How to make an IR night vision light. CHEAP!!!!!!

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.ย. 2024

ความคิดเห็น • 150

  • @dnrink44
    @dnrink44 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Now I used several friends.. One to hold bulb, one to hold fixture... And two to turn the one holding the bulb...took almost an hour. As we were turning the wrong way. Then the two who were turning the one holding the bulb were exhausted. Maybe becuse one holding bulb weighs 330lbs.?? Anyway we got it done. Only had to go to ER once but the bulb looks great. Next weekend we are having 20 or so people over to help us plug it in. We will keep you posted.

  • @wsxedcrfv20908
    @wsxedcrfv20908 8 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    I'm glad I called my friends to help me screw the bulb. One to hold, one to turn, one to tell us which way to turn. Almost gave up, but we finally did it. Thanks for the advice!

  • @GhostHuntrsOfSoTampa
    @GhostHuntrsOfSoTampa 14 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Fantastic Mike!!
    Great and inexpensive solution to help with investigations. The demo looks really nice....and I do like the fact the IR flood light is plugged in...not needing to be charged.

  • @madcyborg
    @madcyborg 13 ปีที่แล้ว

    Fantastic video showing the contrast between lights... I have a small car battery in a back pack with a 200 watt inverter. The clamp on fixture was upgraded by taking carbon tubing and gluing across the front of the fixture, 3 tubes form a nice web so you can't easily make contact with the bulb.... good luck all.

  • @screamfreak79
    @screamfreak79  14 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    @HDFoxra Some bnw cameras can use ir for illumination. Some can't. Here is a test you can try. Turn on your webcam or any other non night vision camera. Press record. Turn off your monitor and all lights in the room. It has to be completely dark. Point your remote or any other non visible ir light in the same direction your camera is pointing. If you can see items in your room on the recorded video then you were right. If not then you learned something. Hope that didn't sound jackassy.
    Mike

  • @screamfreak79
    @screamfreak79  14 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    @USAPatriot63 No Blacklight bulbs are UV. These are ir heating bulbs. Like fast food joints use to leep their food warm. From my understanding blacklight bulbs will illuminate a night vision camera. hope this helped.
    Mike

  • @entityencounterparanormali1015
    @entityencounterparanormali1015 10 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Hey Mike. Great video as usual, but I just wanted to tell you that you can use a flashlight with construction paper that your camera will pick up as IR, and you can use a Wii sensor bar. The Wii sensor bar actually has IR lights

  • @bubbadavis7122
    @bubbadavis7122 8 ปีที่แล้ว +21

    Noticed you used your right hand to screw in the lightbulb; and it did appear to be difficult. I am left handed; do they sell reflectors for use by left-handed people?

    • @Jdmlsturbo
      @Jdmlsturbo 7 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Bubba Davis 😂😂😂😂

  • @cathywarren6613
    @cathywarren6613 9 ปีที่แล้ว

    I thank you for your help in making it affordable for those who love ghost hunting. Everyone can't buy the costly equipment for but love to ghost hunt. I love your help and Thank you for taking up your time in helping us.

  • @MrBeginnis
    @MrBeginnis 10 ปีที่แล้ว

    Mike thank you, thank you so much for taking time to make this video. Your explanation with IR illumination and night vision capable cameras is a BIG help! I had converted an old webcam to IR by replacing standard filter with one I've cut out from a floppy disc. I couldn't understand why it only saw the infrared light but no objects what so ever. During day light hours the webcam worked great, but at night... nothing but static. No where else on the net have I found such informative that is this useful. All others are basically generic.

  • @AngelsnGhosts
    @AngelsnGhosts 14 ปีที่แล้ว

    I never thought of the infrared heating bulb for reptiles. Nice find.
    Here's a better tip to make it cheaper. Buy an incandescent blacklight bulb for less money, and it will do the same thing. It gets hot, but maybe not as hot as the heating bulb. Give it a shot. It works!

