Lorex Night Vision Not Working? A Simple Solution Guide
When darkness falls, your Lorex camera's night vision is its most important feature. If you find your camera is blind in the dark, showing a black or unusably grainy image, your security is compromised. Most of the time, this issue is caused by a simple problem that you can fix yourself.
This guide will help you diagnose the reason for your Lorex night vision failure and provide clear, step-by-step instructions to get it working again.
What Do Night Vision Problems Look Like?
You might be experiencing one of these common symptoms:
- A completely black video feed after sunset.
- The infrared (IR) LEDs on the camera do not emit a faint red glow in the dark.
- The night-time image is extremely dim, grainy, or lacks any detail.
- The camera stays in full-colour mode at night instead of switching to black and white IR mode.
- A large, bright white spot or halo effect is washing out most of the picture.
How to Troubleshoot and Fix Lorex Night Vision
Let's start with the easiest and most common solutions first.
1. Power Cycle the Camera
The classic "turn it off and on again" method is highly effective for night vision issues. It can often resolve a temporary glitch or a stuck internal component.
- Disconnect Power: Unplug the power adapter for the camera from the wall socket. If it's a Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) camera, unplug the network cable from the NVR or PoE switch.
- Wait: Leave the camera unplugged for at least 60 seconds. This ensures it fully powers down.
- Reconnect: Plug the camera back in and give it a few minutes to boot up and reconnect to the system. Test its night vision performance once it's dark.
2. Clean the Camera Lens
A dirty lens is a primary cause of poor-quality night vision.
- Wipe it Down: Use a clean, soft microfibre cloth to wipe away any dust, smudges, or spider webs from the glass covering the lens and IR lights.
- Avoid Abrasives: Do not use harsh cleaning chemicals or rough materials, as these can permanently scratch the lens cover.
- Check for Moisture: Ensure no condensation has formed on the inside of the lens, as this indicates a problem with the camera's seal.
3. Check for IR Glare and Obstructions
If your image is visible but washed out, it's likely being blinded by its own IR light.
- Look for Reflections: The infrared light from the camera can bounce off close objects, such as a white wall, a soffit, a gutter, or a window frame. This reflected light floods the lens, making the rest of the image dark.
- Reposition the Camera: Try to angle the camera slightly away from any nearby surfaces. Even a small adjustment can often completely eliminate IR glare and dramatically improve the night vision image.
4. Verify Power Requirements
The IR LEDs need sufficient power to illuminate an area.
- Use Original Cables: Always use the Lorex-provided power adapter and cables where possible.
- Check Cable Length: If you're using a very long extension cable, the voltage might drop before it reaches the camera. Test the camera with a shorter cable to see if the night vision improves. For PoE cameras, ensure your cable run is within the 100-metre (300-foot) limit.
5. Check Camera Settings
Ensure the camera is set to automatically switch to night mode.
- Access Settings: Log into your Lorex NVR or the camera's direct web interface.
- Find Day/Night Mode: Navigate to the camera's image settings.
- Ensure it's on 'Auto': The setting for Day/Night mode should be set to 'Auto' or 'B/W'. If it has been manually set to 'Colour' or 'Day', it will not activate the IR lights.
By following these troubleshooting steps, you can solve the vast majority of Lorex night vision problems and ensure your property remains visible and protected, day and night.