Annke Night Vision Not Working? An Easy Troubleshooting Guide
A security camera's ability to see in the dark is one of its most critical features. If your Annke camera fails to switch to night vision, leaving you with a useless black screen, your property is left unprotected overnight. Fortunately, most night vision problems are caused by a few common issues that are easy to fix.
This guide will take you through the essential checks to diagnose and resolve your Annke camera's night vision failure.
Common Symptoms of a Night Vision Problem
- The camera's image is pitch black in low-light conditions.
- The small infrared (IR) LEDs around the lens do not have a faint red glow at night.
- The picture at night is very fuzzy, grainy, or out of focus.
- The camera fails to switch from its colour daytime mode to the black and white night mode.
- You see a 'spider web' or halo effect in the video feed, especially at night.
How to Fix Your Annke Camera's Night Vision
Follow these steps in order to find and fix the source of the problem.
1. Check and Clean the Camera Lens
The simplest solution is often the most effective. Over time, the camera's lens can become obscured.
- Clean the Lens: Use a clean, soft microfibre cloth to gently wipe away any dust, dirt, or spider webs from the camera's lens and the IR LED cover. Grime can block the IR light or cause it to reflect back, severely degrading the image quality.
- Check for Condensation: Ensure there is no moisture or condensation trapped inside the camera's housing, as this can also block the lens.
2. Verify the Power Supply
The IR LEDs that enable night vision require a certain amount of power to function.
- Use the Right Adapter: Make sure you are using the power supply that came with your Annke camera, or one with the correct voltage and amperage rating. An underpowered adapter may run the camera in day mode but fail to power the IRs at night.
- Check Power Cables: If you are using a long extension cable, it could be causing a voltage drop. Try plugging the camera directly into the original power adapter near a socket to see if the night vision activates.
3. Power Cycle the Camera
A hard reboot is a classic IT fix for a reason—it works. This is particularly effective if the camera's internal IR cut filter is stuck.
- Unplug the Camera: Disconnect the camera from its power source.
- Wait 30-60 Seconds: Allow enough time for all the internal components to fully discharge.
- Plug It Back In: Reconnect the power and allow the camera to complete its boot-up sequence. This process can often jolt a stuck mechanical filter back into place.
4. Review the Camera's Settings
It's possible that the camera has been manually set to stay in 'Day' or 'Colour' mode.
- Access Camera Settings: Log into your Annke DVR/NVR or the camera's web interface.
- Find Image/Display Settings: Navigate to the menu that controls the camera's image settings. Look for a 'Day/Night' or 'IR Light' setting.
- Set to 'Auto': Ensure the setting is on 'Auto'. This allows the camera to use its built-in light sensor to automatically switch between day and night modes. If it's set to 'Day', it will never switch to night vision.
5. Remove Sources of IR Glare
If your night image is visible but has a large white, washed-out area, this is IR glare.
- Check for Reflections: This is caused by the camera's own IR light bouncing off a very close object (like a wall, a windowsill, or the eaves of your roof) and flooding the lens.
- Reposition the Camera: Adjust the camera's angle slightly to move the reflective surface out of the immediate foreground of the shot. This can make a dramatic difference to night-time clarity.