
camera, lens and lighting combination in real condi-
tions. However this is not always possible, but in
reality, many systems that are set up during day time
conditions may fail to achieve effective night-time
images. Because of this, Raytec and Axis have created
this practical guide, based on a series of test nights
throughout the dark winter months of 2011 and 2012,
which is designed to help users get a long way on the
path to achieving perfect CCTV lighting for a network
system at night.
Light off (70 metres).
Infrared on (70 metres).
White-light on (70 metres).
Illuminated surrounding (200 metres).
Illuminated person (50 metres).
Best performance.
Reduces performance.
May cause hot spots.