Maybe you could get a managed switch that is compatible with JAP programming , set up a few VLANS and use commands used for JAP source switching to switch the cameras between the NVR VLAN and a VLAN with no internet connectivity. It probably would be best for the cameras to have a static IP address assigned to them within the camera setup.

cutting power to the cameras damaging the cameras?!?!?! Are you serious? i can understand condensation issues (which we have not noticed), but cutting the lifespan short........... We do this all of the time with interior cameras or even exterior cameras aimed at sensitive areas like pools, hot tubs, etc. run them to an araknis switch and programmatically cut them on and off.

Yes cutting the power to the cameras could cause premature damage to them.

Depending on where the OP is located and the cameras they want to turn off are installed it could have very serious effects. cameras installed outside in a northern climate, camera turned off in the evening and temps drop below freezing. During that temp change there will be moisture created on the electronics and if it gets cold enough could cause shorts on the boards when power is applied. In Canada we get very heavy dew in the fall and with temps getting colder it isn't uncommon to have heavy frost in the mornings starting this time of year. I would not be switching or recommend switching exterior cameras off from October to May as they might not turn on again.

If the OP is switching internal cameras than the risk of failure is reduced as you are in a climatized area with little worry of condensation buildup on the electronics.

i guess climate would play a big part of whether this would or would not be successful for exterior cameras

I actually like Kai's suggestion above. Programmatically switching the ports they are on to a different vlan when you want them "off" and then switch the ports back to the desired NVR vlan when you want them on. Effectively hiding them from the NVR.

But wouldn't any decent security system nag someone every time the cameras were switched/blocked? This will become boring at some point. I suppose that the nags could be processed and ignored if they correlate with scheduled viewing interruptions. Another approach might be switching to a dummy image.

From all the systems I have done you can disable loss of video notifications. Not knowing what recorder/system the OP has he may be able to do this per feed or may be limited to all cameras.

So this has to be manual control vs scheduled? mcdvoice myhoneybakedfeedback