So I got through to Ring about this problem. The rep had access to data that showed that my doorbell was getting a trickle charge during some events that the camera recorded. That data, however, is not available to the consumer.
The amount of energy provided via the solar charger is not that great in the gross scheme of things. This is probably more true in the winter months, or dependent on the orientation of the doorbell to DIRECT sunlight, and the usage settings on the doorbell, i.e., how much energy the doorbell uses in its operation.
I expected that the solar charger would end the need to take the battery out to recharge the doorbell 2. Turns out that is an over-expectation. Turns out that that is even an over-expectation if I had hardwired the doorbell a la the old style doorbell. That is to say, that both only provide a trickle charge that does not keep up with the energy needs of the device. (This makes sense since the solar collecting area is so small on this particular charger.)
So we finally got to the point when I had to say that the solar charger is not very effective and is probably overpriced, and that money is better spent buying multiple batteries.
Ring suggested that I might have a defective unit, so they want to send me a new one. While that could probably be the case, I doubt if any good data can be had until the summer months. The rep did offer a completely asinine suggesting of moving the doorbell to a different location not near my front door. (Protip: Not a good thing Ring.) The rep did not have any information on the separate problem of the app. But again, clearly the data is available, Ring just needs to find a way to push that to the end-user.
The bottom line, the doorbell 2 solar charger has to have realistic expectations. The product is only negligibly effective and is probably overpriced. Depending on your settings, probably even with the minimalist of energy-requiring settings, you will still need a high voltage, high current charge cycle. Your money might be best spent buying multiple batteries since the charge time is several hours.
@ln001 wrote:
In the less than one month that I have had a solar charge for Ring Doorbell 2 I have found that the doorbell is discharging at rate even faster than before, which I can tell via the number of days between when I have been notified by the Ring system that the battery level is low.
@Chelsea_Ring wrote:
Hi neighbors! While there are limited troubleshooting steps to take when involving the solar panel, it’s important to be mindful of device and environmental variables.
If you are seeing a message in your device health in iOS that says “add a solar panel,” this is not an indicator of your Solar Panel failing to charge. This added feature is advertising the Solar Panel as an addition to your battery-powered devices. It’s best to observe the battery percentage throughout a sunny day to see if the battery level is changing.
For those that are noticing a battery draining with a Solar Panel connected, as seasons change and cold weather is more consistent, the charge life of a battery can differ. Check out our Community post about battery draining for tips and tricks on optimizing battery performance.
The best steps for troubleshooting your Solar Panel are as follows:
- Clean panel to remove any dirt, dust, or debris.
- Check the adapter is securely plugged into the device.
- Ensure there is no debris or damage to the adapter or port area.
- In most locations, winter means overcast. Please ensure your Solar Panel is receiving several hours of direct sunlight per day.
If these steps do not resolve your concerns, it would be best to reach out to our support team here for more in-depth troubleshooting.
