Subscriber Discussion

Solved: What Is Causing My Cameras To Fail During The Day?

Avatar
CAPTAIN RAVINDER REDDY
Jun 02, 2015

Can somebody help in finding out the reason for outage of Images during the Day.

The temperature in open areas is around 45 degrees centigrade.

When we asked the integrator the reason for camera failure, he stated that the Media converter in the Junction box are failing due to high ambient temperature in the junction box.

The supplier of junction boxes does not agree with this. The temperature rating for media converters is 50 degrees centigrade and hence the problem is due to cameras.

The Cameras Manufacturer does not agree to this as he also states that the Outdoor cameras are tested for high temperatures.

How to resolve the issue

Can anybody throw some light on the problem?

Update:

The real problem was the power supply adapter for Media Converter which is converting the AC to DC is getting disconnected whenever there were vibrations dut to gusty winds. The moment the power adapter connection is disturbed the power supply is disrupted and the video signals are abruptly terminated.

TC
Trisha (Chris' wife) Dearing
Jun 02, 2015
IPVMU Certified

Hey Capt!

What do you got for part numbers? Including any switches.
Are there multiple camera/media converter units failing and how often?
When does the image come back, at night/reboot?

JK
Jayant Kumar
Jun 02, 2015

When the weather report says that the temperature was 45 deg Celsius, it refers to temperature in the shade. The temperature under the open sun could be higher by about 5 to 10 deg Celsius. Additionally, the camera would be generating its own heat, which though small may be enough to take the final temperature within the housing to a point where some component malfunctions. Bring the camera into the shade to check what happens.

JH
John Honovich
Jun 02, 2015
IPVM

What is the camera model specifically? And what temperature is it rated at?

(1)
U
Undisclosed #1
Jun 02, 2015

There are two ways that temperature specs are commonly used:

1) "If you take this device and place it in an environment that is 50C or lower it will operate fine."

2) "If the air temperature of the device is kept at 50C or lower it will operate fine."

Most ratings are specifying 2, while most sales people are specifying 1.

45C is awfully close to the max temp rating of the devices. Did you measure 45C at the devices themsevles, or is that just an outdoor temp reading from the general area?

I'd try to get a contactless infrared temperature sensor and find what temp the actual devices are running at. With sunload and standard rise-over-ambient temp the devices are probably running above 50C.

Does the media converter connect to a managed switch? Do you get link loss on the switch when the issue occurs? When the failure happens can you plug another network device into the media converter and do a ping test? If you can troubleshoot while the failure is occuring I would think you could narrow it down pretty fast.

Avatar
Mark Jones
Jun 02, 2015

Captain, what do you mean by failing? Can you describe what is happening? With all due respect your description is rather broad. Do you have no video, and are you sure of that? Have the cameras been tested right at the camera to see if they are working? When you say "media converter" what specifically are you referring to? With a bit more information there are some pretty good trouble-shooters here. Step one is to test the cameras during the outage. If you have video out of the camera, trace the signal backwards until you find where the signal stops. That is your trouble spot. When you find it, whatever it is, we need to know as much about that device(s) as possible. Also, where (approximately) on this earth are you located? 45 degrees celsius is 113 degrees F, and that is high for most equipment as a constant ambient temperature. It sounds like your integrator has an idea. He has done all of this and identified the media converters. Mr. Kumar is correct, the published temperature means little in extended direct sunlight. On an average 95 degree day, the temperature poolside often pegs my thermometer at 120 and stays there.

Any item placed in direct sunlight by default becomes a heat sink. It absorbs heat and retains it. That's why cameras housing for years have been furnished sunshields. They reflect the direct sunlight off of the housing.

I think if you will take a closer look at the specifications of all of the equipment, there will be a plus/minus factor. Without futher information, it sounds like you are in that "zone" where the plus of one piece overlaps with the minus of another.

Please keep us posted. We all enjoy a good treasure hunt.

(2)
Avatar
CAPTAIN RAVINDER REDDY
Jun 03, 2015

Thanks to all those who have posted the fault finding and possible causes.

After going through all the posts on the problem, we again had a brainstorming and analysed the problems one by one.

We realised that the real problem was not due to over heating or high temperatures.

Because after one week of high temperature recording in our city, the weather has changed and the recorded temperatures have shown a steady decrease. But the disruption in video signals continued.

This made us to think about other reasons.

The real problem was the power supply adapter for Media Converter which is converting the AC to DC is getting disconnected whenever there were vibrations dut to gusty winds. The moment the power adapter connection is disturbed the power supply is disrupted and the video signals are abruptly terminated.

We have decided to change the adapters and in the next couple of days we expect the system to be back on track.

I will share with you the results

One of the member asked about the high temperature. I am in the City of Hyderabad, India. Normally during summer the Temperature recorded in our City is 42 degrees centigrade. But this year it is unusually high and touch 45 degrees.

Thanks to all the members who have shared their views and knowledge on the fault finding

Capt Ravinder Reddy

Avatar
Mark Jones
Jun 03, 2015

Thanks for the update Sir. We Like to know what the problems turn out to be. Power is often a culprit. Much abilidged.

New discussion

Ask questions and get answers to your physical security questions from IPVM team members and fellow subscribers.

Newest discussions