Fermax Doorbell Night Vision Not Working? A Troubleshooting Guide
Your Fermax video doorbell is a crucial tool for seeing who is at your door, day or night. When its night vision capability fails, you lose a significant layer of security and convenience. A dark, grainy, or completely black video feed at night can be frustrating and defeats the purpose of a 24/7 doorbell camera.
This guide is designed to help you diagnose and resolve common night vision problems with your Fermax doorbell. We'll cover everything from simple fixes to more technical issues, all in a professional and helpful tone, using British English.
## Step 1: Clean the Doorbell Lens
This is the simplest yet most common solution. Over time, your doorbell is exposed to the elements, and the lens cover can accumulate a thin layer of dust, dirt, pollen, or water spots.
- The Problem: The infrared (IR) LEDs that enable night vision are located around the camera lens. When this light is emitted, it hits the dirt on the lens cover and reflects straight back into the camera. This IR bounce-back creates a hazy, foggy, or blurry image and can cause a strong glare that obscures the view.
- The Solution: Take a clean, dry microfibre cloth (the kind used for cleaning spectacles) and gently but thoroughly wipe the entire front surface of your Fermax doorbell, paying special attention to the camera lens area. Avoid using harsh chemicals or abrasive materials, as they could scratch the plastic.
## Step 2: Check the Surrounding Environment
The environment around your doorbell can significantly impact night vision performance.
- Ambient Lighting: Is there a very bright porch light located right next to or above the doorbell? The doorbell has a light sensor that tells it when to switch to night mode. If this sensor is flooded with light from another source, it may not register that it's dark outside and therefore won't activate the IR LEDs. Try turning off the external light to test if the night vision engages.
- Reflective Surfaces: Is your doorbell mounted facing a wall or a large, light-coloured pillar? Similar to a dirty lens, a close-by surface can cause the IR light to bounce back into the lens, washing out the image. While you may not be able to relocate the doorbell easily, being aware of this can explain certain image quality issues.
## Step 3: Verify Power and Battery Status
The IR illumination system requires a stable power source to function correctly.
- Battery Powered Models: If your Fermax doorbell is battery-powered, a critically low battery level can cause the device to enter a low-power state where non-essential features, like the IR LEDs, are disabled to conserve energy for basic functions. Ensure your doorbell's battery is adequately charged.
- Hardwired Models: Even with a hardwired doorbell, issues with the transformer or wiring can lead to an insufficient power supply. If you are experiencing other issues, like frequent disconnections or resets, it could point to an underlying power problem that is also affecting the night vision.
## Step 4: Check Settings in the Fermax App
It's possible that a setting has been inadvertently changed within the companion app for your doorbell.
- Open the Fermax app on your smartphone.
- Select your video doorbell to go to its main screen.
- Find the 'Settings' or 'Configuration' menu (often represented by a gear icon).
- Look for video or display settings.
- Ensure that the Night Vision setting is toggled On or, more commonly, set to Auto. If it has been manually turned off, it will never activate.
## Step 5: Reboot the Device
Like any piece of smart technology, a simple reboot can often resolve temporary software glitches.
- How to Reboot: If your model is battery-powered, you may be able to remove the battery for 30 seconds and then reinsert it. For hardwired models, you may need to temporarily turn off the corresponding circuit at your home's breaker box for a minute before turning it back on. This will force the doorbell to restart its internal software and may resolve the issue.
If after trying all these steps your night vision is still not working, it may indicate a more serious hardware fault with the camera's IR LEDs or sensor, and you may need to contact Fermax support for further assistance.