Troubleshooting Sewer Camera SD Card Issues

In modern drain and sewer work, inspection cameras have gone from “nice to have” to “can’t live without.” Being able to record to an SD card means you can document what you see, share clear reports with customers, and keep a record for future jobs.

But like any digital gear, sewer cameras can run into problems — and SD card issues are some of the most annoying.

If you’re seeing error messages, missing files, or recordings that won’t play back, this guide walks through the most common SD card problems in sewer camera systems and how to fix them step by step.

1. What SD Cards Do in Sewer Camera Systems

Most modern sewer, drain, or plumbing camera systems use an onboard DVR (digital video recorder) to save video to a removable SD or TF card.

That card usually holds:

• Hours of inspection footage

• Snapshots or still images

• Extra data like timestamps and job locations

When the SD card stops working correctly, your inspection data is at risk. That can delay jobs, frustrate customers, or even cause you to miss important issues in the line.

Knowing how SD cards work — and how to troubleshoot them — is key to keeping your drain camera system reliable.

2. How to Tell If Your SD Card Is Having Issues

If your sewer or drain inspection camera is having SD card trouble, you may notice one or more of these symptoms:

• The plumbing camera doesn’t recognize the SD card, and you see an error such as “No SD card detected” or “Insert SD card” on the screen

• Recorded video is incomplete, with sections missing

• The video plays fine on the pipe inspection camera, but once you move the SD card to a computer, the footage is missing

These problems might show up suddenly or build up over time, depending on how the camera and SD card are used and handled.

3. Three Common SD Card Problems (and How to Fix Them)

🔴 Problem 1: “No SD Card Detected” or “Insert SD Card”

You power on the plumbing camera, the SD card is inserted, but the display still shows a message like “No SD card detected” or “Insert SD card.”

Possible causes:

• The SD card itself is faulty

• Dust, corrosion, or poor contact in the SD card slot

✅ What to do:

1. Power the system off completely.

2. Remove the SD card and wait about 10 seconds. Then power the device back on and reinsert the card carefully (make sure it’s facing the correct direction).

3. Format the SD card on a computer and test it again with the camera.

4. Check the card type and brand. Use the original SD card if you still have it, or test with a quality card from one of these brands:

   • Samsung

   • SanDisk

   • Kioxia

5. If the SD card still won’t work, the card itself or the SD card circuit board inside the camera may be damaged. In that case, please contact our customer service email for further help and diagnosis.

🔴 Problem 2: Video Has Missing or Incomplete Segments

The sewer camera records video, but when you play it back, some parts are missing, incomplete, or fail to save correctly. This is more likely to happen during long inspections or when files get large.

Possible causes:

• Not enough free storage on the SD card

• Power loss or shutdown during recording, causing file corruption

• Overheating or unstable camera performance during extended use

✅ What to do:

1. Check available space before each job.
   Make sure the SD card has plenty of free space before you start recording. As a rule of thumb, keep at least 25% of the card’s total capacity free. (Most of our Sanyipace sewer cameras support SD cards up to 128GB.)

2. Avoid cutting the power mid-recording.
   Don’t turn off the sewer camera or unplug it while it’s recording. Give the system a few seconds to finish writing the file before stopping the recording or removing the SD card.

3. Watch out for overheating.
   Long inspection sessions in hot environments can cause internal components to heat up and behave unpredictably. If the unit feels hot, let it cool down before continuing.

4. Reformat the SD card regularly.
   File tables can become corrupted over time, leading to partial or damaged files. Reformatting the SD card every few weeks (after backing up anything you need) helps keep recordings stable.

🔴 Problem 3: Video Plays on the Camera but Not on the Computer

You record video, it plays perfectly on the plumbing camera’s screen, but once you plug the SD card into a computer:

• The files are missing

• The files won’t open

• The files show as 0KB in size

Possible causes:

• The SD card wasn’t safely removed, or the data hadn’t finished writing

• The computer doesn’t support the video codec or file format

• The card reader is faulty, so the computer can’t properly read or save the video from the SD card

✅ What to do:

1. Eject the SD card properly.
   Before removing the SD card from the sewer camera, make sure the recording has fully stopped and all videos and pictures have been saved.

2. Use a compatible video player.
   Sanyipace sewer cameras record in AVI format. Use a player that supports AVI files (for example, Windows Media Player). If needed, you can convert AVI files to MP4 using video conversion software.

3. Test with a reliable card reader.
   Use a known-good card reader and USB port. If the video and pictures are saved correctly when the SD card is in the sewer camera but not visible on the computer, the card reader may be the weak link.

Final Thoughts

An SD card that isn’t recognized, recordings that cut off, or videos that disappear on your computer can all undermine the performance of your sewer camera system — and your confidence on the job.

The good news: most SD card issues can be solved with the basics—proper formatting, using compatible and high-quality cards, regular maintenance, and careful handling.

If you’re also dealing with display problems like a blank or blue screen, take a look at our guide:
“Is your plumbing camera going blue and no signal?” — in some cases, SD card or connection issues can be part of the problem.

For best results, make these habits part of your routine:

• Use SD cards recommended by the manufacturer.

• Check that there’s enough free space on the card before starting a big job.

• Format the SD card regularly (after confirming you’ve backed up anything important to your computer).

With these simple practices, your plumbing camera is far more likely to record and store footage reliably—keeping your inspections efficient, professional, and trustworthy.