Hacking Agama V-1325R IR Camera

As part of my research, I do experiments with rodents (rats).  I train rats to do a number of tasks that allow me to ask them how they perceive odors.  Rats like to work in the dark and I monitor them with an IR camera.  As a cheap IR camera, I bought an Agama V-135R cam with built-in IR LEDs.  However, one annoying thing about this camera is that the IR LEDs must be turned on via software and are programmed to shut off every 45 mins.  I just want them to be on all the time!  So I opened up the camera and found a way to keep those guys glowing!  The LEDs were wired as two garlands of 2 leds plus a 50 Ohm resistor.  This makes sense:

USB Vcc = +5VDC
IR LEDs drop = ~1.75 V Each
Leaving 1.5 V dropping over R=50 Ohms --> I = 30 mA

The two garlands go to ground through a transistor.  I simply shorted the transistor with a fine copper wire!

There are 4 LEDs on the Agama 1325R connected as two garlands.  They receive power from a 5V Regulator and go to ground through a transistor switch (right top).  I shorted this transistor with a fine copper wire.