You may encounter some issues when using the Tapo solar panel to charge the Tapo battery-powered camera, and here are some troubleshooting suggestions that can help you better utilize the Tapo solar panel and Tapo battery-powered camera.

Scenario 1. The Tapo Solar Panel is unable to charge the battery-powered camera at all

Troubleshooting suggestions: 

1. Check the Tapo Solar Panel's appearance and see if there's any damage.

If the solar panel's appearance is damaged but not human-induced, please send us a picture of the solar panel's broken part for further analysis.

2. Make sure the Tapo Solar Panel’s charging cable is connected to the camera tightly.

3. Ensure the installation location of the Tapo Solar Panel is unobstructed and has enough sunlight.

4. If there is any dirt/pollution on the Tapo Solar Panel, please use a dry cloth to clean it and see if it works.

5. Try to power the camera with the original power adapter. 

1) If the camera can't be powered, it may be the camera is abnormal. You can contact your retailer or local support to check if the camera is under warranty.

2) If it's not the camera issue, check the following information and post them on this thread for further analysis.

• The test results of the above steps.
• Was the Tapo Solar Panel able to charge the camera before the problem occurred? If so, how long was the Tapo Solar Panel functioning normally?
• Has there been any extreme weather like heavy rain?
• Photos of the front and back of the Tapo Solar panel.
• Photos of the locations that installed the solar panel and camera.

Scenario 2. Tapo Solar Panel intermittently fails to charge a battery-powered camera

Troubleshooting suggestions: 
1. Ensure the camera has been upgraded to the latest firmware.

2. Make sure the Tapo Solar Panel’s charging cable is connected to the camera tightly.

3. Adjust the Installation location and angle of the solar panel for better performance. The position and tilt angle of the solar panel greatly affect the solar efficiency.

• Choose a location where the solar panel gets the most sunlight throughout the year.
• Position the panel south-facing in the Northern Hemisphere or north-facing in the Southern Hemisphere. The recommended tilt angle between the panel and the horizontal ground is 35° ~ 45°.
• Regularly wipe the panel to remove dust and debris.
• Avoid being obstructed by leaves, buildings, etc.

4. Weather effects.

The solar panel is essentially unable to collect solar energy to power the camera on rainy days. Depending on the amount of light, how often the camera wakes up, and other factors, it varies on cloudy days.

5. Tapo camera's battery protection mechanism is triggered.

The battery itself has multiple safeguards such as over-charging protection, short-circuiting protection, over-heating protection, and more, which secure the battery charging.  Sometimes the battery doesn’t charge, it may be because the battery protection mechanism is triggered.
The suitable temperature for the Tapo Solar Panel is about -20℃~45℃, while the working temperature range for battery charging should be maintained at about 0℃~45℃.

If you are worried that the solar panel is not working well, please provide the following information on this thread for further analysis.

• The detailed problem phenomenon.
• The model number and MAC address of the Tapo battery-powered camera. You can send me(@Solla-topee) the MAC address via a private message.
• Has there been any extreme weather like heavy rain?
• Was the Tapo Solar Panel able to charge the camera before the problem occurred? If so, how long was the Tapo Solar Panel functioning normally?
• Photos of the locations that installed the solar panel and camera.

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