Batteries won't charge on cameras not in use for two years P/N 308-50012-01

[Guestchef]

I bought a home with four Arlo Pro 3 cameras with solar chargers. I tried getting support from Arlo to restart the cameras and didn't get what I needed so I gave up. I'm trying again and I pulled the cameras and tried to charge the batteries and they won't charge. They will blink for three seconds but after being on the charger overnight there is no solid blue led appearing. I'm thinking that even though the cameras were connected to the solar charges and not being used for at least two years that the rechargeable batteries are bad and beyond recharging. I'm trying to start the cameras for daily use and need some advice on where to start. Do I buy new batteries or is there a chance I can get the old batteries to work. I appreciate any advice.

[BrookeN]

Have you tried leaving them plugged in for a full night? 

[StephenB]

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@Guestchef wrote:

I pulled the cameras and tried to charge the batteries and they won't charge. 

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This is with the Arlo-supplied magnetic cable?

Or are you using a stand-alone battery charger?  If so, is it Arlo's, or is it a third party?

[Guestchef]

Yes, I tried charging two out of the four batteries and I charged them overnight.

[Guestchef]

I used an Arlo-supplied magnetic cable charger.

[StephenB]

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@Guestchef wrote:

I used an Arlo-supplied magnetic cable charger.

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It can be hard to charge fully discharged batteries.  But there is also a chance that the cameras have failed.

The Pro 3 cameras should work when connected to the charger with the batteries removed.  Are you seeing any LED activity when you do this?

[Guestchef]

When I plug the charger in without the batteries in the camera, the Blue LED blinks continuously. All four cameras have solar chargers, are you saying the cameras will work without the batteries if connected to a power source?

[StephenB]

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@Guestchef wrote:

are you saying the cameras will work without the batteries if connected to a power source?

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They will work without batteries when connected to an AC charger, but not Solar.  Solar can trickle-charge the batteries, but don't provide enough power to run the camera.

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@Guestchef wrote:

When I plug the charger in without the batteries in the camera, the Blue LED blinks continuously. 

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That is a sign that the cameras are ok.  This article is for a different camera model, but it might be worth a try:

• https://kb.arlo.com/000052305/My-Arlo-Pro-or-Arlo-Pro-2-battery-is-dead-what-do-I-do

Do you also have the Arlo base/smarthub?

[Guestchef]

My cameras are outdoor and have no access to charge the battery to the cameras. I do not have a power adapter and adapter cable. I do have an Arlo base/smarthub. I don't have the Arlo Secure App installed. What will I accomplish installing the app if the batteries/cameras are not functional? I guess I don't understand how I will get the cameras up and running without buying 4 new batteries.

[StephenB]

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@Guestchef wrote:

 I guess I don't understand how I will get the cameras up and running without buying 4 new batteries.

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And I don't know how you determined that the batteries are actually bad, and not the cameras.

You could purchase one or two new batteries first (maybe also getting the external charger)

• https://www.arlo.com/en-us/accessories/VMA5400C-100NAS.html

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@Guestchef wrote:

My cameras are outdoor and have no access to charge the battery to the cameras. I do not have a power adapter and adapter cable. 

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I am confused here, as you earlier said that you pulled the cameras to charge the batteries.

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@Guestchef wrote:

 I do have an Arlo base/smarthub. I don't have the Arlo Secure App installed. 

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If you put back the cameras after you tried to charge them, then I suggest pulling them again, as ithat makes it much easier to install them.

The normal pathway is to

1. create an account on my.arlo.com
2. install the app on your phone
3. do a reset of the base using a paper clip
4. add the base to your account (either browsing to my.arlo.com on a PC, or using the app)
5. charge the cameras and then do a factory reset (opening the housing and pressing the button inside until the LED flashes amber - about 15 seconds).
6. add the cameras to the account (again either browsing to my.arlo.com on a PC or using the app)

Have you tried these steps?  If so, how far did you get?

[Guestchef]

If you look at earlier post from me, I tried the suggested steps to charge the batteries without success. I then tried your suggestion "The Pro 3 cameras should work when connected to the charger with the batteries removed.  Are you seeing any LED activity when you do this?" I plugged the charger in without the batteries in the camera, the Blue LED blinks continuously. You said "They will work without batteries when connected to an AC charger". You said "That is a sign that the cameras are ok". I'm sorry your confused by my statement "My cameras are outdoor and have no access to charge the battery to the cameras", what I meant is that I pulled them and charged them inside and I can't plug in the charging adapter to the cameras when they are mounted outside. That's why I'm assuming the batteries are bad. I will give it one more try to install the Arlo Secure App and install the cameras although if the batteries are bad this step seems that it will prove nothing.

[StephenB]

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@Guestchef wrote:

 what I meant is that I pulled them and charged them inside and I can't plug in the charging adapter to the cameras when they are mounted outside. 

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Ok. I understand what you meant now.

As I said above, the batteries can be hard to charge again after they are fully discharged.  So it is possible that the process I posted above will work.

• https://kb.arlo.com/000052305/My-Arlo-Pro-or-Arlo-Pro-2-battery-is-dead-what-do-I-do

So try that process (no guarantees, but worth the attempt).

It is also possible that the VMA5400C stand-alone charger will work when the charging circuitry in the camera does not.  FWIW, I find having a couple of spare batteries + the VMA5400C to be very handy (easier than pulling the cameras down to charge them).  So that might be worth a risk buy. 

I wouldn't buy four batteries in one purchase.  Instead I'd get one or maybe two, and see if they solve the problem.

[Guestchef]

OK, I might try to buy one battery and a VMA5400C to see if I can get one of the cameras to work. Thanks