Solar Panel

With the Outdoor Camera Solar Panel, you can power your Outdoor Camera without the need to separately recharge or replace the battery—like a traditional wired outdoor security camera, while retaining install-anywhere convenience. With just 3 hours of direct sunlight per day, the water-resistant Solar Panel keeps your Outdoor Camera charged at all times.

Thanks to its 13 foot power cord, the Solar Panel doesn’t need to be installed in the same place as your camera. Simply run the cable to the Outdoor Camera and use the included cable management velcro sleeve to neatly tuck unused cable behind the solar panel.

Physically Installing Your Solar Panel​

First, you’ll need to find a location within 13 feet of your Outdoor Camera. This should be a spot that receives at least 3 hours of direct sunlight per day.

Next, you’ll need the appropriate tools to install your Solar Panel. 

If mounting on brick/stucco/stone surfaces:

• Use a ¼” masonry drill bit to drill two pilot holes into the surface

• Then, use the included anchors and screws to attach the Solar Panel to the wall

If mounting on wood or vinyl surfaces:

• Screw the self-tapping screws directly into the wall using a handheld screwdriver

• Wood surfaces generally do not require pre-drilled holes

After mounting the Solar Panel, use the omnidirectional mount to aim it towards the direction that will give it the most access to sunlight.

Finally, secure any excess power cord by wrapping it around the base of the Solar Panel, then using the cable management velcro straps to ensure the cord will not get tangled or caught by inclement weather or small animals. 

Troubleshooting

The Solar Panel is designed to maintain your Outdoor Camera’s battery life, not to recharge it. If you find that your Solar Panel is not keeping your camera battery topped off, there are a few steps you can take to try and resolve this.

*The Outdoor Camera battery is only compatible with a SimpliSafe® Outdoor Camera Solar Panel, not with any third-party solar panel devices.

One of the most exciting features of the Outdoor Camera is its wireless power capability and long-lasting battery life. When fully charged, the battery is designed to last for up to 3 months. And since the life of the battery is completely dependent on usage and settings, there are several methods that can be used to maximise the battery of your camera and keep your home protected 24/7.

Camera Location

Your camera is activated by a motion sensor for accurate alerts. If your camera is in the vicinity of a high-traffic area, like a busy road or sidewalk, the motion sensor will be triggered more frequently for unnecessary movement, which can cause the battery to drain. 

If your camera is in a high-traffic area:

• Reposition the camera so that its field of view does not include the busy road or sidewalk. You can also set up Activity Zones to avoid monitoring these areas. 

• Make sure there are no tree branches or large plants obstructing the camera's view.

• Be sure to mount your camera 6 – 8 feet above the ground, with the lens facing downward at a 30-degree angle. 

Camera Settings

There are multiple settings that can be adjusted to help extend the battery life of your camera. To access these settings in the SimpliSafe® Mobile App: 

1. Choose the Camera tab from the bottom navigation bar

2. Select the gear icon for Camera Settings in the upper right corner

3. Tap on your Outdoor Camera

Battery-saving settings:

• Lower your camera’s motion sensitivity setting to Default or Low. This will impact how frequently the camera is triggered. 

• Enable People-Only Detection to ensure your camera is only capturing humans, and is not unnecessarily triggered by other moving objects or animals. 

• Set up Activity Zones to control the areas that the camera will monitor. This is helpful if there is a high-traffic zone in the view that you do not need to monitor.

• Use Standard Night Vision mode instead of the Spotlight feature.

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Charge the Camera’s Battery Fully

Charge it Completely

If the Outdoor Camera’s battery is not completely charged, it will give the appearance of draining quickly. The Outdoor Camera’s battery takes up to 6 hours to charge completely. When the battery is charging, you will see a blinking white light. You’ll know the battery is fully charged once all 3 lights are illuminated and no longer blinking.

Use the Correct Power Adapter

The Outdoor Camera’s battery requires a USB power adapter with an output of 5.0V, 1.5A+. Failure to use the correct power adapter can result in the battery not charging completely. 

A list of power adapters that fit this requirement are:

• The SimpliCam® Wired Indoor Security Camera’s adapter 

• The Smart Alarm Wireless Indoor Security Camera’s adapter

• Most iPhone (Apple) adapters

• Most Android adapters

If you don’t know the output of your power adapter, most models will have it printed on the device itself, as seen in the image below.

If you are using the correct power adapter, make sure that you are plugging it into an outlet directly in a wall. Using a USB power strip or USB power hub may not supply efficient power to charge the battery.