Pairing Essential Camera (3rd Gen) VMC3080 with Solar Panel VMA7600

[Ritchie53]

I have a newish Essential Security Camera (3rd Gen) VMC3080. I have been trying, with NO success, to pair it with the ARLO recommended Solar Panel VMA 7600. I have returned one Solar Panel, and this second one doesn't work either. I have tried every which way to get it to work, with no success, and ARLO Support is absolutely no help whatsoever (as usual). 

Anyone else had this problem ? Anyone got any suggestions that I might not have tried ?

[jguerdat]

1) Can you charge the camera using the supplied indoor charger?

2) What battery level is currently noted? It appears that Arlo may be implementing changes to charging to help prolong battery life by not charging until a certain level of discharge has been reached. In that case, you should monitor battery level over time to see when the panel starts charging.

[Ritchie53]

Thank you for your reply.  The camera came supplied with a USB Cable (USB A to USB C) with which I can charge the camera.

The battery is currently showing 88% charged. Monitoring battery level will not help - I have let the camera get to below 70% before, and the Solar Panel will still not charge the camera battery. In any event, ARLO advise that the camera should be FULLY charge when connecting the Solar Panel as it operates as a trickle charger only. I should add that I have an older Essentials Camera with an older Solar Panel which operates just fine. So either the Essential Camera (3rd Gen) is incompatible with the Solar Panel, or some sort of firmware fix needs to be done to make it work. 

ARLO themselves have, of course, been no help whatsoever.