Using Infra LEDs to help a B/W camera

[Zedman]

I would like to use approx 10 of 940nm Infra LEDs to
help my small pinhole camera to see in the dark (0 lux).
I tried just 2 of them and it works well, i connected them
serially.
My question is how should I connect them
(serial paralell, or 3 serial in 3 lines etc) to save energie
while it keeps the correct amount of light?

thanks
Zed

 

[mrcube_ns]

Answer depends of voltage you have to supply leds. Best is to connect them serial so you have same current for all (eg. 12V supply you can connect 5-6 infra leds inserial with resistor to limit current.

If you have smal voltage on power supply then you have to connect them parallel.

Mr.Cube

 

[atmaca]

If you want to save energy, you have to connect them in serial.
Because each parallel branch for a led means a resistor to restrict current and each resistor means additional eneergy consumption.

 

[Zedman]

Now I am sad.

I connected 3x4 to +5V, (they are normal Infra Leds, I can use 12V if needed)
I can see (throuhg the camera) they are illuminating but if i turn it towards the object (my car, distance is 2-3 meters) it doesn't see much.
I exact words i can't see anything.
I saw a B/W camera on the web uses only 4 water clear IR leds only
and they said it can see in the dark.

I got a water clear white led and it's really nice one emittes 7 candela,
but in the shop they do not have this kind of IR leds.

What did I wrong?
please help

Zed

 

[AndaMan]

pin hole camera require more light than with lens camera and your camera should cover near-infrared range.