  • @ParaCairo
    @ParaCairo 13 ปีที่แล้ว

    I've used these fixtures with a heat bulb that gets hotter than the ir bulb used here, without turning it off at all for 2 to 3 months at a time, and have never had any melting. If you place the bulb in a fixture not made for heat bulbs it can melt soft plastic or catch nearby flammable materials on fire. If used in a fixture made for heat lamps there will be no melting. If you had one melt on you, you should contact the manufacturer because it was defective.

  • @screamfreak79
    @screamfreak79  14 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    @PacoRox1300 IR light is invisible. This light does produce some visible light.

  • @blackperro86
    @blackperro86 12 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks for the idea. This works great. I picked up the bulb at Petco and the clamp lamp at Home Depot. It lights up most of my backyard which is great because I use night vision to hunt rats with my air gun. You're a life saver. I was looking at spending a few hundred bucks to buy bigger stronger IR LED lights. Not anymore. Thanks again.

  • @screamfreak79
    @screamfreak79  12 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Tanning light are UV which are harmful to your eyes. IR light is not harmful to your eyes.

  • @wolfparanormal
    @wolfparanormal 14 ปีที่แล้ว

    Odeargawd Mike - you are just the best. You have such an awesome way of making these very difficult processes incredibly easy to understand. THANK YOU!

  • @screamfreak79
    @screamfreak79  13 ปีที่แล้ว

    @trigsim True, but you only get 45 minutes on the sima, and you have to order them online. You can buy this stuff at a store, run it for hours, and only spend a third of the price. The new Simas will run on AC power which is great for stationary cameras.

  • @blogobre
    @blogobre 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    IR 'can' be quite harmful to your eyes as we have no 'blink' or squint reaction to it. This is particularly true if the light is intense, lasers of even fairly low intensity can permanently damage your eyes. This bulb wouldn't be such a big deal, just think of looking at a normal incandescent. You're also right about the UV lights [even bulbs]

  • @HDFoxra
    @HDFoxra 14 ปีที่แล้ว

    so you know, it does not matter if the camera is night vision or not. ANY camera can see infrared light. just put it into black&white mode and it'll work just fine. pretty much every camera made has B&W. and most cameras wont even need that. hell, my CELL PHONE camera can see infrared just fine, same with the webcam, and every other camera i own (even a 35mm camera!) if you're unsure even in the slightest, go grab a tv remote, turn on your camrea, point remote at lens, and press a button.

  • @screamfreak79
    @screamfreak79  13 ปีที่แล้ว

    @myst840 Infra red light is heat . The leds don't get as hot as this bulb though.

  • @screamfreak79
    @screamfreak79  14 ปีที่แล้ว

    @ackerman66 Most cameras can see infrared light, but only night vision cameras can use the infrared light as illumination. If you point an infrared light at a non night vision camera in the dark and turn it on the light will be visible , but the area around the light will still be dark. I promise.

  • @screamfreak79
    @screamfreak79  13 ปีที่แล้ว

    @sakofree Yes it does put out a little visible light, but not much.

  • @screamfreak79
    @screamfreak79  13 ปีที่แล้ว

    @misterfixit102086 Yea the Sony nite shot is 0 lux. Lux doesn't really matter without an IR filter that allows the camera to use the IR as illumination. Some people are fooled by low lux feature on some cameras. They think it will shoot video with no light. It shoots in low light, but the frame rate is horrible. Thanks for the input.

  • @Spookypalooza
    @Spookypalooza 14 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks Mike! Very helpful! It is very nice of you to share your ideas!

  • @TheEVPMan
    @TheEVPMan 14 ปีที่แล้ว

    we use the black light at our site. Works very well.

  • @ericmoen389
    @ericmoen389 13 ปีที่แล้ว

    Something to keep in mind: These bulbs get HOT!
    Be mindful of the fixture that it is going into. This can be a fire hazard. Otherwise great video!

  • @screamfreak79
    @screamfreak79  13 ปีที่แล้ว

    @ParaglidingManiac Im not really sure man. We use 36 led ir ilghts. Using 4 of them together indoors will cover this much area. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

  • @screamfreak79
    @screamfreak79  13 ปีที่แล้ว

    @adidastwist Yea it puts off a nice glow. It should set the mood.

