by Ring devices are intended to keep you safe. It goes without saying that they should be on at all times. After all, they wouldn’t be as safe if they cut out on a regular basis. To ensure this, Ring devices include a built-in solar panel feature that charges them during the day. But what can you do if your Ring Doorbell Solar Charger is not working?
Ring is well-known for devices that include a built-in camera and motion sensors, as well as a slew of other useful features. To keep your home and family safe, it is a good idea to install a solar panel that can keep your ring video doorbell, floodlight cameras, or other devices running even when you are not there to monitor them.
What makes this doorbell even more appealing is the ability to remotely allow people into your home if you recognize them. You won’t have to be concerned if you’ve locked someone out of the house or if a similar situation arises in which you need to grant access to someone.
How to Fix a Ring Doorbell Solar Charger That Is Not Working
First things first, you have to keep in mind that the Ring Solar Charger is a supplement to your Ring device’s battery. Having a solar charger connected does not eliminate the need to recharge your doorbell’s battery. However, it will extend your battery’s life and the time between recharges.
If you’re sure that your solar charger is properly hooked up to your Ring Doorbell and the Ring app still shows “Not Connected” on the Device Health page, remember that the Ring Solar Charger will only show up as “Connected” in the app when it has stored power. This means that when your Ring Doorbell’s battery is over 90% charge, the solar charger will show up as “Not Connected”.
You also need to make sure that you’re getting direct sunlight, as this is a requirement for optimal performance. If your solar charger is in the shade or under a covered porch, move it to a location where there is sunlight.
One other thing that can affect your doorbell battery is the sensitivity of your device. If your doorbell’s detects a lot of motion events in a day, the power drain can be higher than what the solar panel can provide. You can adjust the sensitivity inside the Ring app so it won’t detect unnecessary motion events. To do so, follow these steps:
- Tap the three lines on the top left;
- Tap “Devices”;
- Tap the “Motion Settings” tile;
- Tap “Advanced Settings”;
- Tap “Frequently”, “Regularly” or “Periodically”;
- Tap “Save” in the upper right corner.
- Frequently: Motion detection always stays active, shortest battery life.
- Regularly: Motion detection takes a short break after each Motion Alert. Medium battery life.
- Periodically: Motion detection takes a longer break after each alert. Maximum battery life.
Unfortunately, there have been reports of the solar panel failing to function properly and leaving you unable to charge your devices. If this appears to be the case with your Ring solar panel, don’t worry; there are a few things you can do to try to resolve the issue.
1. Attempt to reinstall the solar panel.
The first thing you should do if your solar panel isn’t charging your devices is to see if there’s something physically preventing it from doing so. You’ll do this by manually detaching the solar panel and inspecting it for debris or other types of blockages. If you’ve already checked and there doesn’t appear to be anything blocking it, look at the wires themselves.
There is a possibility that the wires are not properly connected or that there is a loose wire. Reattach the solar panel once you’ve confirmed that all of the wires are properly connected.
2. Check to see if the solar panel is in good working order.
If you’ve cleaned out the debris and properly connected the wires, but the solar panel still isn’t charging, the issue could be that the solar panel or the Ring device is damaged. You can confirm this by opening your Ring app on your phone and scrolling down to ‘Device health.’
From there, you can determine whether or not your device is connected to a solar panel. If the app tells you that it’s not connected while the solar panel is physically connected, there’s a chance your solar panel is broken. Unfortunately, this means you’ll have to replace it. We recommend that you connect the solar panel to another device first to ensure that the solar panel is working.
Conclusion
These are two simple solutions for fixing your Ring Doorbell Solar Charger if it’s not working at all. Following the steps outlined above will give you a good chance to fix your solar panel. And if that isn’t the case, it may be time to call in the experts. We would not recommend looking into the issue further unless you have prior experience with solar panels. Make sure to tell the Ring support team about the methods you tried so you can get to the solution faster.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Does a Ring Solar Charger need direct sunlight?
According to Ring, their solar powered devices require three to four hours of direct sunlight per day. If your installation area is frequently cloudy or receives a lot of rain or snow, the amount of sunlight that your solar power device receives may be limited. Please keep in mind that the solar charger or solar panel requires direct sunlight.
How Long Does a Ring Solar Panel Last?
You can use Ring solar panels for more than a year on average. Ring also offers a 1-year parts and labor and lifetime theft protection.
How Do You Clean a Ring Solar Panel?
Cleaning a Ring solar panel is as simple as wiping it down with a dry microfiber cloth. You can clean stubborn grime with glass cleaner or a small amount of water.
Why Is My Ring Doorbell Flashing Blue When Charging?
If your Ring Doorbell flashes blue, it means that the firmware is still being updated and installed. Give it a few minutes to complete it.
