For professionals who rely on sewer inspection cameras to perform detailed underground diagnostics, having the correct time and date stamp is more than a convenience—it’s a critical part of documentation and customer reporting.

But what if you notice something strange?

Each time you set the correct date and time on your sewer camera, it works temporarily—but the moment you power it off and restart it, the settings reset. You’re not alone. This is a common situation many new users face.

So, what’s going on? In this article, we’ll explain the real reason why your sewer camera doesn’t retain the correct time/date—and more importantly, how you can solve this issue permanently with a simple charging routine.

⏳The Issue: Date & Time Reset After Powering Off

If you’ve already spent time manually setting the correct time and date on your inspection camera, only to see it change to the erroneous time and date again the next time you turn it on, it can feel like something’s broken. You might think the system has a software bug or the internal clock is defective.

But rest assured—this is not a product defect.

This issue happens due to one overlooked but essential component inside your sewer camera: the coin cell battery, sometimes called a button battery.

🔋The Real Reason: A Low-Powered Coin Battery

Display Wrong Time & Date Reason：

While your sewer camera runs on a main rechargeable battery for regular use (such as powering the screen, lights, and camera system), the date and time memory is maintained separately by a small, internal coin battery. This battery acts as a backup power source specifically for the internal real-time clock (RTC).

Its only job is to keep the time running accurately when the device is turned off. Here’s the key point:

The sewer camera has power, but that doesn't mean your button battery has power. The coin battery only charges when the device is powered on. That means, if you use the sewer camera, set the time, and power it off shortly after, the coin battery hasn’t had enough time to store energy. The result? The date and time reset the next time you turn it on.

🔍Why Doesn’t the Coin Battery Stay Charged?

Coin batteries like these (often lithium-based cells) don’t charge the same way as your camera’s main battery. Instead, they slowly absorb charge only when the sewer camera is turned on.

This design choice has some advantages:

● 🔋It helps conserve energy when the camera is powered off.

● 🛑It ensures that the main system doesn’t have to stay partially active just to support the clock.

● ⏳It allows the coin battery to hold a charge for weeks, even after the main sewer camera is shut down—but only after it’s been properly charged.

So, if you’ve never left your camera turned on for several hours, chances are, the coin battery is still undercharged, which causes the clock reset issue.

🛠️How to Fix the Sewer Camera Display Wrong Time & Date Problem

To charge the coin battery and fix the date/time reset issue, follow these steps:

✅ Step-by-Step Instructions:

● Fully Charge the Sewer Camera First

Plug the sewer camera into a power source using the original charger, the full charging time is about 5-6 hours.

● Turn on the Sewer Camera and Leave It On

Once fully charged, turn on the pipe camera and leave it powered on (in standby mode) for at least 4 to 5 hours. You don’t need to use the drain camera for inspections or recordings—just leave it idle and powered on.

● Why This Works:

During these 4–5 hours, the coin battery is actively absorbing power. Since it only charges while the system is on, this standby period is critical.

● Set the Correct Time and Date Again

After the standby time, manually set the correct date and time once more by pressing the "MENU/EXIT" key to enter the menu settings. Press "<" ">" to select, press "Rec/-" to confirm, and press "EXIT" to return. Allow operating time setting.

● Power Off and Test

Turn the sewer camera off, wait a few minutes, then turn it back on. You should now see the correct time and date displayed.

🕒How Long Will It Keep the Time Correctly?📅

Once the coin battery is properly charged through the 4–5 hour standby method, your sewer line camera can retain the correct time and date for more than 15 days, even if the main system is powered off during that time.

If you use your sewer camera regularly, the coin battery will naturally stay topped up, and you shouldn’t encounter this issue again.

Avoid Quick Shutdowns After First Use

New users often turn the system off too quickly after unboxing. It’s important to let the internal systems run for several hours during the first-time setup.

If you're also experiencing storage problems, check out our guide on Troubleshooting Sewer Camera SD Card Issues.

🧠Frequently Asked Questions❓❓

Q: Is My Coin Battery Removable or Replaceable?

🅰️: In most models, the coin battery is embedded into the circuit board and isn’t designed for user replacement. Fortunately, with proper charging, it won’t need to be replaced for several years.

Q: Does This Mean the Device Is Defective?

🅰️: Absolutely not. This behavior is expected and by design. The coin battery simply needs time to charge.

Q: Why Doesn’t This Happen with my Phone or Laptop?

🅰️: Phones and laptops have real-time clocks supported by different power management systems that always draw a small current. For efficiency and battery conservation, sewer cameras use isolated power for RTC systems.

🔚Final Thoughts

If your sewer camera resets the date and time every time it’s powered off, the fix is simple and permanent: Give it time to charge the coin battery. 

By letting the sewer camera run in standby for 4–5 hours after a full charge, you enable the internal memory system to do its job—keeping your timestamps accurate for weeks on end. This small step can save you frustration, prevent reporting errors, and ensure your inspection logs remain clean and professional.

📞Need Help?📧

If you’ve followed these steps and still encounter issues, our support team is ready to assist. Contact us at Phone & Email or visit our troubleshooting page for additional guidance.