What happens when you lose video on a security camera? If you’ve ever had this happen before, it was probably one of the most frustrating experiences imaginable.
You might have been watching your cameras and all of a sudden they show nothing but static. They may even appear to be working again an hour later but only show more static for the remainder of the day.
But what causes video loss in security cameras? How can you avoid it? Let’s look at the possible reasons why you can’t find that video recording when you need it most.
What Causes Video Loss in Security Cameras?
When your security systems stop recording videos, they become useless. And that is not only frustrating but also a potential security risk.
Many reasons can lead to video loss in security cameras. Some of the most common ones include:
Power surge
A power surge can cause serious damage to your security camera system. The majority of security cameras and video recorders aren’t strong enough to handle a sudden increase in voltage, causing them to either stop working or show static and other interference on the viewing monitor.
To make matters worse, the internal components often get fried when this happens and need to be replaced.
If you end up losing video due to a power surge, chances are that the damage is already done and there’s not much left for you to do other than buy new equipment.
Security camera installation professionals can usually prevent power surges from ruining your system with proper wiring and protection devices. But if you did get hit by this kind of problem, replacement is your only option.
Hard drive corruption
Security camera DVRs and NVRs store footage on hard drives connected to them. These devices play a crucial role in keeping track of events recorded by your security system and allow you to go back and watch any video recording that happened during the past several days or weeks.
A corrupted hard drive will not be able to record or transfer footage, causing any files stored on it to become inaccessible. This problem can happen due to electrical faults, overheating, power outages, and even natural disasters.
The good news is that you can avoid losing video by checking your hard drives regularly for corruption issues. The storage device should be replaced immediately when you find any problems.
Inadequate Power Supply
A sudden power issue can lead to problems and even video loss. However, you can avoid this by always making sure that your security cameras and recorders get proper voltage from the grid.
This is especially crucial when you’re using battery backup for critical surveillance systems. Not getting enough power to run your system in such a situation could result in corrupted firmware, loss of video recordings, and other glitches.
The right solution is to ensure that your backup power supply provides enough amps at the same voltage level as what you get through the main source.
Remote access issues
Another potential reason for video loss in security cameras has to do with remote configuration, monitoring, or management systems. Some home security systems allow you to access your cameras from a smartphone or online.
But sometimes, issues happen with wireless connections or remote servers and users aren’t able to connect to the devices they need. If you can’t get in touch with your security camera system when this happens, expect to lose video recordings stored on it.
In most cases, video loss due to remote access problems can be solved by restarting or resetting the system. If you’re not able to do that on your own, a quick call to a local security camera installation company can help.
Sound recording issues
This is one of the most harmless reasons why your security camera might stop recording video despite being fully functional. Usually, the problem is technical and can be fixed by adjusting how your system records sound.
This can sometimes require a firmware upgrade for your DVR or NVR, which you need to either do on your own by following instructions from the manufacturer’s website or contact a professional for help.
In rare cases, flawed microphones may stop working properly. This is especially true for cameras that are not designed to record a lot of sounds, which is what you might find with some baby monitoring systems.
Faulty wiring
The recording capabilities of your security system rely on proper wiring that facilitates data transfers between your cameras, NVR or DVR, and monitors. Faulty cables can cause video loss in security cameras by blocking this communication process.
Bad cables are often the result of a wiring mistake, but it’s also possible for a good cable to become defective after being chewed on by an animal or damaged in some other way.
To avoid losing video data as a result of poor wiring, double-check your cables and replace them as necessary. This will not only solve the issue you have with your security cameras but also make sure you don’t lose any more videos because of faulty wiring.
Bad system settings
Many issues with security cameras are related to user error. If you fail to set up your devices properly, chances are that you will experience interference or loss of video sooner or later.
To avoid this kind of problem, you must learn about your security system and follow all the instructions listed in the manual step by step.
If you’re not sure how to set up a certain feature on your DVR, NVR, or monitor, ask an expert for help. There are many sources online where you can get free tutorials on using different types of security camera equipment.
Security system software
Your security cameras and DVRs come with their installation CDs and user manuals. You should always use these discs and follow the instructions when adding new equipment to your system or performing any other changes.
If you work directly with files stored on your hard drives, there’s a chance that you will delete them accidentally. Thus, it’s important to make sure your files are always backed up and you have a copy of your system configuration on an external device.
Also, back up the information on your hard drives from time to time to avoid losing video due to disk failure or corruption issues.
For NVRs and DVRs, this process can be automated, and you simply need to set it up once. For mobile DVRs, you will have to back up your files more often since they can get erased or become corrupt quicker than regular NVRs and DVRs.
