Powering the camera with solar panel

Cameras
21

I have Six Camera’s powered by Wyze Solar Panels:

This morning, I checked my Four Battery Cam Pro’s, and my two Wyze Cam Outdoors (one v1, one v2). All Six are connected to a Wyze Solar Panel. (sunset is around 8pm this time of the year in Southern California)

Four of the Camera’s normally get full sun for about 9 hours (9am - 6pm), all Wyze Panels face NW equal to what my home’s solar panels on the roof. The sun is low enough on the horizon, and based on the production I see on my home solar at 6pm, that’s when I’m assuming the Wyze Panels are not producing much of anything by that time.

at 9:15am this morning:

Facing out to a field below my house:

Battery Cam Pro: 99%
Wyze Outdoor Cam v2: 96%

Facing down the hill:

Battery Cam Pro: 100%
Battery Cam Pro: 99%

Next to NW facing wall, blocks out the morning/early afternoon soon until about 2:15pm, ending around 6pm

Battery Cam Pro: 47%
Wyze Outdoor Cam v1: 99%

47% for the Battery Cam Pro makes sense to me with the limited direct sun exposure. 99% for the WCOv1 sitting right next to the BCPro is puzzling to me for the WCOv1 that was activated on 03-28-2021, I would expect it’s battery to not be that healthy.

This WCOv1 recently fully discharged on me (last week), requiring a full charge to bring it back into service.

So, it appears to me that my solar panels are keeping the Field and Hill camera’s fully charged.

And the 2 to 3 hour charging window for the two cameras next to the NW wall of the house are doing the best they can with the limited sun exposure. I may move those further away from the house to increase the sun exposure for them to see if that’ll keep them charged.

22

I could swear I’ve seen inline micro USB diodes available somewhere. Probably a good idea to toss one in, even if the panel does have one, two won’t hurt (as long as it is oriented correctly).

23

That’s correct as it doesn’t impede the flow.

24

It will drop the voltage another 0.7 volts…

25

Can be gotten much lower with a germanium or Schottky, I use the Schottkys for a lot of stuff, but they’re a bit more expensive so who knows what you’ll find in some no name brand pre-made thing. They have a bit higher reverse leakage too but doubt it would be a factor.