Floodlight security cameras require mains power, right? This is what I thought until now. Floodlight cameras are my preferred security cameras, as they serve as a deterrent, provide excellent light for other purposes, and improve the camera’s night vision with bright lighting.
Reolink recently launched the Solar Floodlight Cam, which is completely wireless and requires no mains power to operate. I put it to the test to see if it will become my go-to security camera
Table of contents
- Features
- Specifications and price
- Using the Reolink Solar Floodlight Cam
- Who is the Reolink Solar Floodlight Cam for?
Features
The Reolink Solar Floodlight Cam is a wireless, weatherproof, battery-powered Wi-Fi security camera with floodlights that reach up to 1,000 lumens of brightness. This is the first battery-powered floodlight camera I’ve reviewed. Until now, we have seen plenty of spotlight cameras that light up on activation, but their illumination is much weaker than that of a floodlight.
In the box, you will find the camera, with the solar panel already attached to the top of the unit, a USB cable, and mounting hardware. The unit is ready for installation with a drill and the provided special wrench to tighten the bracket once you select the correct direction.
The camera uses dual-band Wi-Fi, which increases its chances of connecting to your in-home Wi-Fi signal. You need to position the camera where it can see what you want to capture and illuminate, and still have Wi-Fi coverage. Otherwise, it will not work.
The secret to this camera is a large 7,800mAh battery and an efficient solar panel to charge it. The battery alone, with no sun, will last up to three months, but this depends on how many times the camera is triggered to record, and the light activates, which drains the battery. Reolink says that, based on average usage, the solar panel will need at least one hour of direct sunlight per day to provide 24 hours of coverage.
The 2K resolution camera is fixed and will capture 150 degrees left to right (side-to-side is 180 degrees). This resolution is adequate, but not for picking up detail at further distances, as there is no optical zoom. The floodlight, which activates on movement, puts out up to 1,000 lumens (equal to an old school 75W bulb or a 10-14W LED bulb). The camera will also trigger at this point and start recording an image, so the recording will be in colour and much more detailed than it would be without light. The camera will capture night vision in complete darkness up to a distance of 10m.
The floodlight itself has a few features, like adjustable warm or white lighting, and its brightness is adjustable both manually and automatically based on ambient light. The camera can differentiate between animals, cars and people, and the light can be set not to turn on, for example, if it detects an animal. These adjustments save battery power.
A siren and two-way talk capability also provide additional security features to deter intruders. The camera integrates with both Google Assistant and Alexa smart home systems.
In Australia, the sweet spot for the price of a battery-operated spotlight 2K security camera is $150; for an extra $30, you get floodlights with a solar panel, which is a bargain.
Reolink Solar Floodlight Cam specifications and price
| Resolution | 2K 4MP |
| Brightness | Up to 1,000 lumens via two lights |
| Battery | 7,800mAh |
| Dimensions | 10 x 26 x 16 cm 0.8kg |
| Price (RRP) | $179.99 |
| Official website | Reolink Australia |
| Warranty | 2 years |
Using the Reolink Solar Floodlight Cam
What has surprised me with this camera is that I did not expect it to be so efficient. I have rarely seen the camera below 100 per cent after 10 am.
I have mounted my camera facing north at the back of my house. If I mounted it on the front of my house, between the houses’ architecture and the southerly direction, the solar panel would not get the required hours of sunlight. It does not seem much, but you do need it, so consider if this will work in your location. You could recharge the battery periodically if you don’t have enough sunlight.
Depending on the brand, buying a security camera can come with monthly fees to get it to do what it is supposed to do. Reolink enables you to avoid cloud fees with local storage options. The simplest option is a MicroSD card (up to 512GB), which you insert into the camera itself. Alternatively, Reolink sells a home hub ($200) that also uses SD card storage but centralises it for several cameras, keeping it stored safely inside your home.
The solar floodlight can differentiate between vehicles, people and animals. If you wish, you can change the sensitivity of each category, allowing you to ignore one of them, say vehicles, if you live on a busy road. Each recording will have a corresponding logo to indicate what triggered it, which is handy, especially if you are searching for a specific occurrence. I did find, in low morning light, that although the camera triggered, my walking in front of the camera was detected as a movement rather than a person.
The Reolink app works well on the default settings, until you become more confident with the various settings changes you can make on the camera. Reolink also has a PC application, so you are not limited to viewing from your smartphone. You will need your smartphone for setup, though.
In the live screen view, there are several buttons you can interact with, including taking a photo, recording video, and talking to someone. A button on this and the playback screen will say ‘Low’. Press this, and the words ‘Fluent’ and ‘Clear’ appear. Press ‘Clear’, and the button changes to ‘High’. This refers to high resolution, which enables you to see more detail in the image.
Who is the Reolink Solar Floodlight Cam for?
If you are considering purchasing a security camera for your home but do not want to spend a lot to start, the Reolink Solar Floodlight Cam is my new favourite. For the price with floodlights and a solar panel, this self-contained security solution can be placed anywhere you have some direct sun and Wi-Fi coverage. The camera can be accessed from anywhere you have internet coverage, and there are no ongoing costs.
Once you commit to your first camera, it is more practical to stay with the same brand. Reolink offers a wide range of cameras and doorbells that suit different environmental needs, so you can build a security solution tailored to your needs. Having one app is far simpler than having multiple, speaking from someone who has many apps due to my testing.
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