Turning an Old Webcam Into a Night Vision Cam

Night vision goggles were invented for use by the military. Over the years, they have become popular among law enforcement agencies and hunters. The technology that makes the night vision possible is called an infrared image intensifier tube. The intensifier tube houses a photo cathode that transfers photons of light energy into electrons by releasing similar electrons from atoms inside the tube itself. This process helps to multiply the electrons and then illuminate the image as the electrons reach the phosphor screen. This process can be duplicated at home by using a simple method and an old webcam.

In this instructable I wil explain how you can transfer your old webcam into a nifty Night vision cam.

Almost any webcam can be used because all of them have pretty much the same parts in this instructable I will be showing you an old Logitec Quickcam with a poor quality of 640X480 px but every old cam will do the trick.

Step 1: Disassemble the Thing

Unscrew the body and carfully open the case, in other words tear it apart.

We are foccusing on the lens wich can be screwed of, it is a bit thight but it can be removed.

Once the lens is of whe need to dismatle it completely without damaging the lens so be carefull that you dont scratch the lens. 

When the toplens is removed some other parts can be found. the little square thingy is the filter that stops the Infra red light so whe want to remove that part.

Step 2: Cut Out the New Filter and Reassemble Your Night Vision Cam

Now we can do two things, that depends on what you will be using your cam for.

If you want to Use it during the night and during the day, than you don't have to do anything als than to assemble the cam without the little square filter.

If you want to use it as a night vision scope you can place a dark filter in the cam that blocks out normal light so your cam only picks up Infrared light.
This can be done by using fully exposed film from an old analog camera.
cut out two smal squares from the exposed film at the same size of the filter you took out of your cam. If you only use one layer of film some visable light will still be picked up by most cams. From now on your camera wil only show you black and white images but the images are nicer than without the exposed film.

Step 3: Put the Cam Back Together and Start Spying.

When your reassembled your webcam. you are almost ready to go and spy on some people the only thing you need is to make a light source. (which can't be seen with the naked eye offcourse)

I just used the IR led from an old remote controle wich I then connected to a small battery to get a constant light source.

You could also drill a little hole in the body above the lens and put the IR led in the body and connect it to the main power supply of your camera using a small 100 Ohm resistor.

Happy spying.

(Images wil be posted in a few days.)