Dahua cam shuts off at night

[MMILLERPHOTO]

I recently upgraded my system with Andy.
It's just four cameras now with a Loryta NVR4108P-4KL 8 Channel Smart 1U 1HDD 8PoE Network Video Recorder. The two cams mounted on my home are working fine. The two on the external garage have issues. Cam3 doesn't work at all. Other cams connected to that line haven't worked, either. During last night's snowstorm, I did see that the IR was one (from another cam). The alley camera, Cam4, which is the EmpireTech IPC-T5442T-ZE, is the real mystery to me. When it gets dark, it often flickers color and BW, and then I lose connection. Sometimes it will go on at night for a little bit (like if the motion light kicks on), then goes off again. No feed. For some reason, it's only clocking at 10mbs, while the ones on the house are 100mbs. I'm using the old cable that existed, but have replaced the connections multiple times. They are running underground. I'd say the line to the alley is about 60' with an extra 10-20' extra. I've just set things up on the NVR because I want to keep it simple. I use Apple/IOS, and didn't want to overcomplicate things with the setup. Yet, here I am!

Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Teken]

I recently upgraded my system with Andy.
It's just four cameras now with a Loryta NVR4108P-4KL 8 Channel Smart 1U 1HDD 8PoE Network Video Recorder. The two cams mounted on my home are working fine. The two on the external garage have issues. Cam3 doesn't work at all. Other cams connected to that line haven't worked, either. During last night's snowstorm, I did see that the IR was one (from another cam). The alley camera, Cam4, which is the EmpireTech IPC-T5442T-ZE, is the real mystery to me. When it gets dark, it often flickers color and BW, and then I lose connection. Sometimes it will go on at night for a little bit (like if the motion light kicks on), then goes off again. No feed. For some reason, it's only clocking at 10mbs, while the ones on the house are 100mbs. I'm using the old cable that existed, but have replaced the connections multiple times. They are running underground. I'd say the line to the alley is about 60' with an extra 10-20' extra. I've just set things up on the NVR because I want to keep it simple. I use Apple/IOS, and didn't want to overcomplicate things with the setup. Yet, here I am!

Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

First step is to disconnect one of working cameras from the NVR and insert it into the problem one. If the camera shows video from that unit the POE port is fine. If on the other hand you see the same problem that indicates there's an issue that needs to be resolved on the NVR.

Keep in mind lots of NVR's bind (lock) a camera to a port once set up and connected.

So be prepared to having to make some changes or reset the entire NVR to allow you to See the new camera. The next step is to test the ethernet run for continuity, resistance, and wiring. If you don't have a cheap tester go buy one now as it will serve you now and into the future to determine / isolate root cause.

Those are the two first steps besides running another (brand new) cable directly to the camera. Ideally, you would take down one of the camera's and bring it inside and connect it to a new cable to see how it operates. If the camera comes up fine you just confirmed the POE port is fine and isolated the problem to the existing cable run.

 

[MMILLERPHOTO]

Thank you for your thoughts.I did have video on all the cameras, previously. And on Cam3, I did try a working camera on the cable last month, and the new camera worked, but now I can't get any cam to work on that line. When the snow stops, I will pull Cam3, bring it inside and try it on different cable. Should I keep it on same PoE port, or try a new one. Seems like I may need to reset my NVR. Any thoughts on why Cam4 stops working at night?

 

[sebastiantombs]

A casual observation. IMHO you have problems with the cables, not the cameras or NVR. If the cameras that are giving you trouble are outside, weather exposed, did you weatherproof the RJ connection? That means more than just the gland/housing being used. That gland should be wrapped with self amalgamating tape then wrapped again with quality electrical tape. Both tapes need to extend past the gland and onto the cable. Before plugging the cable in, it should also get a dab of dielectric grease to protect the pins from any moisture. Even condensation from temperature changes can upset your apple cart.

 

[fenderman]

Either a bad cable or bad crimp. The cams are likely getting enough power and fail when the IR kicks in drawing more. Did you use the 568 standard when crimping? Take the camera inside and test with a premade cable.

