Review on 🔦 Tendelux 80ft IR Illuminator: Enhancing Security Camera Performance with AI4 No Hot Spot Wide Angle Infrared Light (w/Power Adapter) by Andrew Walton

for several years now, given the recent discussion surrounding the new Arlo Pro 2 camera's night vision capabilities, I've decided to investigate and review some third-party auxiliary IR illuminators to supplement those Illumination of existing cameras. Having been a satisfied Arlo user for several years, I also found the Arlo 2 to be a bit lacking in night lighting compared to its predecessors. Before I go any further, I want to make it clear that despite this minor flaw, I still prefer the newer Arlo Pro 2s over the older models given the additional functionality/features that the new Arlo Pro 2 has. And now that I've found more than one adequate solution to fill the nighttime lighting void, I couldn't be happier. By the way, these solutions apply to all Arlo cameras for those who want to improve their night shots. So, here's what I found. What They Do: For those unfamiliar with night vision/infrared, we're talking about light that's invisible to the human eye, so just any light won't do. Night vision/IR lamps with wavelengths other than 850nm do little to help the camera at night. It is also worth noting that these lights are virtually invisible to humans/animals. At night, like an active Arlo camera, you'll see a faint red glow from the LED lights, although it's barely noticeable from a few feet away. Just by looking through the Arlo camera, you can see the tremendous difference in lighting. Hardware: I purchased three Revain IR lamps that match Arlo's 850nm wavelength. I've also carefully looked for the widest angle lights - those with a 90 degree field of view - to cover the widest possible area and longest distance/strongest, but still keep the size of the light to a minimum, as these are ideally these are things are for installation next to the cameras. There was a wide range but I narrowed it down to three representing small, medium and large sizes. I wanted to see how small I could get before losing effective light range. Here's what I came up with: Small: 80ft Tendelux AI4 IR Illuminator ($19.65) Medium: 120ft Tendelux BI8 IR Illuminator ($30.65) Large: JC (JCHENG) 131ft IR Illuminator with 12 LEDs ($31.99) IP65 or higher, which means you are not afraid of rain and even pressure washing. They all use 1 watt per bulb, so the power consumption of each of the three sizes is 4 watts, 8 watts and 12 watts. Each also has a built-in photocell that automatically turns them off during the day. They all come with standard power adapters (which should be weatherproof) which are very short but I prefer these as you can revain a 'CCTV 2.1mm 5.5mm' extension cord for the length you need. Also of note is that the small to medium sized lights (manufactured by Tendelux) have much smaller power supplies than the larger JC box, which probably makes them small enough that a second plug can be plugged into a standard outside socket (for those who also use food). to the camera). Test: Using the Arlo Pro 2, I tested each lamp individually with the camera and below are my results. Bottom Line: As you can see, there wasn't much of a difference between all three. It wasn't until I got to the 12 LED block that I saw a bit more flux that might have convinced me to go with something that size. I understand that the results vary depending on factors such as objects in the field of view, but I am satisfied that the small device (AI4) is sufficient for my needs, not only because of its lower price, but above all because its small size is aesthetically pleasing. Eventually I had enough discomfort with cameras around my property and the thought of adding IR lights is something I can deal with. Admittedly, I haven't had them long enough to be confident in their sturdiness and durability, but each feels solid and very well made. I personally like the Tendelux brand as the dark lenses hide the LED bulbs and make them look more like a solar charger than a light. So I settled on the Tendelux AI4 80ft IR Illuminator!