  • @SD-bv5tw
    @SD-bv5tw 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great idea it works very good.But the consumption is higher than leds.The sima probably use about 8 WATTs.but still it was a good one.

  • @screamfreak79
    @screamfreak79  13 ปีที่แล้ว

    @davidfairlie There is a lot of heat coming from the IR. Probably 10 times more.

  • @Friariah
    @Friariah 13 ปีที่แล้ว

    it works, but the one made by sima is more practical, because it doesn't need a wall socket.

  • @screamfreak79
    @screamfreak79  13 ปีที่แล้ว

    @inspectorcritic No only infra red and ultraviolet.

  • @mkuhajda
    @mkuhajda 14 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks Mike, fantastic idea !!! Off to the hardware store.
    Mark

  • @davidfairlie
    @davidfairlie 13 ปีที่แล้ว

    ...the IR bulbs to my existing flood light fixtures!
    My question is: how does the heat emission of an IR bulb compare to the heat emission of a regular incandescent bulb of the same wattage rating? I just want to make sure it's OK to use a (say) 150W IR bulb in a socket rated for 150W incandescent bulb. I would assume the heat emittance is the same, but I want to play it safe. I guess I should/will just google it, but I thought it was a good question to post.
    Thanks for the vid!

  • @ToninFightsEntropy
    @ToninFightsEntropy 6 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I came here to learn how to make an infra-red light. Your second line is "first, go and buy an infra-red lightbulb"..
    So disappointed.

  • @DGDG0000000
    @DGDG0000000 10 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    the snake at the begining isn't a viper, but a cobra.
    And the interest of having IR LED is to be easy for use outside (without having a "high tension" generator) just powered by littles batteries. But sure... for make images inside, it is great to use black/IR/ light bubles.

    • @randk.walden7769
      @randk.walden7769 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      I thought viper had to do with snakes that bite and other snakes are constrictors.>?

  • @Proveitparanormalresearch
    @Proveitparanormalresearch 6 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks! Great cheap way to make IR light! With a little 12VDC car adapter/converter and decent extension cord this thing can come with you!

  • @RynaxAlien
    @RynaxAlien 6 ปีที่แล้ว

    Wood's glass passes both IR and UV, black colored lamps use it. LED's produce 850nm with less energy and heat

  • @HDFoxra
    @HDFoxra 14 ปีที่แล้ว

    @screamfreak79 it didn't sound jackassy, you just repeated what i said almost exactly. any camera can detect and see IR light, just some can't see as much as others so they require modifications (such as removing the red filter from the camera lens and replacing with a piece of negative film). i know my webcam can see IR light (even tho most people constantly say it can't) but it just doesn't show as much as many other cameras, it just needs modified a bit to do it fully

  • @bustybunnie5081
    @bustybunnie5081 9 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Woohoo! Yeay thanks from over here in the UK for makin my hobby much more cheaper!!!!

  • @NemudusM
    @NemudusM 12 ปีที่แล้ว

    I got to this video looking for a IR solution for my back yard too lol , I have few racoons to take care with my PCP rifle, but I know they dont come by when the lights are on , so IR it is...and thx to you I know where to get it ( petco and h.dpt.)

  • @AzBirdDog
    @AzBirdDog 13 ปีที่แล้ว

    I almost bought one of those simma lights. however you spell it. I almost bought 2 of them. Thanks dude!

  • @screamfreak79
    @screamfreak79  13 ปีที่แล้ว

    @EricDraven20006 I did not know that. How long would you have to run it for that to happen? I've run it for several hours no problem. I added another disclaimer in the description to be safe. Thanks for the input.

  • @ParaglidingManiac
    @ParaglidingManiac 13 ปีที่แล้ว

    IR LEDs might be easier, because you take the batteries for them with you. I have a question for you please. How do I make LEDs illuminate the objects at distances of about 60 feet (20 meters)? I think I would need to focus the light, but I would really love to hear out your ideas please. Thank you!

