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How to Check if Your Security Camera is Receiving Power: A Complete Troubleshooting Guide

  • Writer: Administrator A
    Administrator A
  • Jan 19
  • 3 min read

Is your security camera feed showing a "No Signal" screen or a black image? Before you assume the camera is broken, the first thing you need to verify is whether it’s actually receiving power. Power issues are the #1 cause of surveillance system downtime.

In this guide, we’ll walk through the most effective ways to check your camera’s power status—from simple visual tricks to professional diagnostic tools.

1. The "Glow" Test: Check for Infrared (IR) LEDs

Most modern security cameras are equipped with night vision. When the environment gets dark, the camera activates its Infrared (IR) LEDs.

  • How to do it: Wait until it’s dark (or turn off the lights if indoors) and look at the front of the camera lens.

  • What to look for: You should see a faint, steady red glow coming from small bulbs surrounding the lens.

  • Pro Tip: If it’s daylight and you want to check immediately, cup your hands around the camera lens to block out all light. After a few seconds, you should hear a faint "click" (the IR cut filter switching) and see the red LEDs light up.

2. Check the Status Indicator Lights

Many IP and Wi-Fi cameras (like those from Hikvision, Reolink, or Arlo) have a small Status LED on the back or bottom of the housing.

  • Solid Green/Blue: The camera is powered on and connected to the network.

  • Blinking Light: Usually indicates the camera has power but is struggling to connect to the Wi-Fi or NVR.

  • No Light: If the status LED is completely dark, the camera is likely not receiving any electricity.

3. Verify Power at the Source (NVR or PoE Switch)

If you are using PoE (Power over Ethernet), your camera gets its power through the network cable.

  • Check the Port: Look at the back of your NVR or PoE switch. Each port should have a flickering light.

  • The Swap Test: If the light for a specific camera is off, try plugging that camera’s cable into a known working port. If the light comes on, the original port was the problem. If it stays off, the issue is either the cable or the camera itself.

4. Listen for Movement (PTZ Cameras)

If you have a Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) camera, it will almost always perform a "self-test" when it first receives power. During this cycle, the camera will rotate and tilt to its limits.

  • The Test: Unplug the power adapter, wait 10 seconds, and plug it back in. If the camera doesn't move or make a whirring sound, it isn't getting enough voltage to boot up.

5. Use a Multimeter for Pro Diagnostics

If visual checks fail, you may need to test the actual voltage reaching the camera using a Digital Multimeter.

  • For DC Cameras: Set your multimeter to DC voltage. Test the end of the power cable that plugs into the camera. A standard 12V camera should read between 11V and 13V.

  • Voltage Drop: If you have a long cable run (over 100 feet), you might experience "voltage drop." The power might leave the adapter at 12V but arrive at the camera at 9V, which isn't enough to power the device.

Summary Checklist for Power Troubleshooting

Method

What it Confirms

Difficulty

IR Glow

Basic power to the board/LEDs

Easy

Clicking Sound

IR filter is active

Easy

Switch Port Lights

Connectivity & PoE flow

Medium

Multimeter Test

Exact voltage delivery

Advanced

Still Having Trouble?

Diagnosing power issues can be frustrating, especially if the problem lies within hidden wiring or a failing power distribution box. If your cameras are still dark after trying these steps, it’s time to call in the professionals.

Cleveland Security Cameras provides expert diagnostic and repair services to get your eyes back on your property.

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