battery Cam pro solar panel charging indicator

The Battery Cam Pro needs to show the status of an attached solar panel charging.
The older outdoor battery cam used to show accessories and include adding the solar panel, and it would show that the solar panel was actually charging with a small lightning bolt icon next to the battery. The new Battery Cam Pro no longer has either of these options.
This is a critical feature when setting up and installing the solar panel on this camera so an individual know whether the solar panel position is actually working to charge the battery.

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@UpaNotch_Chris,

I have a WBCP that has been reliably monitoring our driveway for about a year.

The charging indicator (lightning bolt) does appear when the solar panel gets direct sunlight.

In our case, with the panel facing due east, the unit shows the lightning bolt from about 9am until noon. On a typical day the cam starts at 98% around 8am - - no lightning bolt. By 9am the charge is at 100% and then the lightning bolt appears, overlays the 100%.

The original outside battery Cam charge indicator was much more sensitive to ambient light. It would show the charge indicator (lightning bolt) much sooner. And yes in the original unit you did define the solar panel in the configuration setup. The newer WBCP does not have that definition in the configuration.

In my setup the battery indicator starts at approx 98% at 8am. By 9am the battery indicator is at 100% and there is a lightning bolt overlaying the battery indicator. It stays at 100% until the solar panel is shadowed by the roof line at approx noon. By sunset the battery indicator is at 97-98 %. Then the cycle repeats.

If you are not seeing the lightning bolt but the battery indicator shows an increase during the day then it is charging. If it is not increasing, and your showing a decrease in the battery charging then you may need to reorient the solar panel.

Bottom line. The WBCP lightning bolt is not as sensitive as the previous outdoor cam.

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Thx Ronl,
I have 4 of these units, but have not yet seen any lightning bolt,
I do have them setup behind UV glass, atm, so I’ll play with them a bit to try and produce that lightning bolt.
I did find it odd that the documentation or support wasn’t aware of this.

Just wondering… which Wyze app version are you using? I see the lightning bolt in the 2.50.x app, but not in 3.2.x.

I have seen it non stop from 2.5 until current 3.2.1 581.

It is sensitive. Only “direct sunlight”.

On the previous cam the bolt appeared earlier and stayed on later.

Once I figured the cam was charging I quit worrying about it. If I hadn’t had the previous unit I probably wouldn’t have noticed.

@UpaNotch_Chris, I’m no solar expert but I belive the solar panel is looking for photons–UV is photons - - just not visible light. If you see a positive charge from day to day then your golden. If your trying to fine tune the solar then the bolt would be nice.

The following snap shows the bolt. It just came on in the last 5 minutes, 8:38am pdt.

P. S. On firmware 2290

I can confirm the lightning bolt shows up when the camera is getting sufficient charge. I thought it wasn’t charging when I first got it.

I use it on the bird feeder w/BCP and the panel keeps up with a VERY active bird feeder grabbing MANY events in a day.

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I’m using 3.2.09.
Maybe that’s also something?

It appears so. I see the charging indicator (lightning bolt) on the live stream page, but not on favorites, or cam group display under 3.2.x.

@UpaNotch_Chris,

We’ve all been focusing on the lightning bolt.

I submit that what may be more useful is the % number next to the battery symbol.

You have not said if your panel is working. My % is always 96% - 100%.

What % range are you seeing.

My panel works awesome. I have 5 min videos set on the Events. Bird Feeder is busy busy busy… all day. 30-50 videos a day??? Battery stays at 100% most of the time. Even when we have 3 or 4 cloudy / rainy days. The birdfeeder was a champ and was able to grab some charge even during those days.

Solar Panel is dope. Especially in a bird feeder. I don’t even watch the battery.

Hot glue for the win!

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Since my location hasn’t seen much direct sunlight I’m still waiting to see the lightning bolt show up.
On a % basis, the cameras have lost about about 3% over the last week.
I started out with 58%, 54%,99% and 96% on Tuesday
they are now, Friday still at 58, 54, 99 and 96.
So they aren’t gaining any charge, nor are they loosing any, but they are all just facing a static image, so no events are being captured etc, so no real draw on power.

I’m going to set them up to capture images(consume more power) and see if the % drops.

The challenge im going to have is I’ll be setting them up at a remote cabin, and will only have 3 days to make sure they are getting solar charging, so hopefully they are indeed all working.
Perhaps I can simulate sunshine with a bright light?
I really want to see that lightning bolt, or some type of indicator to know they are indeed connected and working.

@UpaNotch_Chris,

Thanks for the update.

Let’s see if we can figure this out before you have to go to the cabin.

I think your % numbers show you are charging, just not enough to turn on the lightning bolt.

As a reference:

  1. My WCBP starts the day at 98%.

  2. From first light until direct sunlight (when lightning bolt appears) the camera charges from 98% to 100%.

  3. The cam stays on 100% (with bolt on) until noon, when the bolt disappears.

  4. From noon until about sunset it starts to drop down resulting in 98% in the morning.

  5. If the cam was not charging, or not enough, I would expect to see a 2% decrease per day. Referencing your 4 days I would see a 8% loss.

Charge time. About 8 or 9 months ago I characterized the solar panels ability to recharge the cam.

To do this I turned on SD Continuous (which a prompt says don’t do). The Wyze FAQ(?) says this will drain the battery within 8 hrs. BTW, if you want to drain a bit of battery do it this way. Did we verify if you had a SD card?.

Then watched the % drop until it hit 30% or so.

I turned off continuous SD and went back to normal routine.

It took 5 days to recharge to 100%. The worst day I saw was approx 10%. The best day was approx 25%.

Im going to throw some possibilities and see if any stick.

You said there has been no direct sunlight. My opinion you will not see the bolt. FYI, I’m located in sunny Bay area. Last 2 days have been overcast with rain. Bolt has not showed up. Yet my cam was charging, I think if you can get some direct sunlight you will get the bolt.

You posted earlier that your camera was behind UV glass. Is that where the camera is currently at or will be. At its current location make sure the panel has an unobstructed view of the sun.

You asked about an alternate light source. I would be interested to. I’m thinking what do I have that could throw enough photons at the panel. Flashlights–not enough power
Lamp lights–LED, not enough power
Kitchen - - BR30, if incandescent, mayyyybe.
Outside floodlights BR40 150watt, mayyyybe.

If you do find a light source that triggers the bolt let us know.

Keep us updated.

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