Home Removal Services Blog

Your outdoor security camera uses a light sensor to create an image from the light entering through the lens. The light sensor is made up of many pixels which determine how much light is coming through and generates the corresponding number of electrons. Brighter lights generate more electrons per pixel. When it comes to image sensor technology, there are two main types.

These two types are the charge-coupled device, or CCD, and the complementary metal-oxide semiconductor, or CMOS. And despite being viewed as rivals in the camera industry, each type of image sensor really has its own strengths and weaknesses. So the better sensor depends on the situation it is to be used in.

CCD sensors were developed specifically for the camera industry while CMOS traces it’s beginnings to standard technology already in use in areas such as memory chips inside PCs. Today, modern CMOS sensors are advancing in technology and the quality is improving immensely.

CCD sensors are still slightly better in light sensitivity and produce cleaner images than CMOS sensors. Because of higher light sensitivity, the CCD produces sharper images in low light conditions than CMOS sensors.

The problem with the CCD sensor is that it makes the overall cost of a camera more expensive because it is harder to put it inside a camera. The CCD sensor also uses about 100 times more power than a CMOS sensor of equal capacity.

With the CMOS sensor, it is very quickly closing the gap in terms of image quality to the CCD sensor. Cameras that are built with CMOS sensors are lower in cost because the cameras are much easier to build.

The CMOS sensor also allows for greater integration possibilities than the CCD sensor which in comparison is designed to be more stringent in terms of function and integration. CMOS sensors have faster readouts which make a big difference in megapixel technology and you will find megapixel cameras with CMOS sensors much more than with CCD sensors simply because of the costs.

When it comes to megapixel sensors in cameras, the sensors themselves are about the same size or only slightly larger than traditional VGA sensors. This means that the size of each pixel is smaller. So while the megapixel camera can provide higher resolution and greater detail, it is less light sensitive since the pixel size is smaller and light reflected from an object is spread to more pixels.

For many households, installing an outdoor security camera is more than necessary. That is why one of the most common forms of home security is a simple lighting system. It’s one step up from no security, and an effective deterent to potential intruders. The different techniques are dusk-to-dawn lighting, motion activated, and combination high/low lighting.

Dusk to dawn lighting the simplest, oldest trick in the book. The idea is that a lit home will discourage a burglar because they can no longer operate under the cover of darkness. It is both real and a psychological tactic that makes the burglar feel less secure.

The lighting system uses a photocell control either external or built into the lights that detect light levels and switch on when lighting levels get low.

The cost of running electricity and replacement lamps is the downside of this technique. Since the lights are on all night lamps burn out much faster and the electricity bill can really add up. Also, since the lights always look the same, there is nothing to alert anyone nearby of suspicious activity.

The motion activated lighting is one of the more popular techniques. It is a very effect deterrent and since most of the time the lights will stay off and only go on as needed the energy costs as well as replacement lamps are much lower than the previous technique. Imagine the flood lights coming on while the would-be perpetrator is still 30 yards from the point of entry.

A combination high/low lighting technique is just as the name implies. It combines the two lighting techniques. A lower beam light, usually 20%, turns on and stays on all night and the full wattage high beam light is motion activated.

Its costs is not quite as low as the motion activated system but not as expensive as leaving the lights on all night. It also provides a nice glow all night which is comforting for most people.

When it comes to protecting your home and your family, security lighting does a good job as a simple yet effective prevention measure against intrusions or other criminal activity on or to your property. It will definitely aid in the detection of intruders, to deter intruders, or in some cases simply to increase the feeling of safety.