SPTZ video intermittent

JPmedia

Getting comfortable
Sep 11, 2024
495
357
Florida
I have 2 SPTZ cameras that have been having freezing video feeds and going black intermittently lately. They both are powered with 12-volt power supplies which came with the cameras. It seems to be more prevalent when the outside temperature drops below 50 degrees. Do you think it could be the power supplies that are failing? Seems odd that 2 of them would have supply problems at the same exact time. Both supplies are in conditioned space.

They are both the same Lorex LNZ44P12B cameras. One has been in service for 4 years and the other was a NOS camera purchased at a great price and installed within the last 2 months

Any thoughts?
 
Are they both being powered by a POE+ switch or by 12VDC power supplies??
Each camera requires a minimum of 26 watts.
 
Are they both being powered by a POE+ switch or by 12VDC power supplies??
Each camera requires a minimum of 26 watts.
Both are powered by their own 12-volt supply which came with the cameras. I believe the supplies are 2.5 or 3 amps
 
Well, I ordered 2 new power supplies. 12 volts at 5 amps. We'll see if that helps with the issue or not. Even if they don't, I can repurpose them for IR blasters ;)
 
Well, I ordered 2 new power supplies. 12 volts at 5 amps. We'll see if that helps with the issue or not. Even if they don't, I can repurpose them for IR blasters ;)
I was thinking, what with the humidity if FL, that you clean the inside and outside of both camera's male 12VDC power jack and then coat both the male and female power connectors, inside and out, with dielectric grease. They may have developed some corrosion, which causes resistance and subsequent voltage drop which, in turn produces heat. Add some changes in ambient temps and this may have been part of the problem.

Even if the problems goes away with the new power supplies the dielectric grease can help a lot down the road, assuming you've already taken take steps to shield them from direct exposure to the elements and have weather-proofed them before now. :cool:
 
If you're getting video via Ethernet / CAT cable then the same applies to the RJ-45 male and female connections and issues with corrosion; I'd clean first with DeoxIT D5, then squirt the dielectric grease in them as well...

Don't get the dielectric grease in your eyes, wash hands well after using!
 
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I was thinking, what with the humidity if FL, that you clean the inside and outside of both camera's male 12VDC power jack and then coat both the male and female power connectors, inside and out, with dielectric grease. They may have developed some corrosion, which causes resistance and subsequent voltage drop which, in turn produces heat. Add some changes in ambient temps and this may have been part of the problem.

Even if the problems goes away with the new power supplies the dielectric grease can help a lot down the road, assuming you've already taken take steps to shield them from direct exposure to the elements and have weather-proofed them before now. :cool:
I can't say it is a corrosion issue on the NOS SPTZ that was just installed in December. It was a new location with new all copper CAT6 and 16/2 copper power wire which is only about 15 feet long to the outlet. That could be an issue with the older installed SPTZ mounted on a pole as that one was installed in December of 2020, but I can't say that would be it. In hot, humid weather, the old installed camera has no freezing or dropouts. Its only when the weather gets cold - below 50 degrees. As it gets colder, the frequency of freezing and video dropout increases. At below 40 degrees the video dropout/freezing or offline activity gets really annoying
 
I can't say it is a corrosion issue on the NOS SPTZ that was just installed in December. It was a new location with new all copper CAT6 and 16/2 copper power wire which is only about 15 feet long to the outlet. That could be an issue with the older installed SPTZ mounted on a pole as that one was installed in December of 2020, but I can't say that would be it. In hot, humid weather, the old installed camera has no freezing or dropouts. Its only when the weather gets cold - below 50 degrees. As it gets colder, the frequency of freezing and video dropout increases. At below 40 degrees the video dropout/freezing or offline activity gets really annoying
Metallic contacts contract (say THAT 4 times quickly) as they get colder, posssibly causing a mechanical issue. I wouldn't rule it out just because it sounds too simple. :cool:
 
Metallic contacts contract (say THAT 4 times quickly) as they get colder, posssibly causing a mechanical issue. I wouldn't rule it out just because it sounds too simple. :cool:
Just wondering why it's only these 2 cameras with the issue. There are 2 more PTZ cameras and 10 regular cameras that have none of the dropout/freezing video issues. Puzzling
 
There are 2 more PTZ cameras and 10 regular cameras that have none of the dropout/freezing video issues. Puzzling
That's good info that would have served well in your first post, IMO..... :cool:
 
Do you happen to use Micro SD cards in the cameras? I have seen in the past issues where drop out can be hard to find at times because the normal causes of the issues was ruled out but still had issues.. Just to find out that the cameras issues all along was Micro SD cards.. If they are used and have another method of recording footage. Just remove the cards to see if the issue is still there.. Again cards can be all bought and installed the same time and still have only 1 or 2 that might fail.. Then as said before, Power supply issues, and or Wiring issues.. Also need to make sure that the wires used are real copper wiring. There are a lot of people that sale fake Cat5e or 6a wires with TIA/EIA and or UL listings on the cables even though CCA and fake wiring could never get such listings.. Also the cable connected to the camera can fail. Some times just having the cables free air hanging can damage the cables and make the cameras go bad sometimes it is like stranded wires where all but 2 are still connected and different times of day or different things happening with cold or heat can make these connections not transfer the data and or have power loss.. If this goes on to long can even damage the cameras circuit and will have to replace or have repaired if you knew someone that could do such in your area..

Also just different factors can change the ability for cameras to work. Maybe the other PTZ have better cable management, better Ethernet ends and or not twisted or pulled ethernet cabling from install or over time use.. There are a lot of factors in what and why something can fail.. If using CCA cables anywhere in your camera setup.. Will want to get it replaced before it ends up costing you more in the long run from damages caused to your POE Cameras.. I would rather have to pull new real copper wires then worry about replacing some of the costly cameras that I have on the other end of the cables..

But yeah if you happen to have Micro SD cards installed. I would see if the issue goes away after removing them or replacing them as another thing to look at.. Has happened to me even using WD Purple cards..
 
Only the two LPR cameras have SD cards, the rest have no cards.

The cable I used is the following: Amazon.com

All cables are made from the above CAT6 wire.
 
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