  • @davidfairlie
    @davidfairlie 13 ปีที่แล้ว

    Hi Mike,
    I had been thinking about doing something like this and stumbled upon your vid. I knew there HAD to be an IR solution for night vision that could be screwed into an existing light socket. I didn't know reptile bulbs were IR!
    I'm thinking of doing this to "illuminate" (I guess s better term would be irradiate) the outside of my house for night surveillance since the IR LEDs on my camera aren't bright enough for outdoors and I get horrible glare through the window glass. I could screw

  • @danagol1985
    @danagol1985 13 ปีที่แล้ว

    When the lamp is powered, what does it look like to the naked eye? Can you see a dim blue, or red glow?

  • @thomasputnel
    @thomasputnel 11 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Is the bulb you are using the Critter Culture: Night Heat Bulb 75 Watt from Walmart?

  • @MegaHahndo
    @MegaHahndo 13 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks again for the videos. I can't believe how good this works.

  • @ParaholiX
    @ParaholiX 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    We've been meaning to do this for sometime now but have yet to do so. Not sure why. The bulbs are like $5-$7.

  • @screamfreak79
    @screamfreak79  13 ปีที่แล้ว

    @danagol1985 Yes there is some glow.

  • @kennnmoran1
    @kennnmoran1 9 ปีที่แล้ว

    Two I know of are the Nightmaster NM800 of the Infra red hunting torch, Osram 850 NM. These are from guys on Shooting Australia.com forum There are many youtube videos of NightVision hunting, rats etc and the mention their various illuminators. good luck with it!

  • @diannemoore1123
    @diannemoore1123 10 ปีที่แล้ว

    Did you happen to notice after he mentioned the wall something flew up in mid air on the right?

  • @jeffrielly
    @jeffrielly 13 ปีที่แล้ว

    I work in a hardware store we have 250 wat infered bulbs I though of going with your idea here in this video for mygroup with a couple clamp lights and the bulbs we have one that has a red colored filter over the glass and then one that is a clear glass what is the difference? also just how much light would they give off I'd imagine 250 wats to be quite bright

  • @PsychicDogTalkRadio3
    @PsychicDogTalkRadio3 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    wait can you go back and show us how to insert the bulb into the fixture again?

  • @Sniperdan77
    @Sniperdan77 10 ปีที่แล้ว

    Viper or Cobra whats the difference? A bite from either one still sucks. Lol we are so off topic! :)

  • @misterfixit102086
    @misterfixit102086 13 ปีที่แล้ว

    just a thought, you said that you have to have a "camera with night vision capability" do you know about lux. Lux is a measure of light intensity. A camera lux rating refers to the minimum amount of light that will produce pictures. The lower the number the more sensitive the camera. It is good to have a camera with a minimum illumination of 0.05 lux for inferred application...i think, the lower the lux the better i know lol , just thought it might be helpful in your journeys

  • @pandabear1447
    @pandabear1447 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    Usually if u have a heat lamp for your reptile... there is still visible light...

  • @willkenplace52
    @willkenplace52 12 ปีที่แล้ว

    Oh I was thinking the bulb would be red colored instead of blue. Question would that bulb be harmful to eyes because I burned my eyes real bad one time as a teenager when you could use those little tanning lights they were blue as well no goggles so couldn't see for a few weeks it was horrible as my eyes felt like I had gravel in them so a caution might be warrented with this bulb usage...

  • @yetifeets
    @yetifeets 14 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks again for great info, Mike.

  • @Berniebud
    @Berniebud 9 ปีที่แล้ว

    How do I know if my camera is capable of night vision? The IR on my remote control is visible through my camcorder, and lights up walls from about 6 inches. Is that good enough?

  • @johnkerley4152
    @johnkerley4152 10 ปีที่แล้ว

    I once tried a black light as illumination the same way and it worked,.....this was because it was incandescent.

  • @ssuperdave100
    @ssuperdave100 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great tip,,,,,,will go see if I can buy one....thank you!!! David

  • @Prof_Z_PhD
    @Prof_Z_PhD 14 ปีที่แล้ว

    @screamfreak79 But all cameras can see infared light so if I changed the normal lights with infared lights then when I turn them on I should be able to see the infared light on the camera

  • @RoyAndrews82
    @RoyAndrews82 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    Can you give me a list of devices that can see the IR Light? Please.

