What is the difference between an IR emitter camera and a thermal imager?
An IR emitter camera uses near IR wave lengths to “illuminate” a dark scene. Since the “near” IR wave length used is not in the true infrared spectrum it has to rely on the visible light spectrum to be effective. IR illuminators actively project the near IR wavelength on a dark scene. A visual CCTV camera fitted with a special near IR filter can “see” more effectively in dark scenes. IR illuminators are limited in their effective working distance and do not see through weather related obscurants or smoke. IR Illuminators also have a short mean time between failures.
Related Questions
- What is required of infrared thermographers who do not open or touch equipment, but only view the equipment through an IR imager (camera) after the panels have been opened?
- What is the difference between an IR emitter camera and a thermal imager?
- What is a thermal or IR camera and what is it capable of?
