# Do all security camera's have red lights you can see at night?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-security-cameras-have-red-lights-you-can-see-at-night/809053>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 18, 2018, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-security-cameras-have-red-lights-you-can-see-at-night/809053 "2018-02-18T16:55:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 10\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2018, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-security-cameras-have-red-lights-you-can-see-at-night/809053/1 "2018-02-18T16:55:58Z")

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I know I know some have green lights, but are there security camera’s that work without showing a light that you can see at night?

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**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2018, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-security-cameras-have-red-lights-you-can-see-at-night/809053/2 "2018-02-18T17:02:03Z")

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Do you mean red pilot lights, or the near-IR illumination that looks very deep red?

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**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2018, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-security-cameras-have-red-lights-you-can-see-at-night/809053/3 "2018-02-18T17:11:21Z")

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> [@beowulff](#):
>
> Do you mean red pilot lights, or the near-IR illumination that looks very deep red?

Yes, those IR illumination lights … I always look at mine to see if they are on before I turn in and of course it is a warning to others, but do they have security cameras without the tell tell IR’s?

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**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2018, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-security-cameras-have-red-lights-you-can-see-at-night/809053/4 "2018-02-18T17:22:09Z")

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> [@Mr\_Quatro](#):
>
> Yes, those IR illumination lights … I always look at mine to see if they are on before I turn in and of course it is a warning to others, but do they have security cameras without the tell tell IR’s?

Sure, but then they you won’t be able to see at night.

You might be able to find a brand that uses longer-wave IR, which would be invisible. Or, use an IR filter like this: [https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-x2-square-Optical-Glass-Filter-Black-Long-Pass-IR-720nm-cutoff-50mm-US-Seller-/252654362673](https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-x2-square-Optical-Glass-Filter-Black-Long-Pass-IR-720nm-cutoff-50mm-US-Seller-/252654362673)

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**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2018, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-security-cameras-have-red-lights-you-can-see-at-night/809053/5 "2018-02-18T18:12:21Z")

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There are forward looking infrared (FLIR) cameras but they are quite expensive for most home use. See also thermal imaging.

> **[Forward-looking infrared](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forward_looking_infrared)**
>
> Forward-looking infrared (FLIR) cameras, typically used on military and civilian aircraft, use a thermographic camera that senses infrared radiation.
> The sensors installed in forward-looking infrared cameras, as well as those of other thermal imaging cameras, use detection of infrared radiation, typically emitted from a heat source (thermal radiation), to create an image assembled for video output.
> They can be used to help pilots and drivers steer their vehicles at night and in fog, or to detec...

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**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2018, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-security-cameras-have-red-lights-you-can-see-at-night/809053/6 "2018-02-18T18:34:23Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> ```
> There are forward looking infrared (FLIR) cameras but they are quite expensive for most home use
> 
> ```

.

Yes they are expensive along with the thermal imaging camera too.

My budget is about $200 including S&H and tax …

I found one I like and turn off my short range on all the time security camera.

I like the post mount and the 20mp and the wide angle and the no SD slot with a 120gb storage and of course the motion detector set to whatever I want. 8 (AA) is a lot if it doesn’t take rechargeable. I’m almost afraid to put it on a tree.

Cuddeback E2 Long Range Infrared 20MP Game Trail Camera + Camera Post Mount

[https://www.amazon.com/Cuddeback-Range-Infrared-Trail-Camera/dp/B01M26FKIO/ref=sr\_1\_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1518976439&sr=8-8&keywords=cuddeback+e2+long+range+ir+game+camera](https://www.amazon.com/Cuddeback-Range-Infrared-Trail-Camera/dp/B01M26FKIO/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1518976439&sr=8-8&keywords=cuddeback+e2+long+range+ir+game+camera)

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**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2018, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-security-cameras-have-red-lights-you-can-see-at-night/809053/7 "2018-02-18T23:09:25Z")

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Work one of those little round Band-Aids into your budget.

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**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2018, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-security-cameras-have-red-lights-you-can-see-at-night/809053/8 "2018-02-18T23:56:02Z")

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> [@jnglmassiv](#):
>
> There are forward looking infrared (FLIR) cameras but they are quite expensive for most home use. See also thermal imaging.
> 
> [Forward-looking infrared - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forward_looking_infrared)

There are FLIR cameras available for \<$200 these days, though these cheapest ones are designed to connect to smartphones and be used hand-held ([example](https://www.amazon.com/FLIR-ONE-Thermal-Imaging-Camera/dp/B071Z63RSL/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1518997883&sr=8-4&keywords=flir)).

But thermal images don’t show facial features very well, so I think they wouldn’t be very suitable for security cameras. For triggering an alarm, a [PIR sensor](https://learn.adafruit.com/pir-passive-infrared-proximity-motion-sensor?view=all) works well and is much cheaper.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-security-cameras-have-red-lights-you-can-see-at-night/809053/9 "2018-02-19T02:09:48Z")

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Guys, the discussion of infra-red night vision is a red herring. It is pretty clear (for certain values of “clear”) that the OP is looking for a camera that does not have a red (or green) power indicator LED. Hence my suggestion implying buying _any_ camera and putting tape over the light.

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**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2018, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-security-cameras-have-red-lights-you-can-see-at-night/809053/10 "2018-02-20T20:04:28Z")

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> [@Darren\_Garrison](#):
>
> Guys, the discussion of infra-red night vision is a red herring. It is pretty clear (for certain values of “clear”) that the OP is looking for a camera that does not have a red (or green) power indicator LED

It’s pretty clear from post #2 that the op is talking about the IR illuminator. I have a small security camera in my home and the red dots only light up when it is in IR mode. You wouldn’t think they do much but they do.

> [@Mr\_Quatro](#):
>
> …do they have security cameras without the tell tell IR’s?

I think you mean “telltale.”