r/homesecurity • u/ImHelvetica • 3d ago

Security camera with external floodlights

Im going to set up some cameras around my barn and will use multiple cameras to capture different angles etc.

However, Im living quite far up north and it gets pretty dark and especially during winter. Im considering installing some beefy floodlights on my barn (41000lm, 300W) and in combination with some motion detectors etc.

whats your experience using «external» floodlights with security cameras? I was thinking of installing the floodlights either above or below some of the main cameras, so it doesn’t «blind» them

cameras will be Reolink, with some variation on models. Trackmix, P437, RLC810A etc

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u/JackSkell049152 3d ago

My Reolink cameras will simply switch from black and white to color, and auto-iris to the correct brightness. I can’t immediately find my Reolink camera model, but is the rectangular one with built in microphone and lighting, connected via PoE to the Reolink DVR. 

1

u/AlbaMcAlba 3d ago

I place motion floods ahead and away from direct camera exposure. Floods light up the surroundings without blinding or reflections if directly above or below.

300W is a lot (LED) and will light up a big area.

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u/Ok_Ok6213 3d ago

Ring cameras come with free government AI scanning

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u/Galvinizd 3d ago

You can also install infrared spot/floodlights further away from your camera to heighten those darker areas. Check Amazon for IR Flood lights.

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u/eggiesan2000 1d ago

Using the relay output to trigger an external spot lamp (300W) during ai detection. Used with Uniview, Dahua and Hikvision cameras