IP cameras are part of the modern security system. It is important to keep the devices working smoothly, so the system is capable of providing the live video for monitoring and footage recording 24/7. This article would provide some guides about where to check when a IP camera stop working.
It is common practical to use PoE switch in IP camera system. The PoE technology can supply power and data over single Ethernet cable to reduce the cable usage. It saves installation time and cost eventually.
The PoE switch usually has two indicated LED with each ports. There indicator are helpful tool to diagnose the status of cameras.
The Power LEDs is ON
The power ports should be continuous ON when the PoE switch is sending out the power. If the power LED is ON but, but no live video shows on the monitor. Simple dis-connect the Ethernet cable from the PoE switch and plug it back. This operation will turn off the power and force the camera to reboot. Sometimes the IP cameras get hangs or freezes after long time operation. Reboot the camera will bring it back online.
- The Power LEDs switch between ON/OFF
If the power LED keeps switching between ON-OFF slowly, which means the switch detects the IP camera. For some reason, the switch refuses to release the power. In IEEE802.3, the PoE switch has to detect and classify the IP camera before sending out the full power. This PD signature process guarantees the power is being sent to the right place.
There are some possible reasons causes PoE switch refusing to release the power.
The IP camera goes defective is one of them. Fo example, the network IC is damaged by power surge which causes the ultra-low current or ultra-high current if the camera gets short Circuit.
The Ethernet cable also may trigger the PoE switch refusing power. The maximum cable distance is 100 meter between the switch and camera. However if the low quality cable is used, that distance will shorten sharply. When the cable is longer than expected, the power will loss inline and converts to the heat. The consequence result is the voltage drop. When the voltage is too low, it can’t start up the IP camera. In order to roll out this possibility, use DC12V power adaptor to supply the camera, see whether the video get back online or not.
The RJ45 connector needs to be checked for reliability. Use test meter to measure the integrity of the Ethernet cable. If the connector is not reliable or the cable is broken somewhere, the test meters will give you the results immediately.
Once the power LEDs is on, the data indicator should keep flashing when there is data forwarding and exchanging. Usually the flashing speed depends on how much data the camera sending out. For example, the PoE camera is linked to network, but no activated client software watching this camera. The data indicator flashing becomes slowly. Once you start watching the live video, it will flash fast. One of the special case is the data indicator flashing extremely fast even no connection to the camera. It causes by defective network IC in the camera.
- Data indicator OFF
If the data indicator is completely off. Disconnect the Ethernet cable and plug it back, check how both LEDs behavior. If the power LEDs is ON but data LEDs never turn ON, The camera module is failed. The power module is independents from the camera module. As long as the power module is working, the camera will receive the power, but can’t produce the video.
Both indicators LEDs works
If both indicators flash correctly, there is no video on the monitor. Check the network setting of IP camera. See whether the camera has unique IP address or not. If double use the same IP address while adding new network devices to the network. It will create the IP address conflicts in the system. Next possible reason is some of the IP camera may return to the default IP address automatically after long term operating. Use the discover tools on software or NVR can discover all the available camera in the same network. Add the camera back to the system if that is the case.
If inspecting with above steps is too much bother, visual PoE switch could provide help.
Compared with convenient PoE switch, visual PoE switch has a LCD screen which can display all the connected devices with operating status, such as power and data situations, traffic flow and connections in real-time. While the PoE IP cameras go wrong, checking the visual smart PoE switch screen, you would get the information about which cameras have problems and what the problem it is. Locate the cause and deal with it quickly. Watch the video below to know how visual PoE switch works.