Bosch IR ILLUMINATOR 940NM EXTRA RANGE - IIR-50940-XR

Bosch IIR-50940-XR 940nm Extra-Range IR Illuminator

Overview

The Bosch IIR-50940-XR is a covert 940nm infrared illuminator built for long-range surveillance applications where the light source must remain invisible to the naked eye. At 940nm — well above the 850nm wavelength that produces a faint visible red glow — this unit emits no discernible light, making it the right choice for installations where a visible IR source would tip off a subject or degrade operational security. With a peak range of 189 m (620 ft) at a 10° horizontal beam angle and a field-swappable beam kit covering 10°, 30°, 60°, and 95°, the IIR-50940-XR handles everything from perimeter fence-line detection to wide-area loading dock coverage — on a single hardware platform.

Key Features

• 940nm Covert Wavelength: Operates entirely outside the visible spectrum (human eye sensitivity drops to near-zero above ~780nm), so there is no red-dot glow visible on the illuminator face. Deploy on executive parking areas, retail loss prevention, or any site where a visible IR source would compromise operations or draw attention.
• Four Interchangeable Beam Angles (10°, 30°, 60°, 95°): Beam inserts can be swapped in the field to match the camera lens in use. Pair the 10° insert with a long-focal-length lens for a 189 m (620 ft) HFOV throw down a fence line; switch to 95° behind a wide-angle lens for 28 m (92 ft) HFOV area saturation at a loading dock — without swapping hardware.
• 52W Power Draw, 12–32 VDC Input: The wide voltage range lets you run the unit from a standard 12VDC local supply or from 24VDC centralized power distribution without a separate converter. At 52W it draws more than a typical PoE budget can provide, so plan for a dedicated low-voltage power supply rather than relying on camera-side PoE passthrough.
• Adjustable IR Intensity (10%–100%): Dialing intensity down in closer-range scenes or when using a wide beam angle prevents overexposure (IR bloom) that washes out facial or license-plate detail. Set it to minimum during commissioning and increase until the scene exposes correctly — no neutral-density filters required.
• Photocell Auto-On (20–70 lx Sensitivity Range): The built-in photocell triggers the illuminator automatically at dusk and shuts it off at dawn, adjustable within the 20–70 lux threshold band. This eliminates a separate relay or timer and keeps the IR running only when the camera actually needs it, extending LED service life.
• IP66 / IK09 Rated Anodized Aluminum Housing: IP66 blocks jets of water and dust ingress — suitable for direct rain, roof overhangs, and dusty industrial environments. IK09 rates the enclosure to withstand a 10-joule impact, which is meaningful on perimeter poles or fence posts where vandal attempts are a realistic risk. The anodized aluminum housing dissipates heat effectively over the -50°C to +50°C operating range, making it viable in northern climates where other illuminators fail in deep winter.
• -50°C to +50°C Operating Range: The lower limit of -58°F means this unit will operate in conditions that exceed most North American outdoor extremes. Cold-storage facilities, outdoor Canadian deployments, or high-altitude installations won't push the IIR-50940-XR out of spec.
• 3m (9 ft) Integrated Cable: The factory-attached cable simplifies installation and eliminates a weatherproof field splice at the housing. For runs beyond 3m, extend with an appropriate-gauge low-voltage cable from the junction point — voltage drop at 52W becomes relevant past ~15m at 12VDC, so calculate accordingly or use 24VDC.
• Stainless Steel Mounting Bracket: The included stainless bracket (110 x 125 x 35mm, 0.44 lbs) resists corrosion in coastal or high-humidity environments where zinc die-cast brackets begin corroding within a year. The bracket's independent pan/tilt allows precise aiming after the illuminator is mounted — useful when aligning a narrow 10° beam to exactly match the camera's field of view.

Integration & Compatibility

The IIR-50940-XR functions as a standalone IR illuminator and pairs with any camera that accepts external illumination — it has no proprietary protocol or control interface beyond the onboard photocell and intensity adjustment. It is particularly well-matched to cameras using Sony STARVIS or similar large-format sensors with high NIR (near-infrared) sensitivity, which can extract maximum detail from a 940nm illumination source. Note that 940nm illumination yields lower camera response per watt compared to 850nm on the same sensor, so verify your camera's NIR sensitivity curve before specifying this unit for extreme-distance applications. For Bosch cameras, this pairs naturally with the Bosch surveillance line of fixed and PTZ cameras designed for long-range outdoor deployment.

