As my Eufy Cam 2 Pro user Review showed, there are a lot of things that the security camera model is capable of. There are also a lot of things to like about it. And, if you’re the critical type, there are certainly some things that could also be improved.
However, the fact remains that there are a lot of things on the camera bundle as a whole, on the base station (called the HomeBase), and on the cameras that need getting used to. Or, at least, getting an explanation about their function(s) or working.
One of such is the infrared night vision function that shows itself as four dull red lights in the dark.
Further, is the pressing question of whether or not the Eufy cameras can be used without the base station.
These are just the tip of the iceberg as relate to the plethora of questions that present themselves when either researching or using these simple but highly advanced security cameras.
This is why, after a few days or weeks (max) of using the security system, you’re bound to worry or bother why the lights on the camera and base station sometimes turn red.
If this is you, you’ve come to the right place: as an owner and proud user of an Eufy security camera, let me hold you by the hand and explain all that you need to know.
First things first, however.
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What Does The Red Status Light Indicate Generally?
Generally and very broadly speaking, red status lights indicate an error, a malfunction, a warning, a ‘not working’ prompt, or an emergency requiring your attention.
This is so across devices or gadgets irrespective of how they work, their importance, or how they are meant to function.
An exception, however, remains either gadgets or devices that have only one colored status indicator (in this case, red) or devices or gadgets that are meant to indicate only red as a matter of course, convenience or operation.
When one sees the red light illuminated on a device or gadget, it is safe to take a close and very curious look: one’s attention might actually be needed or worse, an emergency might be in the pipeline.
Now that I’ve cleared the air about the general reality of the red status lights, let’s direct our attention to the Eufy security camera world: what does it mean when either the Eufy camera or HomeBase blinks or changes color to a steady red?
What Are The Reasons That Could Make Your Eufy HomeBase Display The Red Status Light?
In its fine, functional state, the Eufy base station displays a dull blue color – indicating that all is well with the system and that it is in fact, functional and recording at the moment. As it should.
However, there are a series of reasons why the Eufy base station will deviate from that standard dull blue color and show either a steady or flashing red:
- Wrong power adapter used.
- The Eufy HomeBase initializing process.
- Internet connectivity issues.
- Poor internet signal or firmware update issues.
1. Wrong Power Adapter Used
A wrong matching power adapter used to power the Eufy Home Base 2 is likely going to cause the base to flash either red or blue, depending on the actual conditions of the power adapter and ultimately, what the base itself ‘sees’.
Choosing a non-matching power adapter (read: wrong power adapter) and using the same to power on the base will likely indicate the red status light, in its blinking state, if it senses the voltage or Amps the adapter permits is well out of sync with the standard power adapter requirements in terms of Voltage and Amperage.
An underpowered adapter on the other hand is likely to blink blue – a blue that refuses to steady.
All such manner of blinking, either red or blue is correctable by simply reverting to the standard 12V-2A power adapter that came with the base.
If yours is damaged, you can get an easy, cheap, same spec replacement here.
2. The Eufy HomeBase Initialisation Being In Process
The Eufy HomeBase 2 works in a manner similar to a standard computer: the unit does not simply kick on after a restart or power fluctuation. For about a minute, it takes time to boot before kicking up operations.
During this time of boot, the status indicator on the base station flashes red and this process takes about a minute before normal operations are restored and recording starts back; at which point, the status indicator light normalizes to a steady blue hue.
If this is your challenge and you can see the red status light flashing, give the device a minute or so and it should regularize to a solid blue display, indicating that all things are ok and the base is ready to work again as a base station.
However, if you want to minimize such incidences, especially as relates to power fluctuations, get a special battery backup system that will guarantee that the base doesn’t power down even in the event of a power cut.
This external power ‘bank’ features overcharge protection, over-voltage protection, high-temperature protection, over-current protection, and importantly, is designed and sold by Eufy directly and is intended specifically for the Home Base 2.
3. Internet Connectivity Issues
The Eufy line of cameras are smart IP-biased cameras that rely largely on the internet and actual connectivity to do their thing.
Being heavily reliant on the internet for functionality means that, in the event of an internet blackout, such cameras are negatively impacted.
For the Home Base 2, when such happens, the status light changes from blue to red, indicating a lack of internet connectivity between it and the home router.
Once, the challenge of the internet connectivity is cleared, everything works as it should again, without further ado. This can be an ISP challenge, a router firmware issue (resolved by updating or a restart), running out of data on metered connections, or a host of others. Or one or more combinations.
However, to the credit of Eufy, the cameras record and save even during internet-inspired blackouts – blackouts that turn your Home Base 2 status indicators from blue to red. Don’t just attempt to adjust any of the camera’s, base’s settings or attempt to view footage either directly or remotely during this period as it would end in futility.
All these can only be done when the internet connectivity is restored and importantly when that tiny red light changes color to blue.
4. Poor Internet Signals Or Firmware Update Challenges
Closely related to the above but completely distinct is the issue of poor internet challenge or a firmware update on the HomeBase 2.
This is how it translates to a red status display: ‘weak’ internet connectivity, say one in the league of 161 kb/s won’t be enough to power the base station and help it do its thing.
This would be most noticeable when you attempt to pair the base with any camera or device. In such an instance, the red status light will remain on till the internet speed improves to the point where the base can be able to utilize it.
In such an instance as described in the immediately preceding paragraph above, if the base station needs to update its firmware version and the internet connection, though present, is so poor (speed-wise) that it can do very little in reality, the solid red status light will come on by default and stay put till things change for the better, internet connectivity strength-wise.
Let’s now take a look at some of the instances where the paired cameras themselves – not the base station, will display a red status light.
