SimpliSafe cameras have a wide field of view which gives you extra security. They are also wireless and easy to set up. However, these cameras have one persistent problem, the clicking sound.
The reason your SimpliSafe camera clicks is due to the night vision. The change in light intensity causes the shutter to move, resulting in a clicking sound. The clicking also happens when the alarm goes off, and the camera starts recording. Even though the sound isn’t loud, it can become annoying.
The clicking can even happen when the camera is off or in Home mode. This article explains some reasons for unnecessary clicking and ways to fix it.
1. The Camera Is in Night Vision Mode
It is common to associate clicking with a security breach or someone spying on us. It may not always be the case.
The main reason for the constant clicking sound is when the camera turns on its night vision. It usually happens when you set your night mode on auto. Therefore, whenever the camera detects a slight change in light – from bright to low – it will turn its night vision on to give you a better view in darker conditions.
SimpliSafe security cameras use infrared LEDs for their night vision. When the night mode turns on, these LEDs turn on infrared light to get a better view in the dark. So, the shutter moves or clicks when it detects this change in lighting, trying to adjust to the new lower light intensity.
So, the shutter keeps moving if the light is unstable and constantly going from bright to low and then low to bright.
For example, a curtain moving due to the air from a fan can cause the shutter to move. When the curtain’s movement covers and uncovers the light source in the room, your camera will constantly adjust between low and bright light. It will cause the shutter to click frequently.
Another reason is the heat that infrared light produces. The heat changes the temperature, which can trigger the image sensor of the SimpliSafe camera. The shutter may move and make a clicking sound to stabilize the temperature.
So, when the lights are off, and there is no change in light, the infrared light from the LEDs can cause the shutter to open and close frequently.
How To Fix It?
The obvious solution is to turn the night vision off. Unfortunately, with the night vision off, the camera will not be able to record or give you the night view. To handle this problem, you can leave a small light on in the room so the camera can give you a good view during nighttime.
If you hear the clicking during the day, you can make it stop by keeping the room’s light steady.
Night vision is a very useful feature in security cameras. However, it also means that your camera will stay on all night, making clicking sounds. However, now you know the clicking is not due to a security breach but to infrared light and shutter movement.
2. The Clicking Is Due to Motion Detection
SimpliSafe cameras have motion detectors. So, when the camera is in Home mode, it will start recording if the sensors detect any significant movement. Therefore, the shutter opens so the camera can record the scene. The recording time is usually five minutes. However, it can be longer if the camera detects motion while the alarm is ringing.
Once the recording time is over, the camera may return to its Home mode. However, the motion detector keeps activating the camera if the movement around it is constant and significant. So, the shutter keeps moving.
The constant shutter movement makes the clicking sound, but the interval between two clicks will be longer in this case.
Remember, the shutter only opens for events that set the alarm off.
How To Fix It?
You can solve the clicking issue by deactivating the motion detector when you are in the house. However, when you deactivate the sensor, your security system doesn’t pick up any movement, and the camera won’t record any incident in Home or Off mode.
So, you must restrict unnecessary movements in the room if you want to leave the motion detection on.
You can also turn the alarm off to keep the sensor on and the shutter off.
3. The Camera Clicks on When the Temperature Sensor Is Activated
You can activate your SimpliSafe camera’s temperature sensor to detect any temperature change even when the camera is in Home or Off mode. So, when the temperature in the room changes significantly, the camera will start recording.
The shutter opens for recording, and you hear the clicking sound. In this case, the sound isn’t too frequent as the temperature takes time to drop or go up. Still, you may listen to a few clicks within a day.
Temperature sensors are useful when there is a case of breaking and entering. The intruder may carefully make small movements to avoid motion detection, but the temperature changes when the door opens and the inside air comes in.
This change in indoor temperature sets the alarm off, and the camera starts to record.
Remember, the shutter only opens for events that set the alarm off.
How To Fix It?
You must deactivate the temperature sensor if you don’t want the shutter to move. It is safe to turn the sensor off when you are home and live in a safe neighborhood. Remember to turn it back on when you leave the house.
Another way is to turn the alarm off if you don’t want to deactivate the sensor.
Summary
SimpliSafe cameras increase the security of your house, but they also make a clicking sound, which can be annoying. Replacing the camera with a new one may not solve the issue because the shutter movement won’t stop.
The clicking sound is more frequent during the camera’s night mode. The shutter also moves as soon as the security system’s alarm goes off and the camera starts to record. Deactivating the alarm can solve the issue.
You must call an expert or change the equipment if there is a manufacturing fault.