  • @screamfreak79
    @screamfreak79  14 ปีที่แล้ว

    @123IOWNALL321 Most cameras can see it, but you cant see with it if that makes sense.

  • @screamfreak79
    @screamfreak79  14 ปีที่แล้ว

    @ackerman66 If the camera doesn't have night vision it wont work.

  • @screamfreak79
    @screamfreak79  14 ปีที่แล้ว

    @123IOWNALL321 With a regular camera the only thing you will see is the light itself. It will not illuminate anything.

  • @bobo4ish
    @bobo4ish 13 ปีที่แล้ว

    you dont need a fixture do you? would it work if i just screwed it in a regular light socket?

  • @stephencarlsbad
    @stephencarlsbad 12 ปีที่แล้ว

    how many IR leds do you think would equal that 1 IR heat bulb?

  • @Nameless666Maggot
    @Nameless666Maggot 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    I like the length of the video

  • @EricDavidLaVoie1970
    @EricDavidLaVoie1970 12 ปีที่แล้ว

    Is the IR light just a black light bulb? Also great videos.

  • @mikev1758
    @mikev1758 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    Best video on this subject, too many other vid's talk too much.

  • @corres78
    @corres78 12 ปีที่แล้ว

    Hi, as I know, the UV light damage the paint of cars. Is the IR light dangerous for painting in a distance of 2-3 meters?
    Could your creation combined with a moving sensor?

  • @blackhat2005
    @blackhat2005 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    How can I make sure my camera has night capability, I use a Fujifilm Finepix JX520, standard digital camera. It can shoot stills at night and has an automatic still-shot night mode, but shoots poor video in low light conditions. I've been thinking about using either something like this or infrared LED lights as a flashlight. Would it would? Thanks :-)

  • @Prof_Z_PhD
    @Prof_Z_PhD 14 ปีที่แล้ว

    My camcorder doesn't have night vision but if I were to switch the regular built in lightbulbs with undated lightbulbs could I still see in the dark.
    5 stars by the way.

  • @ikumad
    @ikumad 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    He is still right

  • @screamfreak79
    @screamfreak79  14 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thank you

  • @Prof_Z_PhD
    @Prof_Z_PhD 14 ปีที่แล้ว

    I meant infared lightbulbs my iPod must have tried to fix a spelling mistake.

  • @rainieda
    @rainieda 14 ปีที่แล้ว

    you are awesome! thank you for your great ideas!!

  • @PPBGH
    @PPBGH 12 ปีที่แล้ว

    I went to pet smart and got an "infrared bulb". When I plugged it in, I found out it was just a bright red light.

  • @pcgarbage
    @pcgarbage 6 ปีที่แล้ว

    can i use a d3400 Nikon? it only has a magic setting mode that has various colors and a setting that says "Night Vision". ???
    can you find out for me?
    Thanks

  • @soccerpeve02
    @soccerpeve02 12 ปีที่แล้ว

    You think this will be too hot if I replace the flood lights outside with these bulbs? I am trying to catch my neighbor throwing cat poop and eggs at my house...not sure if my IR cam can see all the way to where he chucks it from...

  • @screamfreak79
    @screamfreak79  13 ปีที่แล้ว

    @Dynose It was a joke.

  • @sakofree
    @sakofree 13 ปีที่แล้ว

    Can you see any glow from this at all with just your eyes

  • @screamfreak79
    @screamfreak79  14 ปีที่แล้ว

    @StudMuffin219 75 watt

  • @fusilikevin
    @fusilikevin 12 ปีที่แล้ว

    Tell me.. Is it just a coincidence that this vid is exactly FOUR minutes TWENTY seconds long?

  • @ericpitar
    @ericpitar 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    How bright is the red glow on the light? Is it bright enough for you to recognize outlines of people within 65' (20m) at night using the naked eye after it's adjusted to the darkness?

