Infrared lighting gears, mostly are IR flashlights, have become a must for many police stations and many other law enforcement institutes. But How do the IR flashlights work?
Infrared light is amazing to people who are unfamiliar with it. Most of the lights can be seen by our eyes, but IR is hidden. It’s hard for us to explain how it actually works. All we really know is that infrared light cannot be seen with the naked eye unless it is used with a night vision device.
Infrared is emitted in wavelengths that are beyond the human visible range. Humans can only see certain wavelengths in what is known as the electromagnetic spectrum. The light that can be seen by the human eye is referred to as visible light. 490(THz) is usually the lowest frequency visible and 750nm is the longest wavelength visible to the human eye. This is where infrared light starts, any light beyond these dimensions will fall under infrared. When creating an IR flashlight, many flashlight companies design a LED that is beyond the Visible Light spectrum of the human eye. How would anyone benefit from an IR flashlight if it is not visible?
If you were to have an Infrared(IR) flashlight and shine it in the darkness it would not be seen, unless you have Night Vision/Infrared Equipment also known as a Night Vision Device(NVD), or Night Vision Goggle (NVG). This would allow you to see in the dark without being exposed. This is one of the main reasons many police departments and other government agencies use IR Flashlights and lenses. Military or Police IR Flashlights have been used to record many criminals during sting operations, they are now a necessity for law enforcement.
Another great use for IR flashlights is for hunting purposes. With an infrared flashlight and the right Night Vision Device, you would be able to see many animals at a close distance without being detected. Many Flashlight companies like Cyansky Light have created top-tier IR Flashlights including the Cyansky K3-I8 (850nm, 5000mW, 350 meters) powered by a 21700 Li-ion battery.
There are many things to take into consideration when choosing the right IR Flashlight. First, you want to make sure that you have a compatible Night Vision Device (NVD) or Night Vision Goggle (NVG). Most, but not all NVD’s are compatible with IR Flashlights simply because they operate at different wavelengths. Most flashlight companies design infrared flashlights between 730nm to 1200nm, and 850nm is the most on the market.