C420 not switching to night mode when viewing

C420 not switching to night mode when viewing

C420 not switching to night mode when viewing
C420 not switching to night mode when viewing
2024-08-24 21:16:21 - last edited 2024-09-09 02:02:13
Model: Tapo C420S1  
Hardware Version: V1
Firmware Version: 1.2.17

So for the last eight months since I had the H200 & C420 cameras i have this really annoying issue logged by another user here: https://community.tp-link.com/en/smart-home/forum/topic/650036

 

Now the issue that I have is that whenever I go to view my cameras when it is dark outside, the screen is just black. I have to manually go in and try to force night mode each time. I go into the Tapo app and see a black screen for the camera, I then change the camera to the doorbell and see night mode, change back to the garden and suddenly night mode MAY turn on. Most of the time this isn't the case and the cameras need to be manually changed to night mode to see the garden. For reference the AUTO day/night mode is set to on so it should switch automatically.

 

The lenses are clean and the light is good enough to have the night mode switched on.

 

I have the D230 doorbell and this never suffers from the problem so I know it's the cameras. This doorbell works perferctly with the day/night mode auto switching.

 

Here is the view from the back garden. As you can see, the night mode isn't activating when viewing. It's like the app isn't telling the camera to show night mode when I select it.

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Re:C420 not switching to night mode when viewing-Solution
2024-08-26 09:51:25 - last edited 2024-09-09 02:02:13

  @MrWilks 

 

Which night mode is your C420 set to? (Tapo App -> camera Device Settings -> Video & Display ->Night Mode Settings.)

 

If it is on Smart mode already, try adjusting the camera angle away from the wall on the right. This bright light may be the reason why the camera does not switch to night mode automatically.

Landscape Mode - Tapo App for PadShare Your Pet Story. Win Free Tapo Care!Smart Action 2.0 Explore and meet the next level home automation.
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Re:C420 not switching to night mode when viewing-Solution
2024-08-26 09:51:25 - last edited 2024-09-09 02:02:13

  @MrWilks 

 

Which night mode is your C420 set to? (Tapo App -> camera Device Settings -> Video & Display ->Night Mode Settings.)

 

If it is on Smart mode already, try adjusting the camera angle away from the wall on the right. This bright light may be the reason why the camera does not switch to night mode automatically.

Landscape Mode - Tapo App for PadShare Your Pet Story. Win Free Tapo Care!Smart Action 2.0 Explore and meet the next level home automation.
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Re:C420 not switching to night mode when viewing
2024-08-28 11:05:38

  @Wayne-TP 

 

Hi

 

Thank you for your help. I have the mode set to 'Auto' in the live view and 'Smart Mode' int he settings.  I have this problem on both the front and back cameras but not the doorbell. 
 

it seems the LUX sensitivity isn't triggering at the right levels to switch to night mode. 
 

Unfortunatley the wall is a painted white wall and I can't move the camera away from this. I can turn off the living room light to test if this changes the mode. This would be the source of light that reflects off the white wall. 
 

Can the image light level be averaged out for the whole image and not just pick an area to decide on the light level? Or allow us to change the sensitivity?
 

As others have said, maybe automate the two options from dusk-till-dawn depending on location. This could be picked up from the same source that allows the light bulbs to come on and off at this time. 
 

For the record, during a movement event the spotlight changes to colour when it should do. It is just viewing in the app that doesn't change. 

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Re:C420 not switching to night mode when viewing
2024-08-29 06:25:11

  @MrWilks 

 

Please verify whether the problem is caused by the lighting on the wall first. 

Landscape Mode - Tapo App for PadShare Your Pet Story. Win Free Tapo Care!Smart Action 2.0 Explore and meet the next level home automation.
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Re:C420 not switching to night mode when viewing
2024-08-30 20:17:47 - last edited 2024-08-30 20:18:48

  @Wayne-TP 

 

Hi Wayne. 
 

I can confirm that the light level does not automatically switch within live view with no lighting outside or reflected on the wall. 
 

Here it is without the light leaking though the window (all lights off). 
 

 

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Re:C420 not switching to night mode when viewing
2024-09-02 06:39:31

  @MrWilks 

 

Thanks for the update. To better assist with this case, a specialist will help to follow it up via email, please check your inbox later and confirm.

Landscape Mode - Tapo App for PadShare Your Pet Story. Win Free Tapo Care!Smart Action 2.0 Explore and meet the next level home automation.
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Re:C420 not switching to night mode when viewing
2024-09-02 07:40:11 - last edited 2024-09-02 07:42:32

  @Wayne-TP 

 

Hi Wayne

 

i had a chat with them earlier in the year and they said it was faulty so I bought another one and this does the same. 
 

Both the front garden and back garden react this way. I can force the night view but that means every time I want to monitor my garden (when no movement has triggered it) I open the app to darkness. I then have to change the light mode to "night" from "auto". 
 

I see others mention this too. I believe the cameras aren't switching light modes in the app when viewing them. 
 

There are other users with the same experience as me. Here is one user: 

 

https://community.tp-link.com/en/smart-home/forum/topic/650036

 

I have cleaned my camera IR sensors. The cameras did this from new. 

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