Arlo Ultra Solar Panel not charging. Not seeing charging icon on all 3 Ultra cameras.

[sia_later]

I'm hoping someone may be able to post their experience around the vma5600.

I'd bought one and tested after receiving it. Plugged it into my floodlight and started getting a charge. Cool so it works. A few weeks later after finally getting some time to properly install it, I tested before mounting and it's no longer working. Tested on all my 3 ultras including the floodlight and I'm no longer seeing the charging icon on the app. Has something changed in the last 3-4 weeks in the background that may impact this?

Note the tests were run under full sun conditions.

It's got me stumped

[TomMac]

What is the outdoor temps ??

The solar panel will not charge below 32F, not the panel but a safety built into camera to prevent battery damage.

( none of the cameras will charge below 32F )

[sia_later]

It's currently summer in Australia so averaging over 30 degrees C

[TomMac]

check the contacts, make sure no crud got int there... I usu have to wiggle my a bit to start a charge if outdoors.

[sia_later]

Yep did all that even though my floodlight is fairly new and clean and the magnet is quite strong so there isn't much room for it to move around. Also given it doesn't work on 4 cameras, I find that extremely suspect.

I'm ready to call it and say it's a dud. Quite disappointing actually...

[TomMac · Accepted solution]

Since it didn’t work on other cams, your prob right as to dud.

try Arlo support for warranty 

[sia_later]

So I bought another panel and the same thing. Something isn't right here because something has definitely changed in the system at some point in the last 2 months.

Can am Arlo rep please contribute to this?

Current firmware version on the base station is 1.16.5.0_893_89fcc16

[sia_later]

So I've just discovered a firmware release on the 16th February which is between the time I first tested the panel with it working to when I discovered it stopped working

https://community.arlo.com/t5/Firmware-Release-Notes/Arlo-SmartHub-VMB5000-1-16-5-0-893-89fcc16-16th...

JamesC, hoping you're reading this and can provide some insights

Edit: also found specific firmware releases for both Ultra and floodlight cameras mid January which still falls within the time period between tests

https://community.arlo.com/t5/Firmware-Release-Notes/Arlo-Ultra-VMC5040-1-070-51-1-241-87b6bae-17th-...

https://community.arlo.com/t5/Firmware-Release-Notes/Arlo-Pro-3-Floodlight-FB1001-1-070-19-3-26-39e2...