Do your research and purchase a CCTV security camera that fits your needs. Some cameras are inherently bad, they use inferior lenses and chipset, so no matter what you try or do, it’s impossible to improve the nighttime picture of a camera that is of inferior quality. The more IR lights, the better the night time. You need a high-resolution camera that comes with a large number of infrared lights. There are a few things you can do if you have a CCTV security camera that generates a dark image during nighttime or it looks good in the daytime but at nighttime, the picture deteriorates.įirst of all, make sure the camera you have purchased is supposed to deliver a great picture at night time. The camera’s image is too dark at night time Not all cameras come with an adjustable visor, if yours has done, then you try to reposition it. The visor is the part of the CCTV camera that protects it from reflections or direct light. Reangle the camera to a better position and check the nighttime image to see if the bright spots are gone.Īdditionally, you can properly adjust the camera’s visor to ensure that the sunlight doesn’t hit the camera directly. Let’s say there’s a high wall close to the camera, the IR lights will hit the wall and bounce back to the camera which will cause the bright areas on the screen.
Additionally, inspect the camera for any scratches.Īnother thing to consider, the white spots on a CCTV camera may be caused by light reflection coming from a solid surface close to the camera. Usually, it’s recommended to clean the cameras once in three months. Over time the camera gets dirty or may accumulate dust, and the lights can hit the particles and bounce back. Some unprofessional installers remove them altogether, make sure yours is there.Ĭlean the camera’s glass. Check if the rubber ring is in place and tightly pressed against the glass. The cameras come with a rubber ring around the lens that prevents the IR lights from bouncing or bleeding out.
For many reasons, this infrared light may hit a close solid surface (or even the camera’s glass) and bounce back causing white spots or areas on the screen. These are caused by the infrared red lights reflecting into the camera’s eye.Īs you may have noticed, the infrared LED lights are placed around the camera’s eye (lens) and they automatically turn on when it gets dark. Other issues you may see in CCTV security cameras at night are white spots, circles, or areas on the screen. The camera shows white areas or spots on the screen
It’s always recommended to install the camera to a shorter distance from what the manufacturer specifies. Bring the camera closer and test it out if it works. Sometimes the distance where the camera is installed is simply too long, even though the specs may say otherwise. If they turn on, it means that the camera is getting powered on. Sometimes they may be loose and are not fully plugged into their spots.Ĭover the camera’s lens with your palm and note if the IR lights come on (red color). If you’re using an IP camera, check the PoE switch, you can plug the camera into another port just to see if the issue is fixed.Ĭheck if the wires and connections are fully secured and connected. Inspect the power supply box and ensure that it can handle all the cameras connected to it. If the infrared lights don’t work, then the night time picture quality will be pitch black (or too dark). In some cases, the power supply cannot handle the camera and the IR doesn’t turn on. During the night time, the camera’s infrared lights turn on and draw more power. To fix this issue try the following suggestions:Ĭheck the power source of the camera. One of the most common CCTV night vision issues is a camera that shows no image or video at night time but works fine during the day time. Fix Security Camera Night Vision Issues The camera shows No Image or Video at night
In this guide, we list common CCTV night vision issues and how to easily fix them. If your CCTV cameras display CCTV night vision problems, you must address them as soon as possible otherwise your security is compromised.
The nighttime picture deterioration in security camera systems is caused by multiple reasons. In other cases, you may see white spots on the picture or bright rings that make the night footage almost unusable.Īdditionally, you may see moving artifacts all over the night image, or even rolling black and white lines. The security camera can show up pitch black or too dark, sometimes there’s no image at all. As it happens, many of these CCTV cameras experience problems with the picture during the night. Nowadays, there are cameras that see clearly at night, sometimes even in extremely low light conditions. Statistically, crime happens mostly during the night which makes the security camera’s night performance crucial.