In the world of innovative smart-home products, Wasserstein is one of the brands paving the way.
Having developed several accessories for brands like Nest, Ring, Arlo, and many other market leaders, Wasserstein is one of the most reliable companies from which to get a solar panel for your Ring camera.
In this article, we’ll be comparing Wasserstein’s solar panels for Ring cameras to the solar panels offered by Ring itself to see which panel is the best for powering your Ring camera.
So, with that said, let’s get to it.
Overview
Wasserstein is one of America’s go-to brands for smart-home accessories.
One of the accessories Wasserstein is best known for is its solar panels, and the company offers quite a collection of those for various brands.
Ring is one of the brands the company offers solar panels for, and the Wasserstein solar panels for Ring have been known to be rather effective.
But how exactly do these solar panels compare to the solar panels provided by Ring? Keep reading to find out.
Key Similarities
Despite being products from different companies, Wasserstein and Ring solar panels share much in common.
Weather-Proof
As devices designed to be placed under direct sunlight, both solar panels from Wasserstein and Ring are tested and trusted weather-proof devices.
Solar panels from both companies have been designed to be able to withstand outdoor conditions and are expected to remain undamaged by exposure to rain, sun, or snow.
The solar panels from both companies are weatherproof all the way to their cables, so even when placed under the rain for extended periods of time, you wouldn’t need to worry about any damage.
Built for Ring
Solar panels for Ring devices offered by both of these companies aren’t just compatible with Ring products.
They were built specifically for Ring, which means that these solar panels can not only charge your Ring devices but have been built for optimal performance when doing so.
Mount Mobility
Both companies offer mounts with their solar panels, and these mounts have been designed to maximize sunlight exposure.
Solar panels for Ring devices offered by both companies come with mounts that provide 360-degree rotation and 180-degree tilt, allowing you to adjust the panel however you see fit for maximum exposure.
Product Starting Price
While both companies offer different options for individuals looking for solar panels for their Ring devices, there’s a similarity in the starting price of solar panels offered by both companies.
With just under $40, you can purchase a solar panel for your Ring Spotlight or Stickup Cam from either Wasserstein or Ring.
Compatible Devices
Both Wasserstein and Ring offer solar panels that are compatible with the same battery-powered Ring devices.
If you own any of the following Ring devices, both Wasserstein and Ring solar panels would be compatible with your device:
- Ring Stick Up Cam 2nd and 3rd Generation
- Ring Spotlight Cam
- Ring Spotlight Cam Plus
- Ring Spotlight Cam Pro
Key Differences
Despite the similarities between the solar panels offered by both brands, however, there are a few notable differences between the two options. Below are the key differences to consider.
Power Options
The difference in power options offered by the two companies is one of the major differences between Wasserstein and Ring regarding the solar panel business.
Where Wasserstein offers essentially just one type of solar panel, a 2-watt solar panel, Ring offers both a 1.9-watt solar panel as well as a 4-watt panel.
Wasserstein’s 2-watt solar panel and Ring’s 1.9-watt panel are quite similar devices.
From prices to the amount of sunlight exposure required to charge the solar panels (3 to 4 hours of direct exposure), both devices are pretty much equally matched, with the Wasserstein being just a little more powerful.
If you’re looking for an even more powerful solar panel, however, then Ring’s 4-watt solar panel is the obvious choice.
Capable of producing twice the power of Wasserstein’s 2-watt panel and requiring just 2-3 hours of direct sunlight to charge, this panel is more powerful and a better choice for less sunny regions and seasons.
That being said, it’s more expensive, so that’s something to consider.
Plug
Another difference to consider is the plug that comes with these solar panels.
Both Wasserstein and Ring solar panels come with either the barrel plug or USB-C plug.
Whatever compatible camera you have, Ring Solar Panels come with a USB-C to barrel plug connector in the box.
However, Ring offers the possibility of forward compatibility with their Solar Panel, 1st Generation. You can actually use them with newer USB-C Cameras.
To do this, they have the Ring Barrel Plug to USB-C Adapter, which is sold separately.
With Wasserstein solar panels, you’d have to buy the model that comes with the connector your camera needs, either a USB-C or barrel plug. That, or get the version of Wasserstein solar panel that comes with the barrel plug with USB-C adapter included.
Accessories
Accessories are another notable difference between Wasserstein solar panels and Ring solar panels.
When purchasing a Wasserstein solar panel for Ring, all you get right out of the box is the solar panel and the mount. There are no additional accessories to look forward to.
So, if you were to purchase Wasserstein solar panels for Ring devices that use a USB-C port, you’d need to buy a barrel plug to a USB-C adapter.
When you purchase a solar panel from Ring, however, you get some more accessories in the box.
Excluding the solar panel and the mount, you also get a USB-C to barrel plug adapter, which means you don’t need to purchase any additional accessories if you own a Ring camera with a barrel port.