What Are The Reasons That Could Make Your Eufy Camera Display The Red Status Light?
The red status display on Eufy products isn’t the exclusive preserve of the base station; cameras also fire this display status indication from time to time.
However, unlike the base station, when traditional Eufy smart security cameras do this, it isn’t any indication of malfunction or of something being amiss. Rather, it is a distinct, normal function coming into play.
However, as a user (or would-be user), you may be confused and wonder what such a reality could mean. The lines below do justice to such a challenge as would arise (from time to time).
Below are the known instances when the Eufy set of cameras flashes or indicates red as against any other standard status display color.
- When the camera is recording via its IR supported night vision mode.
- Toggling of the status LED switch.
- Testing of the motion sensor.
1. When The Camera Is Recording Via Its IR Supported Night Vision Mode
The world of Eufy cameras is quite amazing. While most of the cameras that the company delivers to the public are capable of recording in 2k resolution, when night comes, they also do an amazing job of recording awesomely in the dark by means of infrared technology, denoted by 4 red lights on the face of the camera.
When the camera starts recording in this IR-supported mode (this happens during the night or when the surrounding light isn’t enough to offer enough support to the footage being captured), four small red lights show up on the face of the camera during such episodes.
These lights, as earlier discussed in the article linked above, are a medium through which the camera sees the subject(s) being recorded.
By means of these four red lights too, the camera beams its IR ‘flashlight’ (completely invisible to the naked eye) and it is through such a reality that night recording takes place successfully without the need for any (additional) external lighting.
This reality does not in any way indicate a malfunction or portend anything going amiss.
2. Toggling Of The Status LED Switch
There is a switch available on the app that is labeled the ‘status LED’. When toggled on, this switch enables a small red light on the face of the camera to come on when it starts recording.
While this switch is toggled off by default, it is important to note that recording events or persons in some jurisdictions, places or contexts is wrong, or at least when absolutely needed, one may need to first alert the potential subject of the footage of what you intend to do.
This is where the use of such a function comes in. However, if you don’t expressly need to tell the world that you have a camera recording anyone who approaches it, it is better to leave this function switched off effectively allowing the camera to record and do its thing without any ceremony.
3. Testing Of The Motion Sensor
When mounting the camera, there is an option to test the sensitivity of the motion sensor and see at what spot the camera begins to pick motion or is capable of picking up motion for the purpose of recording.
Usually, when this ‘test’ mode is powered or in process, a red light flashes when the camera dictates motion. In actual use, this flash indicates the point at which motion is picked up and the recording will commence (assuming normal operations). This flashing continues till the trigger of the test motion is stopped or removed.
This does not indicate a malfunction and would go away once that ‘test’ mode is deactivated and normal operations will subsist.
However, on the rare occasion that the camera is forgotten in this mode and left like that, the red status light will keep blinking when motion is picked up and will remain so until manually toggled off.
It is also worthy of note to state here that, while the camera subsites in this ‘test’ mode, no recording actually takes place. And, since this particular status light could be easily confused with the ‘status LED’ earlier mentioned, it is very important to manually deactivate the testing mode of the motion sensor once tests are conducted and the camera is favorably placed.
Should You Be Bothered If You Have A Red Light Display On Your Eufy System?
Generally, as we’ve clearly seen above be means of the introduction, the red status indicator means trouble or is a tell-tale that something has gone amiss.
With the Eufy base station, this has proved to be true – at least in regards to some of the times when this is bound to happen, e.g. when internet connectivity goes off completely from the base.
However, there are other instances when, even with the base station, there is really nothing to worry about. Such an instance is captured in the red status indication of the HomeBase when it initializes after a startup.
For the cameras, a red status indication on them is generally them, performing their duties exactly as they should and nothing more or less. There is thus, usually, no cause for alarm at all.
To wrap up, it is important to note that digging to the root cause of what triggered a red status indication on the HomeBase 2 is the smartest thing to do in the event that it is noticed.
To do this, the very first thing to look out for, classically remains the internet connection since more than half the time, it has been found to be the culprit.
If it is the camera that displays such a red status LED, be rest assured that nothing is wrong. However, if this bothers you, you may check the settings of the camera on the app as it is most likely the culprit (especially the motion test switch) when it has been toggled and left open.
Simply closing it will solve your ‘problem’ once and for all.
Can You Avoid Having Your Eufy Security System Indicating Red?
In this age and time, no one truly appreciates problems: that is why most consumers are gradually moving towards brands that are known to give peace of mind and little fuss in the process.
You may also wonder whether it is possible to use the Eufy security camera bundle without ever encountering the much dreaded red status LED display on the base station or at worst, keep it at a bare minimum.
While, in my considered opinion, this is possible to a large extent, please, clearly understand that the unit may work in a manner that makes this beyond your control.
However, if you keep your internet router updated and ensure that you subscribe to a super fast and reliable internet connection, you’ll likely be exposed to less of such challenges in the course of your use of the security system.
Wrap Up
As we’ve clearly seen, the red status LED display of the Eufy security system doesn’t mean any trouble when it happens on the camera level. It is a mere settings issue, at worst.
However, when this same reality occurs on the base station level, it could mean a plethora of things starting from the most simple like the internet connectivity to the more complex like the firmware of either the router or station being out of date and sync.
No matter what it is though, the red status LED on the Eufy security system is easy to both diagnose and resolve – if as a user, you only take time to both understand your system and make yourself conversant with the few things that can trigger such a reaction.
Luckily, this article has covered everything; what is left now, if you have such an issue at hand is simply to eliminate the options one by one and watch the blue, glorious status LED return with all its majesty!