Why Is My CCTV Camera Not Turning On? (Troubleshooting 101)

Administrator A
Jan 19
3 min read

There is nothing more unsettling than checking your security feed only to find a "No Signal" message or a completely black screen. When a CCTV camera won't turn on at all, it leaves a literal blind spot in your property’s protection.

While it’s tempting to assume the camera is "dead" and needs replacing, many power issues are actually external and fixable. Here is a guide to identifying why your system is down and how to get it back online.

1. The #1 Culprit: Power Supply Issues

In the vast majority of cases, a camera that won't power up is simply not receiving electricity.

The Power Adapter: Most individual cameras use a 12V DC power adapter. These are prone to failure over time due to overheating or internal wear.
Blown Fuses: If you use a centralized power supply box (a metal box that powers multiple cameras), check for a blown fuse or a tripped circuit breaker inside the box.
The Outlet: It sounds simple, but check the wall outlet. Plug a lamp or a phone charger into the same socket to ensure the outlet hasn't tripped a breaker.

2. Damaged Cables and Loose Connections

Cables are the lifelines of your security system. Whether you use BNC (analog) or Ethernet (PoE), they are vulnerable to the elements and physical damage.

Weather Wear: For outdoor cameras, moisture can corrode the connectors. Check for white or green "crust" inside the cable ends.
Pests: Rodents are notorious for chewing through security wiring in attics or crawl spaces.
Voltage Drop: If your cable run is too long (typically over 300 feet for standard Ethernet or thin BNC), the camera may not receive enough voltage to actually boot up.

3. PoE (Power over Ethernet) Overload

If you have an IP camera system, you likely use a PoE Switch or NVR to provide power through the data cable.

PoE Budget: Every PoE switch has a "power budget." If you add a new camera or if your cameras have high-intensity IR lights that kick on at night, you might exceed the switch’s capacity, causing it to shut down individual ports.
Faulty Port: Sometimes a single port on a switch or NVR fails. Try plugging the "dead" camera into a port that you know is working.

4. Hardware Malfunction & IR Test

How do you know if a camera is actually getting power if there’s no video?

The "Cup" Test: Cup your hands around the camera lens to simulate darkness. If the camera is receiving power, you should see the small red glow of the Infrared (IR) LEDs or hear a faint "click" as the IR cut filter engages.
Reversed Polarity: If you recently DIY-installed or repaired the wiring, you may have reversed the positive and negative wires. This will prevent the camera from turning on and, in some cases, can damage the internal board.

Your DIY Troubleshooting Checklist

Before calling a technician, try these four steps in order:

Power Cycle: Unplug the camera, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in.
Swap the Power Supply: If you have a working camera of the same model, swap their power adapters. If the "dead" camera turns on, you just need a new adapter.
Check the "Ping" (For IP Cameras): If it’s an IP camera, use a laptop to see if you can "ping" the camera's IP address. If it pings but has no image, the power is fine, but the sensor or software is the issue.
Factory Reset: Locate the physical reset button (usually near the cable base or SD card slot). Hold it for 15 seconds while the unit is powered.

When to Call a Professional

If you’ve checked the power, swapped the cables, and the camera is still unresponsive, you may be dealing with a failed internal motherboard or a complex grounding issue. In many cases, professional diagnostic tools (like multimeters and PoE testers) are required to find the break in the line without tearing down your walls.

Need help getting your eyes back on your property? The experts at Cleveland Security Cameras specialize in diagnostic repair and system upgrades.