  • @americandragon8612
    @americandragon8612 9 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I don't wanna sound crazy but I caught a faint voice in your video and I don't think you noticed. After you said "turn the Sima off" Turn up the volume. Or maybe it was your mic picking up random back round noise I'm not sure. But I did hear something have a listen screamfreak79

    • @TwoPinkPeasTerri
      @TwoPinkPeasTerri 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      American Dragon American Dragon I went back to listen a few times and I heard a faint voice at 3:34 but for me it was difficult to hear what it was saying. Not sure if that is where you heard it at. Good catch!

    • @americandragon8612
      @americandragon8612 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Two Pink Peas I'm not sure it was to fast to understand but I know I heard something for sure

    • @TwoPinkPeasTerri
      @TwoPinkPeasTerri 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      American Dragon Yeah same for me too! I tried to listen to it with headphones a bunch of times but it sounds impossible to understand exactly what was said. I missed it the first time around so that was an awesome catch on your end.

    • @americandragon8612
      @americandragon8612 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Two Pink Peas thanks! Sometimes it's hard to understand what spirits are saying when they talk

    • @TwoPinkPeasTerri
      @TwoPinkPeasTerri 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      American Dragon Oh definitely! When I review my evidence there are times that I miss things on the first time listening or sometimes have a hard time trying to figure out what they are saying but like you know that is perfectly normal.

  • @myst840
    @myst840 13 ปีที่แล้ว

    Can you get an infared light w/out the heat??

  • @farmboy26ful
    @farmboy26ful 13 ปีที่แล้ว

    does your camra have to have night vision to see the light ?

  • @TraceyHroxursox
    @TraceyHroxursox 10 ปีที่แล้ว

    Would this work with a Sony cam modified for *full spectrum* light?

  • @inspectorcritic
    @inspectorcritic 13 ปีที่แล้ว

    Do you have any thing for THERMAL IR VIEWING?

  • @MrDasdwad
    @MrDasdwad 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    i ckeked out your site and equipment i see one thing if ghosts are real theere people right just dead and when i look at your aquipment i gatta ask how can i ghost not see that ???!!!

  • @shrikantp87
    @shrikantp87 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    Nice work .......like it

  • @screamfreak79
    @screamfreak79  14 ปีที่แล้ว

    @PacoRox1300 2 or 3. Just enough to read by.

  • @luculencia8480
    @luculencia8480 9 ปีที่แล้ว

    So those IR bulbs really don't emit any visible light? Just heat? Nice :)

    • @UpcomingJedi
      @UpcomingJedi 9 ปีที่แล้ว

      Lucu Lencia Those bulbs still emit visible light from the filament. You can see it in this video. It would look red to the naked eye. the filament works the same way as any light bulb when it gets hot. You can see these where they sell fried chicken. They are used to keep the chicken warm.

  • @GJParanormal
    @GJParanormal 14 ปีที่แล้ว

    This is just what I need! A cheap Walmart rig lol

  • @screamfreak79
    @screamfreak79  13 ปีที่แล้ว

    @bobo4ish It should work.

  • @BLAINE301
    @BLAINE301 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    Is this different than a black light?

  • @Rexxtasy
    @Rexxtasy 9 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I have a modified HD IR full spectrum camera. I have two IR illuminator lights. Why can I only see like 3ft wide by 3ft deep. Is it the lights? Its a Vivitar 810. Not the best but you'd think it'd light up the room. Help???? Will this light u made work for my IR modified camera set up??

    • @kennnmoran1
      @kennnmoran1 9 ปีที่แล้ว

      Rexx Michaels Maybe its the range of your IR torches, like ordinary torches, some go far, some don't.

    • @Rexxtasy
      @Rexxtasy 9 ปีที่แล้ว

      I have the basic ones you get on eBay. It came with the camera. .. They're in a silver round holder... I bet they're probly crap. What can u recommend. Model/make.

    • @maineiac114
      @maineiac114 9 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      +Monterey Paranormal Investigators I had a problem a while ago with my night vision. It turns out that just before I was thinking of getting rid of it I would check it out one last time, I set the touch pad to night vision and nothing happened. After I spent more time looking it over I found a slide at the top to turn on the internal IR which was necessary to turn on the night vision. After that it worked great. Maybe check your manual? Hope it helps