How to Adjust the Color of CCTV Cameras

Closed-circuit television surveillance cameras have been recording video in black and white because color cameras couldn't match black-and-white cameras' sensitivity to light. Recent electronic advances now enable CCTV color cameras to capture color as well as black-and-white cameras do, but if the color is not accurate, the image is hard to see. Adjusting CCTV color cameras so that they properly display color is a necessity for them to function at their optimal setting.

Things You'll Need

• 10 megahertz oscilloscope
• Video equalizer

Instructions

1. Adjust the level of the synch pulse amplitude on the CCTV color camera to 40 Institute of Radio Engineers (IRE) units. View the image of the CCTV color camera to see if the picture is breaking up or rolling. If the picture is breaking up or rolling, readjust the synch pulse amplitude to a higher number and view the picture again. Stop adjusting the synch pulse amplitude when the picture on the monitor is no longer breaking up or rolling.

2. Set the white-level iris setting to 100 IRE units exactly on the CCTV color camera.

3. Measure the peak-to-peak video signal of the CCTV color camera using the 10 megahertz oscilloscope. Replace the CCTV color camera with a new one if the measurement is not on or about 140 IRE units.

4. Install a video equalizer in the video signal cable between the CCTV color camera and the monitor. Adjust the color burst control of the video equalizer to 40 IRE units to place the chroma level at its correct setting.

Tips & Warnings

• Regular maintenance of CCTV color cameras will keep them functioning correctly.

• Color CCTV cameras have difficulties in capturing color accurately when the light levels are very low.

References

• "CCTV VIDEO TROUBLESHOOTING"

Resources

• "Signal to Noise Ratio"
• "Steps for Completing the CCTV Assessment"