You should also keep in mind that wireless security cameras are harder to configure than their wired counterparts. These devices require the user to set up each wireless camera separately, which can be complicated for non-tech savvy users.
Security system issues are quite common and if left unattended, they may cause you to lose precious video recordings. However, most of these problems can be prevented by installing your devices properly and maintaining them regularly.
If you follow these steps, you will be able to avoid losing video footage caused by problems with your security system.
How to Fix Video Loss in Home Security Cameras
If you are experiencing some kind of video loss on your home security cameras, there are three possible reasons for this.
The first reason is that the power source feeding electricity to your camera has failed or become disconnected.
This problem can be fixed by checking your cameras for any disconnections in the wiring and making sure they’re securely connected to a working power supply.
The second reason your cameras may be losing their video feed is an issue with the hardware itself. If a camera has been hit by a heavy object or severely shaken, its internals can become loose and the resulting movement will cause a loss of a video feed from that camera alone.
To fix this problem, you will need to open your camera and make sure all the internal components are secure.
The last reason for this problem is a hardware issue on your DVR, NVR, or monitor. In this case, other devices connected to the same system will likely experience a loss of video feed as well.
To determine whether your equipment has failed, check your cameras for a video feed.
If you can see the video signal, this means there’s an issue with the hardware on your DVR or NVR.
However, if all of your cameras are experiencing a loss of signal, it may be caused by software issues affecting every device in your system.
In most cases, this kind of problem can be fixed by rebooting your hardware and verifying that all the latest firmware versions are installed.
There are also cases when a video loss issue is caused by interference or signal problems.
For example, if you’re using wireless security cameras in an area with strong Wi-Fi signals, it’s possible to experience signal interference and video loss.
In this case, you should move your cameras to another location where they can be placed away from strong Wi-Fi signals or increase the distance between your router and the wireless security camera’s receiving antenna.
These problems can also be caused by signal reflection, which is when a wireless device sends back signals it receives instead of sending them to its actual destination.
To fix this problem, you will need to reposition your wireless surveillance cameras or change the installation location altogether.
How to Fix Home Security System Problems without a DVR
One of the biggest advantages of using security systems with built-in DVRs is that they allow you to manage and record video footage without requiring any additional hardware.
However, if you’re using security cameras or surveillance systems that don’t have a DVR, you will need an independent machine to manage your video recordings.
In this case, it’s important to keep the recording device near the system and connect it directly to power for uninterrupted operation.
If you have a recording device that can record footage onto an SD card, backing up your files to the cloud is another option.
While online storage offers many benefits, it’s important to remember that uploading video files takes time and you will not be able to monitor live activity while the videos are being uploaded.
How to Fix Home Security Cameras for Outdoor Use
Security cameras designed for outdoor use are specifically made to resist a wide range of external conditions and keep working in any weather.
However, there are still some things you should know about using these types of cameras in extreme environmental conditions.
For example, when installing security cameras meant for cold weather, it’s important to ensure that the cable connecting the camera to its power supply is made of a material that can resist cold temperatures without breaking.
In most cases, it’s best to use cables specifically designed for outdoor use or exposed wiring protected by a thick plastic coating.
It’s also important to remember that wireless security cameras are not suitable for all types of weather conditions because strong winds or heavy rain can interfere with the signal.
Finally, you will need to keep in mind that snow can accumulate on your outdoor security cameras and cause them to fall.
Many models are specifically designed to protect against this kind of damage, but if your camera is not one of them, you should to regularly check for ice buildup or snow accumulation.
How to Fix Home Security Camera Installation Problems
Home security cameras are designed to help you keep an eye on your property and protect it against external threats, but what happens when they don’t work as expected?
In most cases, installation problems can be fixed by checking the cables and ensuring that they are connected properly or replacing faulty components.
However, even the best security cameras are susceptible to damage caused by lightning strikes.
When lightning hits your home, it can cause power surges that affect your entire electrical grid and knock out devices connected to it.
This type of voltage fluctuation is very strong and can easily destroy the sensitive circuitry found inside security cameras or surveillance systems.
If your camera was affected by a lightning strike, it’s usually best to contact the manufacturer and have them repair or replace it.
In most cases, faulty home security camera systems are caused by simple installation issues that can be easily fixed if you know what to do.
What Causes Video Loss In Security Cameras? Conclusion
One of the most common problems homeowners face when they install security cameras is losing video feed.
This issue can be caused by a large number of things, from wireless connection problems to lightning strikes and power surges.
In this article, we explained some of the most common causes of video loss in security cameras. We also offered effective solutions for fixing them.