camera w/ IR off until motion

If the ambient light is insufficient so that the camera needs some light, visible or IR, to "see" then how will it detect motion with the visible light and IR off?

What are you wanting to accomplish or in what manner is a conventional camera's IR on/off controls not working for you?
 
the sensor on the camera will freak out during the process and potentially miss the images your trying to capture.
the camera might switch from one shutter speed to another and focus may shift.
View attachment IMG_0282.mov
 
If the ambient light is insufficient so that the camera needs some light, visible or IR, to "see" then how will it detect motion with the visible light and IR off?

What are you wanting to accomplish or in what manner is a conventional camera's IR on/off controls not working for you?
i have a dahui clone that is solar powered only - no electricity service at this location no video is recorded, only photos. i would like to add another camera but am certain that more batteries/solar panels might be required for 2 & don't want to make any changes to this system at present.

since the IR lights consume most of the power in the circuit, if they were off until photo capture time, there would be much less drain from the batteries. or even if the IR could be operated at an 'idle level' until show time...

idk if this was done or if it would even work.

thanks.
 
If you were to pursue this, then first determine the amount of power used with the IR on. Then measure the power when the IR is turned down to a level that will still produce accurate triggering but perhaps a not so good image.

Then see if the power saving difference is great enough to consider your original theory.

There are Dahua API's that can set IR LED levels. The issue is will they work with your model of camera or how can the API be triggered with your cam. The next problem is how long will the cam take to adjust to the new light level or focus needs (as pointed out by Flintstone61) in relation to when the image is taken. If the cam has alarm outputs then a trigger could turn on an external IR lamp. But again, the same above stated issues will apply.

The simplest solution is more solar plus more battery. But your statement "don't want to make any changes to this system at present" put you between a rock and a hard place.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TonyR
If you were to pursue this, then first determine the amount of power used with the IR on. Then measure the power when the IR is turned down to a level that will still produce accurate triggering but perhaps a not so good image.

Then see if the power saving difference is great enough to consider your original theory.

There are Dahua API's that can set IR LED levels. The issue is will they work with your model of camera or how can the API be triggered with your cam. The next problem is how long will the cam take to adjust to the new light level or focus needs (as pointed out by Flintstone61) in relation to when the image is taken. If the cam has alarm outputs then a trigger could turn on an external IR lamp. But again, the same above stated issues will apply.

The simplest solution is more solar plus more battery. But your statement "don't want to make any changes to this system at present" put you between a rock and a hard place.
right. thx. i do have an energy miser that can measure this, but not on this camera since it is solar only. iirc according to something read awhile back, the camera consumes about 35 watts w/ IR on & much less with IR off, about 7 watts. iirc someone stated in a post read awhile back that his SW3C has a setting for just this, but confirming this...

probably won't happen. but there are already 3 small 12v panels & 4 auto batteries, 2 of which were bought new & 2 which are unsuitable to start the generator or work in the EV, but are fine in this since they will maintain over 13vdc.