Looking to possibly upgrading system

[B2R]

Currently I have Arlo Pro 2 cameras and use Solar Panels for the past 10 years or so . Solar panels work great  but at times during mid winter very cold temps and cloudy skies I have to pull batteries and charge them up during the winter time once during winter. I’m looking at replacing a few cameras with the Arlo flood light cameras that will have direct power from house. I have a VMB3500 base station if I add / replace with flood light cameras will it work with my current  base station. Plus will I loose my 7 day free iCloud storage I currently have with my Pro 2 cameras. Or would it be better to just buy a few outdoor power cords and drill small hole in brick wall to feed the power cable to camera and plug into plug in garage / house . I’m thinking just buy outdoor power cords as cameras a still working fine. Those that just use the outdoor power cords are they working out good any over heating etc ?

[StephenB · Accepted solution]

---

@B2R wrote:

I have a VMB3500 base station if I add / replace with flood light cameras will it work with my current  base station. 

The base isn't compatible with either of the floodlight cameras.

• https://kb.arlo.com/000062284/Arlo-SmartHub-and-Base-Station-Compatibility

But both the wired and battery models can connect directly to your home wifi.

---

@B2R wrote:

 Plus will I loose my 7 day free iCloud storage I currently have with my Pro 2 cameras. 

---

None of the currently sold camera models have offer cloud storage.  You could keep the Pro 2s running along with a couple of floodlights.  The Pro 2s will continue to get cloud storage as long as you have 5 or fewer unsubscribed cameras in the account.

---

@B2R wrote:

Currently I have Arlo Pro 2 cameras and use Solar Panels for the past 10 years or so . Solar panels work great  but at times during mid winter very cold temps and cloudy skies I have to pull batteries and charge them up during the winter time once during winter. 

Arlo cameras stop charging when it drops below freezing.   That is because charging a lithium battery below that temperature results in lithium plating on the battery anode, which does permanent damage to the battery.

---

@B2R wrote:

Or would it be better to just buy a few outdoor power cords and drill small hole in brick wall to feed the power cable to camera and plug into plug in garage / house . 

---

That will work.  If you are talking about AC power, then it would be best to install an outdoor junction box for the power, and use an outdoor-rated charger+cable for the camera. And put the charger in a weatherproof box (there are weatherproof junction boxes available that include some space for a charger).

It might be simpler to run the USB cable through the wall (assuming the cable length is fairly short).  Try the cable out before you do the drilling, just to make sure the cameras charge reliably with the cable.

[B2R]

Thanks for replying and breaking down each question and answering them. I think I’m going to try finding and buying a Arlo outdoor power cord. I keep seeing weather proof but searching for one that says outdoor. I do have an outdoor plugs by two different cameras but they are lower than cameras and are easy accessible for someone to unplug. So I will most likely measure out distance from camera location outside to the nearest plug in basement or garage. Furthest plug might be 20-25 feet away for two camera the other 4 10-15 feet away. I will try cord with cameras before drilling and if those two work out I will buy three more cords ! Thanks for all your info especially about new cameras and free 7 day storage !