The VARIO Lighthouse Kit (VLK) from Raytec is an addition to their VARIO illuminators. It provides the UK firm says a fully integrated lighting and camera housing solution as an all-in-one alternative to cameras with integrated LEDs.
VLK combines VARIO LED illuminators, in Infra-Red, White-Light or Hybrid, along with the facility for up to two IP or analogue cameras of the user’s choice (not supplied) into one pre-wired and cable managed housing.
The all-in-one solution provides dedicated LED lighting that stands alone from the camera, thereby overcoming the known problems encountered with integrated cameras and LEDs, the company says.
Standing separate from the camera, the VARIO illuminators are fully thermal managed and run cool with the makers say no risk of the LEDs overheating. Alternative CCTV lighting such as cameras with LEDs around the lens are not thermally managed and thus can easily overheat, it is claimed. Critically, this can also attract insects which form webs over the lens, preventing the cameras from providing usable images and causing false alarms or failing to show an intrusion.
For this reason, the latest British Standards for remotely monitored CCTV sites (BS8418) states that ‘IR illumination should not surround the camera lens on external cameras’. In addition, stand-alone lighting produces much clearer and more evenly illuminated images with no risk of reflection back into the camera lens or glare in the image – a common problem with traditional integrated camera/LEDs, the firm adds.
Users can integrate up to two cameras of their choice into the VLK unit which, with the associated VARIO LED lighting, can deliver night time images up to 220m (722ft), for a variety of applications including CCTV, ANPR/LPR and thermal.
Tony Whiting, Raytec Managing Director (joint), says: “The VLK addresses a void in the market for a high performance, integrated lighting and box camera solution. Installers can benefit from the easy to install, all-in-one unit, while operators and users benefit from a reliable system delivering good night time images, rather than worrying about the poor images, false alarms and undetected intrusions associated with traditional integrated camera/LED lighting.”
VLK facilitates interfacing of lighting and cameras for combined operation. Its integrated ‘VLK Control Interface’ provides terminals offering access to multiple pre-set lighting configurations. Those configurations can include activation on demand via camera or external input (such as passive infra-reds, alarm or other external input), or autonomous operation from its integrated photocell. The integrated photocell can also be used to trigger switching of camera day-night mode, with the illuminators.
Tony adds: “VLK enables much easier and smarter lighting integration with your cameras via a convenient, integrated wiring platform. Triggering lighting on demand via your cameras delivers real savings through reduced electrical consumption, and when using White-Light, can provide a powerful, visible crime deterrent.”
For more on the VARIO Lighthouse Kit or the full VARIO family of Illuminators visit www.rayteccctv.com.
