Surveillance Video Forum

Hello,

I bought a kpc-s20c color mini camera a few weeks back. Now that I have time to work with this camera, I can't get it to work.

This is what I did:

- I replaced the BNC connector from the camera with a normal Female Composite yellow connector. That way I can plug in an already existing male composite cable to the camera.

- I cut the cable (not all of it) and soldered it to a battery I have that is 12v.

What I'm trying to do is built a mobile camera. That is why I use the battery. However, when I connect the video cable to the camera, and then plug in the voltage source (the battery), I don't get a picture on my camera. My camera is a sony and it has a composite input jack.

I don't see an ON button on the camera, so what exactly is wrong with my setup. Do I need to do anything special to make these cameras turn on?

Thanks for your help.

Hi Adgj,

Let me start by saying that all board cameras do not have an on/off switch. Once the camera is powered up, it is on. At this point all you have to do is connect the video output cable to a display monitor/TV input and you will see a picture. Make sure that the TV is on the proper video input channel. Since most TV’s now have multiple video inputs you might want scan thru all of them as a first trouble shooting step.

The KPC-S20C operates on 12 Volt DC current and draws about 300ma. I am assuming that battery that you are using is good and is providing enough current for the camera. If you cut the power connector from this camera, you have to make sure that you are connecting the positive lead of the camera to the positive lead of the battery and the negative with the negative. Reversing the cables could damage the camera and that might be a reason for the camera is not working.

You also mentioned “I replaced the BNC connector from the camera with a normal Female Composite yellow connector. That way I can plug in an already existing male composite cable to the camera.” If you used an adapter to convert the BNC connector to an RCA female than that should not be a problem. If you removed the BNC connector by cutting the cable and tried to spice an RCA adapter to it, you might have the wires reversed or part of the center core is touching the outside shield.

I hope this was helpful.

Hi,

I kept working on the my issue and I found the problem. I had bonded the cables together with electrical tape, but that might not had been enough. There might be several factors for not having an appropriate connection there.

So I proceeded to soldering the cable together, not just twisting, and it worked. The camera is in full operation now.

Thanks for your help.