This illuminator is classified in the broader IR illuminator category and should be specified alongside an appropriately matched outdoor IP camera with a lens whose horizontal field of view aligns with one of the four available beam angles. If you are planning power distribution for multiple illuminators across a perimeter, review a PoE switch and power planning guide — the 52W draw per unit rules out PoE and requires dedicated low-voltage circuits. For mounting on poles or parapet walls, dedicated camera and illuminator mounting hardware provides the structural support needed for long-term outdoor stability.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the maximum IR range of the IIR-50940-XR, and which beam angle achieves it?

A: The maximum range is 189 m (620 ft) HFOV, achieved with the 10° beam angle insert. The 10° VFOV range is 33 m (108 ft), so the beam is highly elongated — ideal for narrow corridor or fence-line coverage paired with a telephoto lens.

Q: Can the IIR-50940-XR be powered from a PoE switch or PoE injector?

A: No. The unit draws 52W and requires a 12–32 VDC power supply with sufficient current capacity. Standard PoE (802.3af) delivers up to 15.4W and PoE+ (802.3at) up to 30W — neither is sufficient. Plan for a dedicated low-voltage power supply sized for 52W.

Q: Is the 940nm IR light visible to the human eye?

A: No. At 940nm the emission is well outside the visible spectrum and produces no detectable glow — not even the faint red dot associated with 850nm illuminators. This makes the IIR-50940-XR suitable for covert or aesthetically sensitive installations.

Q: How are the beam angles changed on the IIR-50940-XR?

A: The unit supports four interchangeable beam angle inserts — 10°, 30°, 60°, and 95°. Inserts are field-swappable, allowing the beam spread to be matched to the paired camera's lens field of view without replacing the illuminator body.

Q: What are the environmental ratings, and is the IIR-50940-XR suitable for outdoor use in extreme cold?

A: The illuminator carries IP66 (dust-tight, jet-water resistant) and IK09 (10-joule impact resistance) ratings, and operates from -50°C to +50°C (-58°F to +122°F). It is rated for demanding outdoor environments including cold-climate perimeter deployments.

Q: Does the IIR-50940-XR include a mounting bracket, and what material is it?

A: Yes. A stainless steel mounting bracket (110 x 125 x 35 mm, 0.44 lbs) is included. Stainless construction resists corrosion in coastal and high-humidity environments where standard brackets degrade rapidly.

Marty Allison

The spec that drives every decision on the IIR-50940-XR is the 940nm wavelength — not the 620 ft range number, which is only achievable if your camera sensor responds well enough at 940nm to take advantage of it. Most CMOS sensors peak NIR sensitivity around 850nm and fall off measurably by 940nm, so the effective range you'll see in the field will be shorter than the datasheet figure unless you pair this unit with a sensor specifically optimized for NIR. Know your camera's spectral response curve before committing to this illuminator over an 850nm model in the same family.

Technical Highlights:

• Four Beam Angles (10°–95°): The field-swappable insert system is genuinely useful — a 10° insert throws 189 m HFOV down a fence line; switching to 60° drops that to 56 m HFOV but covers a 65 m VFOV for a taller scene. Match the insert to your camera lens, not the other way around.
• 52W, 12–32 VDC: The wide input range is a real wiring convenience — 12VDC local or 24VDC centralized both work. But 52W means this unit needs its own circuit; voltage drop at 12VDC over a long run is non-trivial, and you cannot daisy-chain multiple units on a single undersized cable run.
• -50°C to +50°C Operating Range: The lower limit is more useful than it sounds. Most comparable illuminators bottom out at -40°C; the extra 10 degrees of cold-side headroom matters on exposed northern perimeters where ambient temperatures can breach -40°C during cold snaps.

Deployment Considerations:

• The photocell sensitivity range of 20–70 lux is adjustable, but confirm the threshold is set appropriately for your installation latitude and seasonal light variation — a threshold set too high in a high-ambient environment will cause nuisance cycling at dawn/dusk.
• The 3m factory cable simplifies weatherproofing at the housing, but at 52W draw, voltage drop beyond ~10–12m at 12VDC becomes significant (expect 0.5–1V drop depending on wire gauge). Use 24VDC input whenever your wire run exceeds that distance, or upsize conductor cross-section accordingly.

The IIR-50940-XR is the right specification for critical infrastructure perimeter surveillance — correctional facility fence lines, utility substation boundaries, military installation perimeters — where IR covertness is a hard operational requirement and the 620 ft throw at 10° gives you the post spacing to minimize illuminator count per linear foot of coverage.