+26 votes
by (480 points)
So the stick up cam solar panel is not a constant power source? My cams battery is dead. Why own the solar panel at all? Anyone?  
So the stick up cam solar panel is not a constant power source?

21 Answers

+22 votes
by (1k points)
 
Best answer
I got rid of my solar panel it did nothing I actually called Ring and they told me it’s pretty much useless
by (900 points)
@gasiform that's not correct. Mine charges everyday.  
by (1k points)
@alboin I’m giving you my experience and what ring actually told me
by (900 points)
@gasiform I appreciate that. But whomever told you that would probably have been long gone from the company  
by (1k points)
@alboin ‍♂️
+16 votes
by (490 points)
Imagine it works great when the sun is shining. We're hardwired.  
0 votes
by (520 points)
We have a solar panel and it constantly keeps our camera powered. Maybe you received a faulty solar panel?  
by (520 points)
Sorry, not sure how to test it. Hopefully Ring support knows how.  
by (900 points)
@alburg825 if you have 2 cameras and 2 solar panels, you could swap the solar panel around to see if that makes a difference.  
by (160 points)
How about probing the connector with a volt meter (assuming you have one) and with the panel in the sun is it showing voltage?  
by (160 points)
@alburg825 You should see it on the meter if you have the positive and negative probes connected on the inner and outer pin of the connector.  
+17 votes
by (3.5k points)
I guess it may depend on the amount of motion events you have and what your cameras doing. I would say typically on my solar panel during the summer it charges about 5% a day. I’m in Ohio though, and it’s pretty much worthless during the winter, but I kind of new that ahead of time.  
0 votes
by (1.2k points)
Is it in direct sunlight all day or shaded for part of day?  
+15 votes
by (5.3k points)
My panel keeps mine charged.  
+18 votes
by (550 points)
If the panel is receiving direct sunlight and battery is still dead, may be a bad solar panel.  
by (2k points)
@solarizel Villa could also be a bad battery. Just because they are rechargeable they do go bad eventually.  
+18 votes
by (800 points)
I have had mine for almost 2 years. In the winter with some days without sun it will drain more. Also with the added features and settings I am seeing it drain faster. I’ve started scaling the settings back to see if I can slow the drain. Doesn’t help that sun has been scarce the last couple weeks. My spot only gets sun until noonish.  
+17 votes
by (420 points)
I live in Washington State and mine has been 100% since last June through sun, rain and snow
+18 votes
by (610 points)
I second checking the connection and also starting with the battery already at 100% from the plug in charger. I or family have 3 total solar spotlight cams that stay 90-100% all year with about 7 hours sunlight.  
+17 votes
by (380 points)
Someone sold you a bill of goods. You bought it, its junk, and they got their money. Happens daily
+18 votes
by (2k points)
I use solar panel for my camera and no issues. Lowest my battery has gone down to is 95%. I live in Illinois and lot of cloudy days now but enough sun to charge up my battery.  
+18 votes
by (490 points)
My stick up cam has been over 98% for a couple of years now, never have charged it. The door bell units are another matter. But they do seem to prolong charging frequency.  
+19 votes
by (2.1k points)
I have two batteries in a spot light cam with solar panel. My first location of the panel was no good. Was not getting enough sun. Moved panel location, , , and now no problems. Always full power. Solar Panel location is key. You can get wire panel extension cord to put panel in a good spot while keeping the cam where you need it. Amozon sells is. Hood luck
+21 votes
by (900 points)
Solar panel/charging is fine. The issue is some of the cameras do not work with their solar panels. You may need to get it replaced. I have 2 in Ontario Canada with lots of snow and rain and works fine. But has to replace the cameras that weren't charging. Process of elimination and troubleshooting I did prior to calling ring was to switch the solar panels around from one camera to the other. Helps speed up the process with ring support if you already know what is not working and what is. Often times it is the camera and not the solar panel. Also; make sure the barrel style connector is pushed in all the way. Best of luck!  
by (900 points)
@alburg825 hope you get it sorted out. I have 2 batteries in both my battery cams and 2 extras fully charged as standby. But haven't needed the standby thus far.  
+21 votes
by (2.3k points)
I swapped my spotlight solar cam for the wired. I started having issues in the winter when it the temperature went below 40 degrees. the charge would drop quickly, even with few motion events. It would only charge up maybe 3-5% per day. It worked fine in the spring and summer. Even though I had to run wiring, it was worth it. The motion detection on wired cameras works much better, and there is a few seconds buffer that gets recorded prior to a motion event.  
by (900 points)
@nishanishi wired is absolutely the way to go. Hands down any day. However, wired may not be feasible at all times. Or if it would break the bank for a camera, I can live with the charge being low. Plus I have 2 batteries in there and it's been fairly decent so far. Only 1 battery is being used up/ charged.  
+20 votes
by (2.1k points)
My solar panel keeps mine charged well But if a few cloudy days and too many events. I have to bring it inside and charge it with usb
by (1k points)
@illiberal I ended up hardwiring both my doorbell’s with an adapter from Amazon
+14 votes
by (1.6k points)
Mine works great.  
+19 votes
by (1.7k points)
The whole point of the solar panels is to charge the batteries. It is NOT meant t be a constant source of power. Your device MUST have a battery to have any value. I have three stickup battery cams with solar and the lowest that I have EVER seen the batteries is 94 percent after a couple cloudy days. They are usually 100 or 99 percent.  
by (1.7k points)
@alburg825 Check the little connector from the solar panel into the back of the camera. Maybe it pulled out slightly and so it isn't charging.  
0 votes
by (4.8k points)
Did you fully charge the battery before you installed device? Check the connection of solar panel. I have one battery in my spotlight cam and with my solar panel has never gone below 95%.  
by (4.8k points)
@alburg825 call support
+17 votes
by (560 points)
Have a couple solar panels for different cams in harsh weather. Work 100% of the time.  
The Ring Home Security Group is where you can always find questions, answers, advice, reviews & recommendations from other community members about smart home security with the Ring doorbell, alarm, and cameras.
...