topic Re: Outdoor solar panel isn't charging Essential Outdoor camera despite being in full sun in Arlo Essential Outdoor 2nd Gen

Outdoor solar panel isn't charging Essential Outdoor camera despite being in full sun

whufcnutt121 — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 18:03:04 GMT

I have just connected my solar panel to my outside camera. Whilst the device shows the charge icon on the devices list, it has drained down to 0% and isn't charging. I have tried moving the slider to switch the device off but it won't. Any suggestions?

Re: Outdoor solar panel isn't charging Essential Outdoor camera despite being in full sun

jguerdat — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 13:11:59 GMT

SInce the solar panel is just a trickle charger, it may not be able to keep up with battery drain if caused by too much recordings or live viewing (>5 minutes per day on average is the spec) or if the camera is struggling to maintain connection to your router or hub. You may want to use a WiFi signal strength app on your phone to check the signal at the camera site.

Re: Outdoor solar panel isn't charging Essential Outdoor camera despite being in full sun

whufcnutt121 — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 14:32:22 GMT

Thanks. I did wonder that myself but it seems the camera is having a hissy fit as it doesn't even want to charge when plugged into the mains to charge up. I'm wondering whether the camera needs to be reset somehow in order to address this.

Re: Outdoor solar panel isn't charging Essential Outdoor camera despite being in full sun

jguerdat — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 13:58:24 GMT

Try charging the battery fully and then test again with the solar panel.

Re: Outdoor solar panel isn't charging Essential Outdoor camera despite being in full sun

whufcnutt121 — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 21:21:23 GMT

Despite plugging the device into the mains in situ and trying to charge it there, that didn't work. Therefore it has been necessary to remove the device, take it indoors, let it completely run down and then try the usb charging indoors instead. This worked and isn't ideal. The solar panel is obviously not sufficient to maintain the camera at 100% charge. So it seems pointless having the solar panel or even the camera, if it essentially has to be mains wired to continue functioning.

I'd hate to see how bad this device retains it's charge when there is less sunshine than the past two weeks or so.

Not that happy with the above at present, to be honest

Re: Outdoor solar panel isn't charging Essential Outdoor camera despite being in full sun

BrookeN — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 17:24:40 GMT

Please see the following:

https://kb.arlo.com/000045870/How-to-troubleshoot-Arlo-Solar-Panel-charging-issues