Following the release of the Ring Stick Up Cam at CES 2016, Ring announced yet another new product earlier last week – Ring Solar Panel – to provide a charging solution for the Ring Stick Up Cam, a wire-free and battery-operated outdoor security camera.
Following the release of the Ring Stick Up Cam at CES 2016, Ring announced yet another new product earlier last week – Ring Solar Panel – to provide a charging solution for the Ring Stick Up Cam, a wire-free and battery-operated outdoor security camera.
According to the company, the panel only needs a few hours of sunlight each day to keep the Ring Stick Up Cam running. This means that with the solar panel, users can charge their Ring Stick Up Cam less frequently or not at all if there is sufficient sunlight during the day. This would also provide greater flexibility in the placement of the Ring Stick Up Cam for users because the device does not have to be demounted and remounted as much for charging.
The announcement is definitely an exciting one, as Ring is one of the first to come up with a dedicated solar panel for charging its outdoor camera, and that solar panels can potentially be a convenient means for charging outdoor cameras, especially those run on more power-hungry protocols like Wi-Fi. However, whether the user sees the need to buy a dedicated device for charging is still to be determined.
When asked whether the Ring Solar Panel can power third-party devices, the company says that while it is technically feasible (provided the other device has a micro USB port), the panel is specifically designed for charing the Ring Stick Up Cam and may not provide optimal charging for other devices.
Like Ring's other products, the panel features DIY installation, and is supposed to take three minutes or less to install. Lifetime Purchase Protection is also available.
The panel can now be pre-ordered from Ring's website for a discounted price of USD$29 – 40% off the regular price of USD$49. Shipping will begin at the end of March.