What is a photocell and how is it useful in IR lighting?
A5: A photocell, in terms of IR cameras and lighting, is simply a light sensitive switch that automaticallyturns the LED emitter bulbs on in the absence of light or off in the presence of light. What makes that beneficial? Well, IR emitters, like any light bulbs, don’t last forever. For example, our IR-2HAD is rated for 6000 hours. Older versions (and quite a few you still see out there) DO NOT have a photocell and are therefore incapable of turning emitters off. The emitters are then lit constantly- wasting themselves in daylight hours. The ones that we use are actually quite amazing- very advanced and capable of adjusting to all sorts of lighting conditions- including, of course, pitch dark or “zero lux” condtions.
