Infrared reflective tape

Add any particular hints or tricks you have found to help with your ZoneMinder experience.
Post Reply
BiloxiGeek
Posts: 271
Joined: Tue Feb 11, 2014 2:04 pm

Infrared reflective tape

Post by BiloxiGeek »

Anybody got a good suggestion for some reflective tape that will show up nice and bright when a camera is in night mode with the infrared LEDs shining?

I got a camera in my workshop that has a view of the deadbolt. If the lights are on I can barely make out whether the deadbolt is locked or not. If the lights are off there's no way to see that. I was thinking some tape on the handle for the deadbolt would make it fairly easy to see if I can find a reflective tape that will show up bright and shiny in the LEDs IR light.
mikb
Posts: 661
Joined: Mon Mar 25, 2013 12:34 pm

Re: Infrared reflective tape

Post by mikb »

BiloxiGeek wrote: Sun Jan 21, 2024 5:19 pm Anybody got a good suggestion for some reflective tape that will show up nice and bright when a camera is in night mode with the infrared LEDs shining?

I got a camera in my workshop that has a view of the deadbolt. If the lights are on I can barely make out whether the deadbolt is locked or not. If the lights are off there's no way to see that. I was thinking some tape on the handle for the deadbolt would make it fairly easy to see if I can find a reflective tape that will show up bright and shiny in the LEDs IR light.
Sounds like a good plan.

I would have thought any "retroreflector" style of tape/covering would work for this -- IR or visible. The sort used on *genuine* high-vis jackets as a silver trim. These are designed to always return light back in the direction it came. Unlike a mirror, which bounces it off at an equal-but-opposite angle!

Investigate your local pound-shop/dollar-store for high-vis dog collars. These are sometimes all I can see of passing pets at the bottom of my drive: Out of range of my IR light for the dog, but the collar shines real good!

Note: There are FAKE "reflective" tapes/clothing that are just grey/silver. These are useless in all ways ;)
BiloxiGeek
Posts: 271
Joined: Tue Feb 11, 2014 2:04 pm

Re: Infrared reflective tape

Post by BiloxiGeek »

I mistakingly got some lens tape in the auto parts section at Walmart. That didn't do a thing, it's made to cover a broken tail light. Good thing it didn't cost much, I wasn't paying attention and thought it was reflective tape.

Gonna look again next time I'm out in the retail world.
mikb
Posts: 661
Joined: Mon Mar 25, 2013 12:34 pm

Re: Infrared reflective tape

Post by mikb »

Take a bright torch (flashlight) and check it -- look down the axis of the torchlight and see if the light is coming back at you ;)

[Edit: Translation to UK->US ;) ]
BiloxiGeek
Posts: 271
Joined: Tue Feb 11, 2014 2:04 pm

Re: Infrared reflective tape

Post by BiloxiGeek »

Paid attention this time and got proper reflective tape. A strip along the long axis of the handle shows up nicely when the IR LEDs wars lit up. Gonna cut a thinner strip so it'll be even more obvious.
Attachments
Handle is horizontal, locked.
Handle is horizontal, locked.
IMG_3498.jpeg (28.69 KiB) Viewed 7492 times
Handle is vertical, unlocked.
Handle is vertical, unlocked.
IMG_3499.jpeg (21.6 KiB) Viewed 7492 times
alabamatoy
Posts: 360
Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2016 2:53 pm

Re: Infrared reflective tape

Post by alabamatoy »

look up "conspicuity tape" on Amazon. My cameras light it up like a flare at night, but its no visible without the IR light.
alabamatoy
Posts: 360
Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2016 2:53 pm

Re: Infrared reflective tape

Post by alabamatoy »

This is what I got, works extremely well with the camera night vision: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07V3W45WL?re ... tails&th=1 Also reflects visible light very well so you can light it up with a flashlight.
Post Reply