A black screen can come from the camera, its power supply, the cable, the recorder channel or just the monitor. The trick is to narrow it down: is it one camera or all of them, day and night or only at night, on the monitor and the phone or only one of them?
Key takeaways
- One camera black: usually its power, cable or the camera.
- All cameras black: usually the recorder, the monitor/HDMI, or power to the whole system.
- Black only at night: IR failure or a light problem, not a dead camera.
- Black on the monitor but fine on the phone: display or HDMI issue.
01Narrow it down
| What you see | Most likely area |
|---|---|
| One camera shows 'No video' / black | That camera's power, cable or connector |
| All cameras black on the monitor, fine on the phone | Monitor, HDMI/VGA cable or display settings |
| All cameras black everywhere | Recorder or its power, or shared camera power supply |
| Black only at night | IR LEDs, IR cut filter or scene lighting |
| Picture rolls, lines or noise (HD/coax) | Poor coax connectors (BNC) or interference |
02Safe checks you can do
- 01Compare monitor and phoneDoes the camera show in the app?
- 02Check the recorder's power and lightsIs it on? Any alarm beeping?
- 03Check the camera's power supplyHD cameras often share one power box; is it on?
- 04Restart the recorderPower it down properly, then back on
- 05Note when it startedAfter a storm, power cut or building work?
03When to call a professional
If checks don't restore the picture, cables, connectors and power supplies need testing with instruments. Qyvea's CCTV repair service covers cameras, recorders and cabling, including systems another company installed.
04Frequently asked questions
Why does my CCTV say 'No video'?
The recorder isn't receiving a signal on that channel: usually the camera has no power, or the cable or connector is faulty.
Why are all my cameras black after a power cut?
Power surges can damage camera power supplies or the recorder. Check the shared power supply and the recorder first.
Why is my camera black only at night?
The infrared LEDs or the IR cut filter may have failed, or there's no light for a colour camera.
