I have 3 outdoor battery cam pros at our community pool. We installed them about a year ago.
One is mounted and plugged into an outlet. It’s working fine.
The other two are mounted on trees with solar panels. Both have ample direct sun and have been fine for a year.
One of the two solar is working and batteries stay charged.
The other has suddenly started draining battery. It’s down to 9% now. We took the camera down today, cleaned everything and reinstalled. We also cleaned the solar panel and checked the connection.
I figured after a couple hours of sun, I’d see a percent or two increase, but it continues to drop.
Can a solar panel just go stupid?
My next thing to try is swapping in a different battery (fully charged) and see if it drains.
I’m guessing there might be a warranty. Will have to look it up.
Any other thoughts?
It is possible that the Panel is having an issue. However, the Battery will actually control the BCP and not the Solar Panel. Try replacing the Battery if you have any spares. If you don’t try switching it with one of the others as a test
Are there branches or leaves that have grown to interfere with the sun hitting the solar panel of the BCPro that is not maintaining it’s battery charged?
Perhaps as an option of troubleshooting, swap solar panel’s between camera’s to see if the problem follows the solar panel, or stays with the BCPro and/or BCPro’s location (where it’s got something blocking the sun part of the day?)
For the solar panel swap test, I’d ensure both batteries where fully charged before that test, rather than put a BCPro at 9% hoping the solar panel will be successful at bring it back to 100%.
Swap batteries and swap panels… then you will know.