General Question

msh's avatar

Black light, red light, green light or just plain white?

Asked by msh (4270points) August 4th, 2016 from iPhone

Get a glass of milk and some cookies- it is a difficult situation to explain.
Let’s say that there is a house in which the occupants are being severely harassed by some horrible neighbors. Already there has been theft, vandalism, and severe trespassing to the owner’s property, despite ‘Posted:No Trespassing’ signs which the law states must be visibly posted on all four sides of the property. A must-have before the police can take legal action against these pluperfect assholes. (A-hem. Sorry.) They also have broken into the locked car parked beside the house in the driveway and stole coins, etc. Next, they broke a screen door in back- trying to gain entry into the house. Those living in the house have never even exchanged a single word with these bung holes. The one family’s Daddy has sent his four darling kids- 12 and under, over into the yard to peal bark off a tree and break branches to try to kill it. (older tree and you wouldn’t arrest children who do not know better…right?)
The owner of the house purchased two Buschnell (sp?) infrared field cameras and lock cases, etc. to record all the action. The distruction has slowed down a bit, yet all are still active. Enough to disturb and ruin sleep, and cause extreme worry when this person cannot be at home.
My question is: It seems more- difficult to see through the glow of the side porch light at the side door using the infrared cameras. There has to be some kind of light not only on that portion of the driveway, but also beyond that point and on down the driveway to the street. The other camera is out front- and is in darkness, yet shrubs block the recording a bit. It takes both.
So, if one were to attempt to record through the light from the side porch, which type of bulb might facilitate recording past the energy-saving bulb? Anyone care to guess?
Red- used to reduce to cause the least dilation and refractive work on human eyes in the dark? (And no, not for any “come-hither” business on the side, so to speak, so far) But light up enough for the sensory camera see-through?
Green- not cause the camera disc to slow or block past the lit area? But the color is not as far reaching – seemingly?
Blue? Totally cool, groovy and far-out- yet limiting interruption with it’s glow? Perhaps enhancing the psychedelic posters and velvet paintings inside the vehicle. But able to show the ground area around the car without camera concerns?
Other than scanning Craig’s List for someone to have these people meet his little brass knuckle friend, any suggestions?
The homeowner is unable to dig a deep-enough moat around the property with an automatic Rube Goldberg which eventually drops a running blender And working hairdryer into the water to watch them dance.
Bulb color fix-or no, it’s useless?
Thank you in advance. Sorry for length. Put your milk glass and cookie plate in the sink, please.

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5 Answers

LuckyGuy's avatar

Green tea and toast here

Most of the cameras use IR, infrared, and are more sensitive toward the red region. I would avoid the blue and green and stick with white or red. Solar powered, motion sensing, 60 LED security light are available from Harbor Freight for $40 (or $32 with the 20% off coupon). They work great. A pair will cover the area nicely. – And let the little scamps know they are being watched.

I would also place some Wireless Security Alert devices with the announcer in the bedroom, near the paint ball gun, so the resident can respond appropriately if a visitor darkens their door while home. Also available from Harbor Freight. These are about $15. I have used mine for years.
Note they have specific frequencies. If you buy two and want to keep track of which one is alerting make sure to pick two different frequencies. Get a 6 volt or 9 volt “wall wart” (I forget which) so you can plug the speaker in and not need to change batteries. You probably have a few of these in the junk drawer in the basement.

LuckyGuy's avatar

Does your neighborhood have a FB page? Please check before saying “no.” Many older/trendy neighborhoods do. Post pictures of suspicious activity there.
Call the police like Al Capone voted: Early and often.
Document everything.

ARE_you_kidding_me's avatar

There is also nextdoor.com which is like fb for neighborhoods.

Jeruba's avatar

Paragraph breaks with line spaces would greatly aid readability.

msh's avatar

Thank you for the ideas. It is greatly appreciated. So no black light for the black velvet paintings? Tsk-tchk! Bummer.

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