There‘s also the fact that Ring offers other dedicated supporting accessories for their solar panels.
You can easily purchase things like a pole or gutter mount for solar panels and cams on the Ring store while purchasing your Ring solar panel.
Wasserstein, on the other hand, does have 2-in-1 gutter and pole mounts that can secure both your solar panel and camera at the same time, but they’re universal, so they’ll fit most of the other common smart home brands.
However, being “universal” means they weren’t explicitly tailored for any certain brand.
That being said, Wasserstein accessories and mounts still work well with compatible products, including the various Ring Cameras.
Cable Length
Cable length might not seem like much of a factor to consider when choosing the right solar panel, but if you need to move your panel a distance from where your camera is for maximum light exposure, you’d want to consider it.
You might think it’s about evenly matched since Wasserstein’s solar panels come with a 13.1-foot cable, with Ring’s 1st Generation Solar panel having a 13-foot cable.
But Ring’s current USB-C Solar Panels only come with 6.5-foot cables.
However, you should know that Ring sells extension cables that allow you to gain even more length, making it possible to get your solar panel even farther from the camera for better sunlight exposure.
These USB-C extension cables give you an additional 10 feet, resulting in a total of 16.5 feet of cable length for Ring Solar Panels, which is 3.4 feet more than Wassertein’s offering.
Currently, Wasserstein doesn’t offer extension cables, with their solar panel extension cable being unavailable.
Installation
Installing both solar panels is, thankfully, a relatively straightforward affair. Simply follow the steps below to install your solar panel and set up your Ring camera.
For Wasserstein Solar Panel
- Make sure you’re getting the right panel. Wasserstein has USB-C and barrel-type solar panels: pick the right one for your device.
- Choose the best position to mount your solar panel. Make sure it’s a location with abundant sunlight exposure.
Pro Tip: If the camera you’re looking to use the solar panel with has already been installed, make sure to choose a location within the solar panel’s 13.1ft cable reach.
If you find that the best location is outside the 13ft allowance, you might want to purchase an extension cable if available.
- Once you’ve chosen your ideal location, mount the solar panel using the mount that came with it in the box.
- Tilt the solar panel to receive the sun’s rays best.
- Next, it’s time to attach the solar panel’s cable to the charging port on your camera.
To attach your solar panel cable to your camera, detach the camera from the mount if it’s already been installed, open the battery compartment, and remove the battery.
- Press the button at the back of the camera after the battery compartment has been removed and slide the mounting plate out of its slot.
- Remember to remove the rubber weatherproofing plug from the mounting plate and replace the mounting plate.
- Plug in the solar panel cable to the cam, ensuring it’s securely attached.
- Place the battery back into the camera and close the battery compartment.
- Mount the camera and complete the setup process if you haven’t done that before.
For Ring Solar Panels
- Choose the best position to mount your solar panel. Make sure it’s a location with lots of sunlight exposure.
- Mount the solar panel using the mount that came with it.
- Tilt the solar panel to receive the sun’s rays best.
- Remove the battery from the camera and slide the mounting plate out.
- Remove the waterproofing plug and replace the mounting plate.
- Insert the cable into the camera. If you have the right Ring solar for your camera, you won’t need any additional adapters to connect your solar panel to your camera.
If not, however, the USB-C to barrel plug adapter that comes with Ring USB-C solar panels might come in handy.
- Replace the batteries and close the battery compartment.
- Mount the camera and complete the setup process if you haven’t done that before.
Our Take: Ring vs Wasserstein
So, when it comes to solar panels for Ring cameras, which should you pick: Ring or Wasserstein?
Well, here’s our final verdict:
Select Wasserstein Solar Panels if you’re looking for
The most efficient small-size solar panel.
If it’s a question of choosing between a 2-wall solar panel and a 1.9-watt solar panel for the same price, the 2-watt Wasserstein panel is the better choice, even if the difference is just a little.
But with that said,
Select Ring Solar Panels if you’re looking for
- More power
- Additional accessory support
- More versatility in your options
With the additional accessories that come with Ring solar panels, the option of getting a bigger, more powerful solar panel, and easy compatibility with Ring cameras, getting a Ring solar panel for your camera is the way to go.
All things considered though, the choice of which solar panel you’d get for your Ring camera would depend on the availability in your region.
If you can’t get your hands on a Ring solar panel, you might want to consider a Wasserstein instead.
And if you can’t find a Wasserstein, a Ring would just have to do. Both of them are great options, after all.
If you do have the option of getting both, though, then the guide above should help you make the best choice!
Check out Ring Solar Panel FAQ and Ring Doorbell Common Questions Explained for more related content.
About Author
I'm Maroun, the seasoned technology writer crafting compelling tutorials and posts since 2013. With over a decade of versatile experience spanning the IT, Security, and High-tech industries, my main qualities are adaptability and perfectionism. Join me in this journey, where every word is a masterpiece!
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