How do Infra Red CCTV Cameras Work?
It is a very important aspect of security cameras that they are able to record good quality images in low light or complete darkness. Most of the cameras on the market today will have an IR or infrared ability. This clever piece of electronics makes using CCTV cameras at night a viable security solution
So, why infrared? Well, infrared is a different light spectrum and therefore images and good quality images can be caught and recorded in very low light and even complete darkness. The recorded images are in black and white, yet if the camera is of good quality the images recorded can be of HD quality.
Modern CCTV cameras have the infrared bulbs housed within the camera housing and in most cases are fixed around the camera lens. Because the IR lighting has been built into the cameras, the overall size of the modern cameras are reduced in size and are a lot more aesthetically pleasing and more attractive particularly for domestic properties
The CCTV cameras we sell and install have very sensitive electronics and enable the recording of colour images well into twilight before switching into IR mode for night time recording.
Common Faults with CCTV Cameras Night Vision
Nothing showing up when in Infrared mode
So, this problem is occurring only in night vision or infrared. It records perfectly in day vision, but just not at night. Firstly, we would check all connections are OK, then check to see if the IR bulbs are lit up. The next thing we’d check is where the camera is pointing. Is there any objexcts that the IR lights can bounce off, if not that maybe the problem, and a simple adjustment could be a quick fix. Also, during darkness get close to the camera and see if it is recording you this would again indicate that the camera needs to be adjusted.
It could also be that you are filming too far away from the camera, and the infrared just isn’t powerful enough to reach where you are looking to see during night or low light times.
A Loss of Power or Voltage Drop
This is quite a common problem with DIY installations. If the cable run is too long and or the quality of the cable is poor, then the amount of voltage getting to the camera is reduced, so when extra power is required, such as for night vision, the power just isn’t there. When installing our systems, we only use top quality copper cable, not the CCA or copper clad aluminium as it will sometimes cause the problems mentioned above.
Why is there a white glare or completely white screen?
This is also a easily fixable fault, as it is not usually anything to do with a fault with the equipment, but rather a problem with where the camera is either located or where it is pointing. The white glare is in most cases a reflection of the IR lighting. It will reflect back from a window or other reflective surfaces. It can also be a result of the camera being too close to another light source.
If the camera is fitted behind a window, then the glass will reflect back into the camera lens and cause the white glare you will see during the times the IR is on In some cases the dome on cheaper camera also can cause this problem.
Why you might have poor quality night vision
As mentioned in one of the previous paragraphs, poor quality recording at night can be due to low voltage, so it would be worth checking to see if the recommended length of cable has been exceeded.
Another can be simply recognised because there is dirt or debris such as a spiders web near or obscuring the lens, clearing this and cleaning the lens on a regular basis is a good habit to form.