Ring Security Cameras
Klscook
Spotlight Cam Battery not charging with solar panel
I have solar panels connected to my spotlight cameras & I have had to change the battery twice this week already. Initially it was jus one of my spotlight cams bit now both cameras I had to change the battery & the solar panel is on toof top getting at least 12hrs of sun daily. What could be causing the battery drain? This never used to happen
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06-11-2019 01:12:39
Responses (47)
- V
Hi any update on your issue? My cameras have all stopped charging after a year ... suddenly batteries flat. Nothing has changed, weather is the same as this time last year ??♀️
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23-06-2020 11:30:52
JWhat good is a solar panel that isn't even recognized by the attached camera? Don't tell me to clean it or reconnect it - I wouldn't be writing this if I hadn't already tried that and everything else. This product is a failure. And why is this community forum just full of problems with no solutions? Where is the customer support?
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24-10-2020 09:38:55
- K
Ring Support was able to help me. In my case it was as easy as reseting the camera and repeating the setup.
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24-12-2019 06:56:26
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LSo completely reset and remove the device and then go through the whole setup again? That seems really tedious as I have the camera tied into SmartThings, Alexa, etc., but if that is the only way...
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26-12-2019 04:40:25
CI just performed a hard reset. 35 seconds on the cam button then a regular push. Set it up all over again. Still nothing in Solar Panel Status. I wish I knew if there was suppose to be something there and if anyone else is seeing anything there.
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26-12-2019 07:08:35
JRemoving and reading didn’t help mine. I had the same problem and was sent a replacement cam so it has just been adding and It’s still not charging and says add a solar panel when I already have one added
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04-01-2020 10:09:40
DMorning all. I’m having the same issue with my spotlight cam & solar panel set up. After speaking with an advisor this morning they said they were unaware of this thread and any issues surrounding the solar panels being detected by the camera. They had me up and down ladders to get to my camera to reset it and eventually told me it’s likely that the solar panel is broken and are sending me a replacement. Although I doubt this is the issue I thought I’d go along with it to just appease them. And when it doesn’t work I will contact them again. She did mention that according to their system my camera has 2 batteries in it- which it doesn’t. Clearly something wrong somewhere! 
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05-01-2020 09:31:31
CI have 4 spotlight cams with panels. They ALL started acting badly at the same time. Coincidence? I don't think so. Tech support was no help. I felt like I was training them not the other way around. I'm finding the cams will charge sporadicly as long as they have not been used to much. In settings, I've had to lower the frequency down to the lowest level. Here's the bottom line. For over a year, through all 4 seasons my 4 cams and solar panels worked great. This past fall all 4 began to charge poorly. What conclusion would any thinking person draw from that?
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05-01-2020 12:07:58
- M
Same issue. Live in Florida. The panel is exposed to sun on most days for 6-8 hrs. My battery is currently dead.
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11-01-2020 03:33:21
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- O
I also have the opposite problem. My ring 2 has no solar charger, but says connected. It’s hardwired, and always recharges back to 100% overnight unless it’s in the 20s or colder overnight. It was in the 40s tonight and didn’t charge at all. It was working great until the solar charger connected field showed up. It’s like it won’t accept the trickle from my doorbell transformer anymore, and thinks it’s on solar. So frustrating!
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13-01-2020 10:49:59
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- I
I have the same issue and came here looking for answers. I also performed all of the troubleshooting tips provided in this thread with no success. Would anyone from Ring chime in and provide an update to this issue?
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15-01-2020 12:58:13
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GSame here. I installed solar panel for my spotlight cam this weekend. It was 67 degrees and sunny in NY for 2 days this weekend. No charge. Hope to climb ladder with a multimeter this weekend to see if the panel is outputting 5V. +1 for the useless “Solar Panel Status” in the app.