 

[Teken]

Thank you for your thoughts.I did have video on all the cameras, previously. And on Cam3, I did try a working camera on the cable last month, and the new camera worked, but now I can't get any cam to work on that line. When the snow stops, I will pull Cam3, bring it inside and try it on different cable. Should I keep it on same PoE port, or try a new one. Seems like I may need to reset my NVR. Any thoughts on why Cam4 stops working at night?

To keep things simple and offer a 1:1 environment just pull the camera down and connect it to the existing POE port with a new premade cable. Again, if the camera comes up you just validated the NVR / Port is fine using a new cable. If on the other hand if the camera doesn't come up while using a new ethernet cable the NVR should be reviewed for internal settings.

You obviously could wire the camera to another POE port but note the caveat of having to reset the NVR if the system is locked / bind'ed to the existing one.

Good luck . . .

 

[MMILLERPHOTO]

I left the alley camera and pulled Cam3 from the garage. You guys were correct- the camera works inside on a premade cable on the same PoE port next to the NVR. @fenderman I did use 568 standard and also redid it a few times (I hate the jelly-filled cables). Here's an odd by-product-- after I moved Cam3 inside, the alley camera (Cam4) went from 10mbs to 100mbs. And it now stays on at night. I have two cables that are running in conduit (at least it is conduit from house to ground and then from ground to garage), one for each cam. Is it possible that the Cam3 line has a short or something and is causing interference with the Cam4 line? @sebastiantombs the RJ connections are not weatherproofed since they are on the inside of my garage. Thanks again for continuing to help me troubleshoot this.

 

[NightLife]

In the web UI of the NVR can you test for shorts in the cables?

 

[Teken]

If you had an Ethernet tester you could verify the wiring is correct - buy one. If you have a DMM (Digital Multi Meter) cut one end of the cable off and twist like pairs together.

Using your DMM measure both continuity and resistance of each pair. This is made easier by a few simple tools as seen here. Any serious DIY’er / Field Tech will have such tools on hand to allow a single person to accomplish the tests listed up above.

The five RJ45’s you see below are Loop Back 100 / 1000 GB plugs and NOT intended for shorting wires but wanted to offer you an example of such and how to mimic the same.

Below that are a Wago connector, RJ-45 female coupler, and Ethernet cable. All three will allow you to accomplish the same (shorting) of the wire pairs to complete the diagnostic measurements.

 

[MMILLERPHOTO]

I found a tester (didn't know they existed. Thanks!), and I got "miswire." I redid the ends and got "miswire" again. Obviously, I would not be posting this if I was an expert, but I've redone the ends a number of times on this cable, and I managed to do the other three cameras just fine. I am thinking I need to pull the cable and replace it. But I wanted to ask the experts first. Thanks, crew.

 

[Teken]

I found a tester (didn't know they existed. Thanks!), and I got "miswire." I redid the ends and got "miswire" again. Obviously, I would not be posting this if I was an expert, but I've redone the ends a number of times on this cable, and I managed to do the other three cameras just fine. I am thinking I need to pull the cable and replace it. But I wanted to ask the experts first. Thanks, crew.

Test a brand new premade cable and confirm it shows all is good. If it does you know the tester operates as expected and you have a miswire present.

This is what the cable would look like using a T568B standard:

 

[Steve.L]

And just to clarify regarding the image above, the clip would be AWAY from you, with the smooth side and contacts facing you.

 

[Alaska Country]

Here is how I do my cables.

 

[Teken]

And just to clarify regarding the image above, the clip would be AWAY from you, with the smooth side and contacts facing you.

I should have up loaded a better picture as the other member did - my apologies!

 

[Steve.L]

We knew what you meant

 

[MMILLERPHOTO]

Thank you guys. I’ve got it wired properly. And I’ve used new cables to test. And I’m getting a miswire on the line. I’ve bought some new cable. When it warms up, I’ll run the line and report back. Hopefully then I’ll be set to focus on optimizing things. At least this is my least important camera.