Hikvision camera repair due to cable being bitten by rats – Today I had an appointment to inspect a Hikvision camera system at a customer’s home due to an issue they were experiencing. The customer reported that two of the cameras were not displaying any image on the monitor. I then carried out an inspection to identify the exact cause of the problem. According to the customer, the cameras had not been functioning for more than a month.
This is my story writing as a professional security camera technician how to repair a broken camera at a customer’s house
Preparing Tools Before Visiting the Customer’s Home
It has become a habit for me, before going to a customer’s house, the important thing I do is prepare the tools and necessities.
Based on the customer’s information, the Hikvision camera was not showing any image on the monitor. Therefore, I prepared the following tools and equipment for the inspection and repair process.
- Tool kit – This includes Pliers, Screwdrivers, Knives and more.
- Amperemeter.
- BNC connector
- DC connector
- Cable insulation
- Telescopic ladder
Inspecting the Device Before Repair
When I arrive at a customer’s home, the first step is to inspect the device before beginning the repair process.
Based on the customer’s complaint, I perform several checks to identify the exact cause of the issue. For problems involving a camera not displaying on the monitor, these are the inspections I typically carry out.
- Checking the power supply
- Checking the electric current output on the DC connector
- BNC connector check
- Checking the cable route
I Found the Cause of the Camera Not Showing on the Monitor
In the first step, I did not find any current coming out of the power supply to the CCTV camera even though the power supply was on.
BNC connector is plugged in properly.
I suspected a cable break in the middle and carefully inspected the cable path. When no power or video signal reaches the camera, the cable is likely broken or corroded. Low-quality analog CCTV cables are highly susceptible to corrosion when exposed to rain and heat. However, in this case, the cable path is inside the house, so corrosion is unlikely.
In the end I found a broken cable that was indicated to have been bitten by a rat.
In my area, CCTV cameras are still installed with cables that are not properly protected within protective conduits, making them vulnerable to damage by rodents. Rats often chew through these cables while trying to fit through narrow gaps. When the gap is too small for their bodies, they continue to bite the cables in an attempt to widen the gap, ultimately causing damage or even breaking.
Repair Process for Hikvision Camera Cables Chewed by Rats
To repair a Hikvision analog camera cable that has been bitten by a mouse, all you need is cable insulation, pliers and a knife.
If you follow my method, the first step is to cut the damaged section of cable from the rat’s bite. Then, replace it with a new or spare cable in good condition and reconnect it properly. Analog CCTV cables consist of two parts: the video cable and the power cable. Here’s the correct wiring sequence for Hikvision analog CCTV camera cables.
- Strip the video cable and power cable
- Separate the outer part and the core part, the core of the video cable is copper wire.
- Connect the copper wire
- Connect the aluminum cable sections
- Connect the power cables according to their colors.
Testing After Connecting the Cable
Before plugging the cable into the camera connector, check the voltage first. Once you’re sure there’s voltage, plug the camera into the connector.
However, in this case, I encountered another issue. Even after reconnecting the cable, the camera still did not display on the monitor. I tested the camera using a 12V adapter after disconnecting it from the power source, and found that the camera itself was damaged. I informed the customer for further action, and they decided to replace the camera with a new one. After the replacement, the other camera that previously had no display began working normally and showed a clear image on the monitor.
With this, the repair process for the Hikvision analog CCTV camera not displaying on the monitor due to a rat-chewed cable has been successfully completed.
Conclusion
In this case, the issue of the Hikvision analog CCTV system not displaying on the monitor was initially caused by a damaged cable that had been chewed by a rat. After performing a thorough inspection, repair, and testing process, it was also discovered that one of the cameras had been damaged and required replacement.
After the cables were properly repaired, the CCTV system returned to normal operation, and all cameras displayed images correctly on the monitors.