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15-01-2020 01:51:36
MSorry to hear about this concern persisting neighbors! As previously mentioned, there are several steps you can take to optimize solar panel and battery operation. Hours of direct sunlight, a clean panel, and a secure adapter connection are the best first things to check. Usage is also a factor to consider in high traffic areas or if events have increased. As there are many of you sharing these concerns and feedback on steps taken, we've shared this with our team for who is investigating this further as we speak. I appreciate your patience thus far on the matter, and recommend reaching out to our support team for further troubleshooting, if you have not already. We will certainly keep the Community updated with any information received.
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15-01-2020 03:25:28
HPanels have all been checked/cleaned (first thing that was done).... cables have all been checked and rechecked (disconnected and reconnected),,, We are in sunny Southwest Florida with no trees near the panels,,, panels on roof of house facing the sky without any shaddow coverage except for the occasional cloud which we haven't gotten much of lately as this is not rainy season (solar panels worked perfectly all through rainy season btw) .... This only started happening after the most recent update to the app... Prior to the update, everything was working great! I wish Ring would just go back to the previous version of the app.... Worked much better. There is no other reason that ALL 4 of my solar panels would just suddenly stop keeping all 4 of my spotlight cam batteries charged... Simultaneously... The issue is definitely the newest app update...
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15-01-2020 03:39:39
TI'm sure you will get a 5-6v reading out of the Solar panel. The issue seems to be with the firmware in the cams that will not "allow" the panels to charge the batteries.
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15-01-2020 03:50:02
T> @HopeC wrote: > > Panels have all been checked/cleaned (first thing that was done).... cables have all been checked and rechecked (disconnected and reconnected),,, We are in sunny Southwest Florida with no trees near the panels,,, panels on roof of house facing the sky without any shaddow coverage except for the occasional cloud which we haven't gotten much of lately as this is not rainy season (solar panels worked perfectly all through rainy season btw) .... This only started happening after the most recent update to the app... Prior to the update, everything was working great! I wish Ring would just go back to the previous version of the app.... Worked much better. There is no other reason that ALL 4 of my solar panels would just suddenly stop keeping all 4 of my spotlight cam batteries charged... Simultaneously... The issue is definitely the newest app update... Same feelings and situtation here, all four of my Stick Up Cams 2nd gen and Ring Doorbell 2 stopped charging sometime in Oct-Nov.
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15-01-2020 03:52:41
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ClintJ
I've just about had it with this charging issue. My 4 spotlight cams always charged. Ever since the line SOLAR PANEL STATUS was added to Device Health on my phone the batteries will no longer charge like they use to. If I had one cam I'd be suspecting something with it or the panel but when 4 stop all at the same time something is rotten in Denmark. Could it be the phone software is screwed up and will no longer report properly? I know when the temps get well below 32°F charging becomes an issue. We were at 50° yesterday with full sun on the panel. It would not charge. There was one instance sometime back the battery was not fully charged. It was a warm day, sun out but no report of an improving charge level. Right before the end of the day the battery level went from 80% to 100% in an instant. That's weird. Yesterday I put in a different fully charged battery in a cam. From use it went to 99%. Right now it's above freezing and the panel is in full sun. The cam has not been used but it refuses to go to 100%. What the hell is going on? Ring seems more interested in pumping out a variety of new products than in taking care of existing customers. I spent an hour in a text chat the other day. The guy didn't have a clue what I was talking about when I mentioned the SOLAR PANEL STATUS field. I had to send him a screen shot. I had to delete the app from the phone, restart the phone and load the app again. It was the same software version. 5.21.0 I leave home for weeks at a time sometimes. I don't have anyone to come climb a ladder and change a battery. I'm a pretty patient person but this is really starting to grind my gears. I'm going to start visiting some sales sites and expressing my displeasure. There has not been one Ring rep chime in here. Ring, please fix your software and end this issue. If I wanted to be on a ladder changing batteries all the time I wouldn't have bought solar panels. One last point! You added the field to the software. Why? All it does is tell me to add a solar panel to extend battery life. It doesn't even know there is one there.
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24-12-2019 04:31:08
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