Small Solar Panels Can Power Everything in Your Yard
Because of my ADHD, I need a reminder to take laundry out of the dryer, so changing batteries and remembering to recharge devices just isn’t an option for me. As I reluctantly recharged my Ring doorbell for the second time in a month, I found myself thinking about solar panels. My Reolink outdoor camera comes with a solar panel which I installed nearby and connected to the camera. What was stopping me from using this panel for any other non-solar camera or device? After a week of testing, I learned that the answer was “not a damn thing” and immediately started buying solar panels for my non-solar outdoor devices and at least one of my solar devices.
This will work on any device that has a USB charging input. Solar panels come in different capacities, and the main thing is not to choose too much power. I chose panels from five to ten watts , and this was enough.
You should also pay attention to the connection type of the panel, as there are several different types of USB connectors. Make sure you select the correct option for your device. While you can get wrenches to convert them to the type of connection you need, you want as few connections as possible since you are outside and each one is a possible point of water entry.
Next you need to think about mounting. Most panels come with a mount that can be used on any side or horizontal space, but there are also mounts that can be purchased for posts or other surfaces. For example, if you are powering a smart birdhouse , you will need a panel that will attach to the post the birdhouse is on.
If you have a panel, all you need to do is install it and connect it to the device. Remember that you want as much sunlight as possible, so each of your panels should face southeast and slope upward. They don’t have to be near your devices, but you will be able to see the cord, so keep that in mind. Obviously solar panels only work in sunlight, but if your device has a built-in battery (most cameras and other devices do), this should be more than enough on a cloudy day or two. I was impressed by how quickly the cameras charged from the partially exposed five-watt solar panel.