Do I Have to Setup Ring Battery Camera Again After Adding Solar Panel

Ring cameras have been a fixture in my backyard for years. My first generation camera and solar console accept been out there for years and seem to have stood the test of time relatively well. Since Ring has upgraded its outdoor security cameras and solar panels, I had a chance to test out a new Ring Spotlight Cam and optional Band Solar Panel to see what's different and what's been made better.

Ring Spotlight Cam battery review

What's new with Ring cameras?

This new Ring Spotlight camera has a couple of improvements over my original; for starters it'due south got a Dual-LED spotlight in the front face of the photographic camera unit for added lighting which should hateful more than security.

This camera also has a now-removable rechargeable battery which you lot can employ equally your master power source (my quondam Ring camera needed to be physically removed from the wall and brought inside to be plugged in and recharged). Of course yous can also add together the optional Ring Solar Panel, which is a not bad mode to go on your camera operational all the time.

It might be worth keeping in mind that the older solar panel and Band cameras take unlike hook-ups so yous can't utilise an older model Solar Panel with a newer camera.

Enhanced mounting bracket

The new Ring Spotlight Cam camera comes with a improve mounting bracket that's at present a whole lot easier to arrange.

Wider field of view

The first thing I noticed virtually this camera feed is the wider field of view over my onetime one. This photographic camera is also Hard disk so expect more clarity in your video monitoring too.

HD Video & Night Vision with Siren

The Ring Spotlight Cam has 1080HD video with a born microphone and speaker then y'all can hear what's being said exterior, and even speak with anyone who's in front of the camera.

Spotlight Cam also has infrared nighttime vision built in so you can see and record even in full nighttime. Plus, there's that light which will turn on when motion is detected. For added peace of mind, at that place's a 110-decibel siren if you demand to pull out the bigger guns, and this blaring buoy can help you scare off prowlers. To use information technology, you do  have to manually plow it on inside the app.

Motion Alerts

All Ring cameras are designed to warning you lot to any movement on your property. Yous'll get an alarm to your smartphone whatsoever time the camera senses movement, and it'south possible to configure exactly where within the photographic camera's field of view the alerts are detected, plus you lot can disable notifications from higher traffic areas, like street, or your kids swing set up. You can also tweak motility sensitivity to alert you to whatsoever movement whatever, or just major ones.

Past the way, some other choice for audible alerts is to add the optional Ring Chime Pro. When configured, it can send an audible alert  (like a chime or other sound) through your home when it detects motion. Handy if your telephone isn't ever in front of you.

What is Band Protect?

In order to get the nearly from your Ring cameras, or the Video Doorbell (read my review of the Video Doorbell 3 and Chime Pro hither), information technology's wise to be aware you lot'll probably want to sign upwards for Ring Protect.

Ring Protect is a monthly service plan that allows you to access, download and view recordings from your Band devices on your phone. Prices for this Cloud video storage and access range from nearly $v to $fifteen/month and fortunatley there'southward no contract needed so y'all tin cancel information technology any fourth dimension.

There is as well a free version that lets you lot view your camera'due south alive feed, but yous won't have admission to recordings of previous events. The specifics of each of the dissimilar plans tin be found here.

Set up: Band Spotlight Cam & Solar Panel

Getting the Spotlight Cam and Solar panel set was quite easy, from the app set up to the installation process. To begin, charge the battery and download the Ring app if you don't already have it. Then sign into or sign up for an account.

Before you install it outdoors, it's easiest to set up the photographic camera inside.

When the bombardment is set up, popular it into the Spotlight Cam; there's actually two battery pack openings on the within, and it doesn't matter which ane y'all use. The second slot is if y'all want to add a 2nd bombardment for extra juice, instead of the solar panel.

The Spotlight Cam will start powering upward and so you can go into the Band app to add it. Click Add Device and follow the instructions which volition go the camera linked upwardly to your home'south Wi-Fi network. My Spotlight Cam was prepare in minutes.

With everything working properly, screw the subclass onto your house (and Ring really includes screws and a screwdriver for this, which is actually convenient).

As I noted, the Spotlight Cam bracket is new and at present employe a ball and socket joint which lets you move it around better for the best view. Snap the camera in and tighten the neckband to secure it in identify. The Solar Panel as well has a new bracket that holds the panel at a better angle and stays put. Plus information technology ways you can slide the panel on and off for access if y'all need it.

One time both the Spotlight Cam and Solar Panel are mounted, connect the Solar Panel to the camera by prying off the minor rubber stopper covering the power plug and insert it.

It took simply a few minutes to get both devices installed and gear up to record.

Using Ring Spotlight Cam Battery with Solar Panel

Right away this camera duo was useful. During the day I could keep an eye on my pups in the yard, specially if I was using my Amazon Echo Testify 8 every bit a viewing device. I too used the Spotlight Cam to see and speak to a meter reader who came into the thou unexpectedly. At nighttime, it mainly caught stray cats, only I'm confident that if we did have a prowler, I'd know about it and have video of the incident.

The Solar Panel virtually definitely keeps the camera fully charged (information technology's not budged from 100% battery since information technology went upwards), and ways I don't need to head outside to remove and recharge the battery, which volition be even nicer in the winter.

How well does Ring operate in Common cold weather?

While this camera has gone up in jump, my previous Ring cameras have operated trouble free all wintertime long, with the possible exception of extreme cold temps around -30, which does seem to freeze them and knock them offline temporarily. But it also knocks me offline temporarily too.

Video & light quality of Ring Spotlight Cam

As yous can see if you lot watch my video review, or from the photos, the video is sharp and piece of cake to sentinel. As far as I'm concerned, it'due south loftier quality day or dark. The LED lighting is also quite bright, and lights upwardly the area around it actually well, plus that extra light improves the overall video picture.

Adding Alexa to Ring

One of the great options with Ring is the ability to connect the cameras and doorbells with Amazon Alexa so you tin can get voice command or remote viewing using an Amazon smart device with a screen.

If you have a newer Echo Show device like the Amaxon Echo Show viii (read my review of the Amazon Echo Bear witness 8 hither), cracking news, Alexa automatically detets and adds Ring cameras and devices to the Alexa app to make set up even easier (though in some cases you lot may need to sign into your accounts if information technology'south your first fourth dimension). With Alexa and Band connected you but need to say "Alexa, testify me the Lawn" when motion is detected and the feed will pop upwardly on screen. If you exercise demand to do a manual fix, yous can enable Band as a 'skill' inside the Alexa app.

Overall review Ring Spotlight Cam Battery & Solar Console

Overall I've been a big lover of Ring devices. I will annotation that I had some recent troubles with the Ring app with my devices not connecting properly or falling offline, or showing alerts as "video not bachelor" simply this seems to be less of an upshot than it was previously.

Downsides? I'one thousand having a hard time finding any; the offline notifications practice happen from time to fourth dimension but the video quality is great, the cameras are piece of cake to fix and access and you can configure your whole home system in and then many ways to give y'all the peace of mind you're looking for. I know some folks are disappointed that without anteing up for Ring Protect you can't become your videos, not even from a few days prior, but that'southward the reality of virtually remote security systems today; they all want you to pay a fee for that cloud recording.

I can definitely recommend Ring Spotlight Cam as a style to increase your home's security and keep watch over your house.

Ring Spotlight Cam sells for about $240CAD, and the Solar Panel sells for about $65CAD from Amazon and Best Buy.

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Source: https://techgadgetscanada.com/ring-spotlight-cam-solar-panel-review/

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