If your gate or door intercom doesn’t ring, or the gate camera shows nothing but a shadow, you don’t need a wiring diagram to get back on track.
Most faults come down to power, a tired button or chime, a blocked camera view, or cloud/app settings on modern IP systems.
Here’s a clear rundown of causes and practical fixes. If DIY hits a wall, Cape Smart Automation can sort it in one visit anywhere in Cape Town.
Quick Answers on Gate Intercom Systems
- Bell not ringing – check the call button, chime or PSU, and obvious loose wires.
- Can’t see the person – fix light and angle first, then clean the lens and check the app is on the main video stream.
- IP systems not calling your phone – cloud offline, Wi-Fi drop, or notifications disabled.
Can’t see the person at the gate
What it looks like: black screen, a bright silhouette in daylight, or a washed-out mess at night.
Likely causes in plain English:
- Dirty or fogged camera window that softens everything.
- Strong backlight from the street turning faces into silhouettes.
- Night IR reflecting off glass, white walls, or a wet surface.
- Camera angle too high or too far to capture faces.
- The app is showing a low-quality stream so faces look mushy.
Simple fixes without the jargon:
- Clean the camera glass and trim plants around the lens.
- Nudge the angle so faces are lit from the front, not from behind.
- Add a small warm light near the call button for night clarity.
- In your app, pick the higher quality stream when on Wi-Fi.
If video stays dark or blank, the issue is usually power or cabling. That’s our cue to test the line and reseat or replace a few tired parts.
Intercom bell doesn’t ring
What you notice: nobody inside hears a thing, but visitors insist they pressed the button.
Common, non-technical reasons:
- The gate button has taken on water or the spring is worn.
- The chime has no power or its tiny transformer is tired.
- Loose terminals at the panel or chime.
- For IP video intercoms: the system is fine, but push notifications are off or the cloud status is offline.
What you can try now:
- Press the button gently and see if it feels sticky or spongy.
- Check that the indoor chime lights up or makes any sound at all.
- On your phone, confirm the intercom app is logged in and notifications are allowed.
- If you know which breaker feeds the intercom, power it off and back on to clear a latch.
Still silent? A quick swap of the button module or chime usually brings the ring back immediately.
IP video intercom specifics
Modern intercoms rely on the network as much as wiring.
- Cloud status: in the app, look for “Online.” If offline, your router may have changed the device’s IP or blocked outbound access.
- Wi-Fi vs wired: long-range Wi-Fi at a gate is hit-and-miss. A short wired run or a quality point-to-point link is far more reliable.
- Time and account: wrong time or a logged-out account can stop calls from reaching your phone.
Prefer not to fiddle with the router? We’ll stabilise the connection and set up a clean, reliable notification path.
When to call Cape Smart Automation
- The bell is silent after replacing the button or enabling notifications
- Video is still black, pink, or badly washed out after a clean and angle tweak
- The system only works sometimes, especially after rain or during load-shedding
- You’d like the gate unit moved, re-angled, or upgraded for clearer faces
We’ll clean and realign the camera, replace a sticky call button or tired chime, stabilise power and network, and leave you with a neat, documented setup.
Call or WhatsApp: +27 83 518 5545 or +27 61 612 8297
Email: info@capesmartautomation.co.za
Quick symptom: cause guide
- Bell presses but no sound – water-logged or worn call button, or a tired indoor chime; replace the button module or chime and reseat the terminals.
- Visitor visible at the gate, but you can’t see their face – strong backlight or camera too high; tweak angle, add a small light near the button, and avoid pointing into the sun.
- Black screen or frozen video – power or cable problem to the gate unit; restore stable power and check the run for damage or loose joins.
- Good at the monitor, poor on the phone – app is using a low-quality stream or cloud is offline; switch to the main stream on Wi-Fi and verify Online status.
- Night view washed out or ghostly – IR reflecting off glass, a white pillar, or moisture on the lens; clean the window and shift the angle a touch away from reflective surfaces.
Random buzzing or ringing on its own – moisture tracking or a failing button membrane; dry, reseal, and replace the button if the phantom rings continue.
