How I set up this $17 solar panel to give my doorbell camera unlimited battery life

EverExceed 5V weatherproof solar panel

4 / 5

Very good

 on Google.

Trust, but verify.

I was asked to help set up an honor box along a popular trail here in the UK. You know the drill — a box that offers cakes, drinks, and snacks to weary hikers, who, in turn, are trusted to pay for the stuff they take, either by putting cash in a box or using an electronic payment method.

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While I think most people are honest and trustworthy, with honorable intentions, there are a few who aren’t. So I suggested installing a security camera in this box. I had a bunch of cool battery-powered cameras lying about that I’d been sent for testing, but hadn’t gotten around to it. Would it do the job? There’s only one way to find out!

It’s built for the great outdoors

I’m not normally a fan of tiny solar panels. Most of what you come across, built into power banks or other cheap accessories, is a gimmick and doesn’t do much in the way of charging. In fact, I’ve seen cheap solar panels that will actually discharge items attached to them!

The panels I had were rated 5W, measured approximately 7 x 6.5 inches, and came attached to a 10-foot cable with a convertible microUSB/USB-C connector on the end. The panels claimed to be IP65 water resistant, and had an operating range of -4°F to 122°F. 

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Sounds perfect for the UK weather!

The panel also includes a 360°-adjustable wall bracket. While being mostly made of plastic, it is tough enough for the job. 

You want the panel angle to be roughly the elevation of your location (or about 45 degrees if you can’t be bothered figuring it out).

of options), and finally connect the cable to whatever you’re charging.

You could give the solar panel a hand and make sure the doorbell camera is fully charged, especially if the weather isn’t all that sunny. 

ZDNET’s buying advice

For $16, this EverExceed 5V solar panel, or in a 2-pack. You do need a camera with a battery that can charge via USB. The sales page for the panel on Amazon claims that it doesn’t work with Arlo, Blink, or Ring cameras. I’ve tested it with a few cameras that I have here from these brands, and it seems to work fine, but I don’t have them all. 

Arlo cameras use a magnetic connector, and for those, you’ll need a USB-C-to-USB-C adapter to waterproof).

So if you have one of these cameras, you might need to call on your inner MacGyver.

Also, no matter which camera you have, you might need to get creative with waterproofing the connection between the camera and the charging cable. A little bit of silicone caulk

Source : ZDNet