6 Common CCTV Camera Faults

Security surveillance camera engineers frequently encounter six common faults with CCTV cameras. Based on 15 years of experience as a CCTV camera manufacturer, our security surveillance camera technicians have identified six common faults in CCTV cameras. These six common CCTV camera faults are not only problems encountered by security surveillance engineers, but also problems that you might encounter when using cameras at home. This article will address the six most common fault-finding in CCTV cameras.

1. Infrared HD network surveillance camera: The image is normal during the day, but the camera is completely inoperable or has no signal at night.

Reason: If there is no signal at night, the camera’s power supply may be insufficient, resulting in the camera malfunctioning. Since the infrared lights of the camera need to work at night, the power demand increases. If the power supply is insufficient at night, the camera will not start. Therefore, it is necessary to replace the power adapter with one of sufficient wattage or a stable power supply device.

2. The HD network camera frequently disconnects.

Reason 1: A Centralized power supply is used. Network surveillance cameras have high requirements for power supply stability. Centralized power supply causes voltage and current instability, leading to camera disconnections. Replacing it with a dedicated power supply can prevent network camera disconnections.

Reason 2: Poor network cable quality. High-definition network cameras have high requirements for network cables. Poor-quality cables can cause packet loss during network transmission, resulting in camera disconnections and, in severe cases, no image display. Replace with a high-quality pure copper network cable.

Reason 3: The distance between the high-definition network camera, switch, recorder, and computer exceeds 100 meters. If the distance exceeds 100 meters, a repeater switch can be connected at a point less than 100 meters away to extend the network transmission distance. Alternatively, fiber optic cables can be used instead of network cables.

Reason 4: Devices on the same local area network as the high-definition camera share the same IP address. This means the network camera’s IP address conflicts with other devices. Modify the IP address using the network camera’s search tool or change the IP addresses of different network devices.

Reason 5: Insufficient bandwidth from the network switch. If more than seven network cameras are connected, it is recommended to use an H3C gigabit switch.

3. The network surveillance camera works during the day and has a signal in night vision mode, but the image is unclear.

Reason 1: If there is a signal in night vision but no clear image, the camera’s light board or IR cut may be faulty. You can cover the photoresistor on the camera’s light board with a black cloth and check if the camera’s infrared light turns red. If it doesn’t turn red, the light board is faulty. Replace the light board.

Reason 2: The network camera’s IRC working mode is not passive. This situation occurs when the network camera has been restored to its default factory settings. When the camera is restored to its default factory settings, the IRC working mode automatically changes to active mode. Therefore, we need to switch it to passive mode manually. You can access the camera’s settings menu, then select Media Settings, followed by Video Capture Settings. Finally, enable IRC working mode and passive mode, and save the changes.

4. When connecting the HD camera to a computer, the computer can detect the camera, but after adding the device, it prompts “Device not online.”

Reason: Although the camera and computer are on the same local area network, their IP addresses are not on the same subnet; therefore, they cannot communicate properly.

Solution:

1. Click the “My Computer” icon at the bottom right → right-click and choose “Open Network Connections.”
2. Right-click any active network connection and select “Properties.”
3. In the connection properties window, double-click “Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).”
4. Click “Advanced,” then under the “IP Address” section, click “Add.”
5. Enter a new IP address that is within the same subnet as the HD IP camera, but not the same IP address as the camera.
6. Click the Subnet Mask field and it will auto-fill.
7. Save and exit.

After completing these steps, the PC and the camera will be on the same network segment, and you will be able to access the device normally.

5. How to reset a CCTV camera?

There are various methods for resetting a CCTV camera. Older cameras required resetting via the camera’s software backend or the recorder’s backend. However, most CCTV cameras sold today have a reset button; to reset your camera, press and hold the reset button for 5 seconds. The default reset button is typically located inside a small hole on the camera body and requires a paper clip to press. Some reset buttons are located at the end of the camera cable; press the reset button with your finger.

6. Why is there a blinking problem with the CCTV camera?

CCTV camera flickering problem solutions:

1. The CCTV camera’s power supply is faulty, such as aging wiring or too many devices plugged into the socket. Replace the power adapter with a high-quality one or use a separate power supply.
2. It may be caused by the camera constantly restarting. Because the camera keeps restarting, the indicator light will flash briefly each time it restarts. For more information on camera flickering issues, please read my other article about What to do if IP camera keeps rebooting
3. The CCTV camera’s firmware is outdated. Check your camera’s app settings for a new firmware version. Check and update to the latest firmware version.

These answers address the six most common faults with CCTV cameras. If you have any other questions during use, please leave a comment below.