Why is the night screen pitch black when sound and light alarm is on?

Problem

After enabling the sound and light alarm feature, the camera screen becomes completely black at night with no visible image.

Cause

The infrared lighting is not activating automatically, leaving the camera without illumination in dark conditions. This typically occurs when the camera is set to a night vision mode that conflicts with the alarm feature.

Solution

Verify and adjust your Full Color Mode setting to enable infrared illumination:

Step-by-Step Fix

1. Open the camera in your app
2. Navigate to camera settings
3. Locate the "Full Color Mode" setting
4. Check the current mode and change it to one of:
   • Intelligent Night Vision (Recommended)
   • Black and White Night Vision

Understanding the Modes

Why This Happens

When you enable the Sound and Light Alarm, the camera expects to use its white light for illumination. However, if the night vision settings are not configured correctly:

• The camera may disable all lighting sources
• Infrared LEDs don't activate
• The screen appears completely black

Recommended Configuration

For best results with Sound and Light Alarm enabled:

Option 1: Intelligent Night Vision (Best for Most Users)

Full Color Mode → Intelligent Night Vision
Sound and Light Alarm → ON

Benefits:

• Automatically switches between modes based on light levels
• Activates infrared when needed
• Triggers white light only during alarm events

Option 2: Black and White Night Vision (For Consistent Darkness)

Full Color Mode → Black and White Night Vision
Sound and Light Alarm → ON

Benefits:

• Reliable infrared illumination at all times
• No dependency on ambient light
• White light still activates during alarm events

Verification Steps

After changing settings:

1. Wait for nightfall or cover the camera lens to simulate darkness
2. Check the live view - you should see infrared night vision (black and white image)
3. Test alarm trigger - the white light should activate during motion events
4. Verify image clarity - adjust settings if needed

Additional Tips

• Don't use Full Color Night Vision if you need reliable nighttime viewing with alarms enabled
• Infrared range: Most cameras have 10-30 meter infrared range
• Alarm sensitivity: Adjust motion detection sensitivity to prevent false alarms
• Light pollution: Some ambient light improves image quality even with infrared

Still Having Issues?

If the screen remains black after adjusting settings:

1. Restart the camera - Power cycle may reset the night vision system
2. Check infrared LEDs - Look for faint red glow around the lens at night
3. Update firmware - Ensure you have the latest camera firmware
4. Factory reset - As a last resort, restore camera to default settings
5. Contact support - Hardware issue may require professional assistance

Quick Fix Checklist

• Open camera settings
• Find "Full Color Mode"
• Select "Intelligent Night Vision" or "Black and White Night Vision"
• Verify live view shows image at night
• Test sound and light alarm functionality
• Adjust sensitivity if needed