Testing a camera module

[tave]

Hi, im new to the forum

So I recently started having issues with my video intercom (doorbell with a camera, allows me to see the person from inside my home) .
The image started getting fuzzy and very distorted...I managed to take the camera module off the doorbell and Im not sure how to test it. It has a white wire, red wire, and black wire....I am taking some electronics courses, so all of this is slightly familiar (including some debugging). Im just not sure how/where i would be able to test to see if the camera is functioning. I know it operates on 12v dc max though.

 

[davenn]

hi welcome to the forums

well the first thing to do would be to connect the camera unit and the dissplay unit together using just a short length of cable so you could test/play with it on the table/workbench.
Initially look for dirt dust and other insect gunk on the lens of the camera or the clear plastic/glass screen it looks through and go from there

report back with what you find

Dave

 

[tave]

Well i did plug in the whole unit and I was getting the same results, so what I did was specifically take out the camera module from the camera unit, and I want to test if that camera is in working condition. If I hook it back up to the main lcd unit then Im getting the same results. Basically, I want to single out if its the lcd unit or the camera thats broken, so I want to test the camera independently of the lcd unit....possibly hook it up to a different monitor, I just need to know how :S

 

[tave]

bump.......?

 

[OLIVE2222]

Hi,

Normally those small camera are composite video type.
Red is +
Black is negative
White is video

You can connect it to any video input (generally a yellow cinch connector).

Olivier

 

[tave]

that is the most helpful post ever thankyou!

now my camera unit says it takes 12v, I had a spare 9v battery lying around...do you think if i applied 9v it would be enough to see an image?

 

[tave]

What confuses me is that the whole camera assembly itself has 2 wires coming into it...a + and - from the monitor assembly... but every component inside the camera assembly has 3 wires going into them (like the camera module)

now I tried hooking up a 9V battery to the camera module (positive and negative terminals) and i hooked up a yellow cinch connector to my television...I was gettin no output...that doesnt make sense to me because when everything is properly installed the camera atleast gives a fuzzy image

 

[OLIVE2222]

Hi Tave!

Please post a sharp Top and Bottom picture of your camera.

Olivier

 

[tave]

Here are some pictures:

Back of the entire assembly:


The assembly taken apart: (the camera module is not pictured in there, but would be inside that brown casing)


The back of the camera module:


The front of the camera module:

 

[alfa88]

Signal Ground

The black is also signal ground. That board looks very much like the guts of a security camera.

 

[tave]

Any ideas how I can go about testing it ? :S

 

[alfa88]

I think you were on the right track. Red - plus 12, Black - negative 12/signal ground, White - signal. Perhaps 9Volts is not enough to power up the camera.

 

[tave]

Hmmm.... The whole assembly takes 12v and it also has to power about 8-10 infrared LEDs... You really think a 9v battery isn't enough? Should I just throw it in series with some 1.5v batteries?

 

[alfa88]

I'm guessing that that camera module draws around 300ma @ 12Volts so if that 9 Volt battery isn't brand new, fresh it might not be enough even with the addition of a couple extra cells. You might try using 8-1.5V cells. Also, the LEDs only kick in when it's dark enough.