Bought a infrared torch of Ebay a few weeks ago not very good so thought I would take it to bits to see what Diode it had in it. Well guess what all it is, is a normal torch the same you get from pound shop with a 2.5v bulb not even magna but with a red glass front. Beware this cost me £20 and the guy has disapeared of Ebay.:rant: Been told a night vision torch will have no light at all to the naked eye.:thumbsup:

Er, you know that normal torches emit masses of infrared light as well as visible light too don't you.

The red filter is there to stop most visible light getting out, but will not impede near IR. Red also has the bonus of not destroying your night vision unlike, say green light from a night vision scope.

So I would expect you already have an IR illumination unit.

FWIW diode based IR emitters are all well and good but do not actually punch out much light.

You can even do flash photography at night with infra red film and an infra red filter (much like the one in your torch) over the flash head.

errr ok thanks :)

I could do with one of these but one which emits light over a wider area as opposed to short range localised

Originally posted by RPG
I could do with one of these but one which emits light over a wider area as opposed to short range localised That is what I thought I had bought.:)

Originally posted by Bikertec
That is what I thought I had bought.:)

Have you tested it with an infrared scope or film yet?

I think you have received exactly what you ordered.

90% of what any incandescent bulb throws out is invisible inra-red radiation. You're only interested in the stuff nearest the visible spectrum - i.e Near Infra red (800 nanometer wavelength).

So an incadescent light with an approriate filter will give out an almost invisible beam of near infra red, perfect for night vision camera illumination, or fitting onto night scopes etc.

You see a lot of halogen infra red illuminators as part of industrial cctv applications. At night they glow red. Just like your IR torch Bikertec. I'd wager you have the real thing, depsite your misgivings.

RPG, Halogens have the throw you are looking for.

Yep tried it in total dark down a cellar using a video camera that is capable of using infrared but wouldn,t pick anything up unless it was closer than 2 foot.:)

ok you were ripped. :(

RPG has reported success using a halogen heatlamp!