Spotlight Cam Battery not charging with solar panel

How did you get back on. My camera still isn’t reporting solar panel

Philadelphia, Pa. problem started in early November for me. Purchased 2nd batter but within a few days both are drained. Being handicapped is frustrating as the location of my camera and solar panel require a ladder be placed on top step of 5 front door steps. I called CS and they told me the problem is a faulty solar panel and that I would need to obtain the serial number off the back of the solar panel. Crazy that the serial number for camera is printed on my receipt but not the solar panel. Now looks like normal that I risk my life every other day to pull out the batteries and charge them overnight. Great security system…since camera isn’t activated when batteries are discharged and/or disconnected in order to charge them. TOTALLY unacceptable. Ring IT needs to revert back to firmware that was us e in September 2919.

Interesting how it is been a while since Ring even responded to our posts. Last time they basically said the same thing as before, pretty much blaming it on the weather.

Wonder what their excuse will be when spring and summer roll around. That now it is too hot?

I’m sure they will respond shortly with some fluff, but no additional info or actual help.

I have the same problem. Brand new and within a week battery is drained. The solar panel is plugged in. The app tells me to plug in a solar panel to extend battery life. The solar panel plug is snapped all the way in the back of the security camera.

I have the same problem. Brand new and within a week battery is drained. The solar panel is plugged in. The app tells me to plug in a solar panel to extend battery life. The solar panel plug is snapped all the way in the back of the security camera.

Got off the phone with support, and they are telling me that it is too cold for the cameras and will not charge when its cold outside. It’s 32 degrees right now, and for some odd reason, have worked for the past two years with no problems.

If I have 2 batteries, should it say “add a battery”?

If I have the solar panel, should is say “add a ring solar panel…”?

Last couple of weeks it’s been sunny, lows in 40s highs in 70s. None of my panels or cams are charging. Direct sunlight, mounted and pointed properly. NOTHING!

Yet the Arlo Pro 2 and panel, are pegged at 100%. That panel I mounted under an eave and it gets NO direct sunlight, just reflected light.

Once again, wonder what Ring will say when it is spring and summer. Wow it has been four-five months since this all started. Pretty sure Ring is just waiting everyone out.

1 Like

I don’t believe this. Mine stopped charging over the summer. It has nothing to do with temperature.

Last week my Spotlight cam started to charge:dizzy_face::smiley:

This week it stopped charging, it’s been sunnier and warmer this week than last week.:angry:

Has anyone heard from Jennifer?

Found my answer about Jennifer the last time she responded to us…the customers

Jennifer_Ring

Community Manager
‎02-13-2020 10:51 AM

It’s been almost 3 weeks.

Any updates Jennifer?

Ring forgot about us?

I can’t make my solar spotlight cam charge properly. I am an older female living alone and I bought this so I wouldn’t have to be up on a ladder taking the battery in and out. What is the deal? What can you do to make this work? If this is a known issue why isn’t ring doing something to fix it?

1 Like

Forgive me if this does not fit on this group. We recently purchased the Spotlight Cam with solar panel, and two batteries. Installed it yesterday evening, but the solar panel may not be working. As you can see in the picture, it shows no indication of being installed or charging. Is this typical of the software or do I have an issue with Cam or Solar panel? Yes the panel is in full direct sunlight plus under a few inside lights and still no change. Temps are in the low 60s.

That line in device health means nothing. It’s ring’s brilliant idea to advertise. Try and get them to admit it. Just so lame.

2 Likes

I just added my spotlight cams solar panel this weekend and it still shows the same message. My cams are new, only 3 months old. But that status in device health has always been there for me. The latest update that occured on Saturday was a new button when you first hit the … button. Just above the settings is a new button for Siren On. But it doesn’t appear that my battery is actually charging or show anything in the settings that shows I have a solar panel installed with either of my cameras

I recently got a solar panel for stick up cam battery and when pluged in the message goes away and shows connected. I tried it on other cams and still had the correct message. I can confirm it is charging. Dont know why some have the connect message and other dont.

1 Like

Fitted the latest generation battery stick up cam today which was supplied free of charge by Ring as my original cam of 4 years had stopped charging via the solar panel. I also installed the latest solar panel and pleased to say the cam appears to be charging. Interestingly in the App when the solar panel is connected to the cam it changes from battery to electrical socket as the power source, I was expecting it to say solar panel. Anyways when it’s charging via the solar panel the battery symbol changes to include a charging symbol inside the battery symbol. I’m in the UK with plenty of cloud cover and no direct sun today and appears to be charging ok.

Great feature request, how are we coming on this one Ring? Have this problem myself.

I think the new firmware is culprit. The solar panel is still charging the cam but the spotlight cam is used energy more than its supply from the solar panel.

Mine says…

Power Source = Battery

Battery Level = 91% (and it is charging via the solar panel)

Solar Panel Status = Add a Ring solar panel to Extend Battery Life

So power is getting through from the solar panel to the USB port on the camera, but the data connection between the panel and the cam is broken. The cable itself is built into the solar panel, so replacing that to troubleshoot isn’t an option, and there’s no debug logging in the Ring app to take this any further. :angry:

Same issue with my spotlight cam, really not acceptable that you pay so much for these + paying for monitoring and they don’t work. Should be a recall or a replacement to something that does work. Seems a regression in your firmware should not be too difficult to find.