Records nonstop in rain.

[Mbaker34]

I get hundreds of recordings when it rains. Sensitive settings do not help. Firmware says up to date with 1.125.17.1
It is plugged in, but the motion also triggers my garage lights with SmartThings.

[Retired_Member]

Sheltering the camera can help a lot with this.  You need to stop raindrops running down the front surface of the camera or dripping right in front of it.

I have a Pro 3 tucked under a Hikvision DS-1250ZJ camera shelter (see attached).  In this configuration, with the camera mounted upside down, it's rarely (if ever) activated by rain.  This one is on a solar panel though, not plugged in.  I have another Pro 3 which is wired for power, under the same kind of shelter but not mounted upside down and so is not as well sheltered.  That one is activated by rain much more frequently.  I think the difference may be due to the 'Foresight' feature.  When plugged in the camera is always capturing video (just not uploading unless motion is detected) and that is maybe why that one records rain more frequently? Or maybe it's the way it's mounted - it might be that keeping the front surface of the camera dry is what prevents the motion sensor from activating.  I can't tell.

Re. SmartThings - instead of using the camera as a simple motion sensor, have a look at using IFTTT as a bridge between Arlo and SmartThings.  This lets you activate SmartThings devices when a person is detected in the video, rather than simple motion.  Create a virtual switch on the SmartThings IDE site and use IFTTT to activate that switch when an Arlo camera detects a person.  Use the status of the virtual switch to trigger an automation to activate the lights, and add another automation to reset the virtual switch 30 seconds after it's activated so the 'bridge' is reset, ready to be activated again the next time IFTTT receives the 'person detected' alert from Arlo.  I've had this working for months and so far my outdoor lights have never been activated by rain.

[jguerdat]

Have you tried changing the motion sensitivity in your modes and rules? Are there external lights that could be causing reflections and thus recordings?

[Mbaker34]

I have adjusted the sensitivity setting, and there seems to be no good balance between false triggers and needed triggers. I think I will try a cover. No lights either.

[Mbaker34]

Thank you for the detailed answer. Looks like a good idea to go with that shield. I found it on Amazon. I also wish I had the people only detection, but I don’t want to pay the monthly fee.