Supplemental lighting enables security cameras to “see” clearly in dim environments. Conventional cameras with IR light provide black & white images which usually results in loss of details.
While white light cameras offer colorful images, when the light is always on, it might be disturbing in some specific scenarios.
Addressing these challenges, Hikvision introduces an innovative solution – the Smart Hybrid Light technology. Cameras featuring Smart Hybrid Light offer three distinct supplemental lighting modes: IR mode, white light mode, and smart mode.
This empowers users to select the most suitable lighting mode for their specific application and environmental requirements, ensuring optimal performance and enhanced security.
Below is the logic of supplement light (how it is supposed to work and what the right conditions are).
The feature on the camera’s settings can be found via this path: Configuration > Image > Display Settings > Day/Night Switch.
Explained: Hikvision Camera Supplement Light Feature
Supplement Light Mode
If you choose to set the Supplement Light Mode to OFF, it means the supplemental light will always remain deactivated.
In this mode, the camera will not utilize any additional lighting, and the footage captured will depend solely on the ambient light available in the surroundings.
On the other hand, when you opt for the Supplement Light Mode as ColorVu White Light, the behavior of the supplemental light changes. In this mode, the status of the supplemental light is dynamically determined by the camera’s Day/Night Switch.
During the daytime or well-lit conditions, the supplemental light will likely remain off to avoid unnecessary illumination.
However, as the environment transitions into low-light or nighttime conditions, the supplemental light will automatically activate to enhance visibility.
Moreover, within the ColorVu White Light mode, you have the added advantage of controlling the brightness of the supplemental light using the Light Brightness Control settings.
Mode Configuration of Supplement Light (and Other Instructions)
Security cameras featuring our Smart Hybrid Light allow users to flexibly switch among three supplemental lighting modes, suiting virtually any need or application.
Day Mode
In the Day Mode, when you set the Day/Night Switch to “Day,” the camera operates in full-color mode, offering vivid and detailed images.
During daylight conditions, the supplemental light remains inactive, and the options to adjust the Supplement Light Mode and Light Brightness Control are not accessible.
As the natural light is sufficient to capture high-quality color images, the supplemental light is automatically kept off, optimizing power consumption and reducing unnecessary illumination.
Night Mode
Switching the Day/Night Switch to “Night” activates Night Mode. In this setting, the camera continues to capture color images, and the supplemental light remains consistently switched on.
However, if you choose to set the Supplement Light Mode to “OFF” within Night Mode, you can manually turn off the supplemental light.
Additionally, you have the flexibility to control the brightness of the supplemental light using the Light Brightness Control feature.
This empowers you to customize the level of illumination according to your specific requirements during nighttime surveillance.
Auto Mode
When the Day/Night Switch is set to “Auto,” the camera operates in full-color mode, automatically adjusting to ambient brightness conditions. In this mode:
1) Camera will detect ambient brightness automatically with Auto mode, and turn on the supplement light automatically. The mechanism is similar to the automatic adjustment of infrared supplement lamplight;
2) Setting filtering time in the range of 5-120s. When the ambient brightness exceeds the light limit and lasts for a period of time (as shown in the picture below: 5 seconds), the camera begins to turn the light on and off.
This setting prevents the camera from continuing to turn on and off lights when the brightness changes rapidly;
3) Setting sensitivity in the range of 0-7; The lower the sensitivity, the greater the change in ambient brightness is required before the camera can turn on and off the light; the higher the sensitivity, the lower the requirement of ambient brightness change.
4) Set Supplement Light Mode to OFF will turn off the supplement light.
Scheduled-Switch Mode
When you select the Day/Night Switch to “Scheduled-Switch,” the camera operates in full-color mode, following a predetermined schedule for the supplemental light. Here’s how it works:
During the designated Start and End Time periods, the camera intelligently turns off the supplement light. This feature is particularly useful in well-lit environments or during daytime surveillance when additional lighting is unnecessary.
Conversely, outside the specified Start and End Time periods, the camera automatically activates the supplement light.
This ensures optimal visibility and image clarity during low-light or nighttime conditions, enhancing the effectiveness of your surveillance.
Should you wish to manually deactivate the supplemental light, simply set the Supplement Light Mode to “OFF.”
This mode grants you full control over the camera’s supplemental lighting behavior, providing flexibility in aligning the system with your specific monitoring requirements and ensuring seamless integration into your security setup.
Supplement Light Brightness Mode
Auto Mode
In Auto Mode, when you set the Light Brightness Control to “Auto,” the camera exhibits a smart capability to detect ambient brightness levels automatically.
Leveraging this feature, the camera seamlessly adjusts the brightness of the supplemental light to match the prevailing lighting conditions.
Furthermore, you have the freedom to fine-tune the White Light setting within a range of level 1 to 100, with 0 representing no brightness.
This versatile White Light setting enables you to set a specific level that limits the maximum brightness of the supplemental light. The default level is set at 50, providing a balanced brightness configuration for typical scenarios.
Manual Mode
By choosing Manual Mode and setting the Light Brightness Control to “Manual,” you gain precise control over the brightness of the supplemental light using the White Light setting.
The Level value you select directly translates into the actual brightness of the light.
This intuitive control allows you to tailor the illumination according to your specific requirements, ensuring optimal visibility and image quality for your surveillance needs.
