➡ Get The eufy S40 SoloCam at eufy: share.eufylife.com/v1/shopping/s/g/dcfDGzrhk (Affiliate Link) ➡Buy on Amazon: geni.us/9OBty (Affiliate Link) ✅Buy on eufylife.com: eufyofficial.com/64C3R8 (Affiliate Link) Update Dec. 24th, 2022: The battery has died after around 2 months due to the Winter season. Most days have been overcast, which resulted in minimal solar charging, as well as being cold, which depletes battery life quicker. Something to keep in mind if you live someplace where there are a decent amount of overcast days.
When this happened, I just left it up there because I had another solar camera that was working. When the weather improved, this camera started charging again. But if you want it working quickly again, you can unscrew it from the mount and charge it indoors, or you can connect a charging cable to it and hook up a power bank temporarily to it to give it some charge. In the Winter I would probably take it inside, let it sit for 2 to 3 hours to get to room temperature and then charge it back fully before mounting it again. Hope that helps.@@slipperyslope9545
Great review! Looks like the Home Base 3 does not work with the S40, Eufy says "December 2022". Hopefully that's the case since I prefer to have the extra storage capacity.
Glad you found the video helpful Brian! Yes, Eufy said end of this year or early next year. Of the 8 GB capacity, I've used 2.9 GB since Oct 21st. So in just over a month I've used around 36% storage and I have a ton of cars and people on my sidewalk in front my house throughout the day. I can likely get around 3 months until it need to overwrite again, which is great, but yea the Homebase 3 support will add in functionality for pets and cars too.
Not sure why there's so many complaints, mine recently lasted through three heavy Winter snowfalls and high winds in Canada, so no durability issues so far. Charging is weak since there's many overcast days in the Winter and I had snow settle on top of the solar panel, but I've also had reduced solar charging with other brands, which is normal with reduced sunlight during overcast days. I also have stable connectivity to mine because it isn't super far from my modem. Once you get yours and it's connected to the eufy app, you place it near where you want to install it and pull up live view on the eufy app to ensure the live view feed is strong and doesn't time out or disconnect before you permanently install it.
Do they sell an solar panel that can attach to the USB at the back of camera in case you put it in someplace that doesn't get too much sun like an overhang. Will be nice no.
They sell solar panels, but it doesn't seem to be for this model: us.eufy.com/products/t8700 I'm sure you can attach almost any type of USB C solar charging panel, but you probably won't get a great seal to maintain the weather rating.
Unfortunately, you can only stream or view one camera feed at a time in the eufy app or on their online web portal. If you're looking to stream more than one feed simultaneously, you will probably have to look into offerings from Reolink.
Yes, the eufy app makes it quite easy to add more cameras as standalone units, or you can buy the optional HomeBase 3 to pair with the cameras for additional storage and more AI features.
Thank you, excellent review . question: can I turn on/off wifi to use it as a standalone camera without connection to the network? (of course i know the app wont work without connectivity) Is there a user interface in the camera menu or is it only configurable via the app? how do I download the hours long recording to my laptop? Only via wifi?
Hey needsomehike, the S40 needs to have WiFi to work. It seems most of Eufy's cameras must have WiFi even if you didn't need app access. It doesn't record 24/7, so it will only record motion-based events to the built-in 8 GB onboard storage. If you want to download clips, you will have to do it through the Eufy App, which will download to your phone or share to an online service, then you can upload it online storage to download it to your laptop. There is no removable memory card that you can pop out and insert into your computer. All the camera settings must be through the App too. It seems most security cameras I have tested require WiFi and settings adjustments through an App. There are some brands that use a SIM card for data, but that would get expensive quick.
@@DemCrumblies Thanks for getting back to me. I live on a busy road like you and I think the light continously going off would use a lot of battery that's all.
@@lukoevans Hi Luko, totally understand. Where my cameras are pointed are facing a road with lots of car and pedestrian traffic too. I tested it and the spotlight comes on even with a set activity zone unfortunately.
Hey @JoseAlvarez-zv4qt sorry to hear that. Was the rear port covering securely fitted in all the way? Mine is still working after going through some heavy rainfall a couple of months ago. I'm due for some rainstorms here within the next 1 to 3 days, so I'll see how it holds up.
This one of the worst camera I have ever own. Stops charging in the cold about 35 Degrees. Motion detection sucks. Playback is just awful. Had touble with mounting hardware Don't Buy!
Yea many of these solar cameras won't fare well in Winter temperatures. Mine is still charging though in negative temperatures whenever there is enough sunlight available. Motion detection really depends on placement height, angulation and sensitivity, but generally walking straight up to the camera will result in a slower detection than crossing in front of it. Are you having problems with stable playback? Could it be WiFi related?
The S40Solar charging is pretty weak. Doesn't really keep it fully charged, have to take down about every 4 months for a recharge, especialy in winter. Highly under-engineered product and very disappointing. Better choice is to use a regular Eufy cam with an external solar panel. I have three of them and they never die. The S40 is garbage
Yep, I actually updated my pinned comment on Dec 24th because mine died during the Winter. Unless it's regularly sunny, there's no way this will last through an overcast Winter like what we've been having in Canada. My Eufy S330 cameras are still around 60% battery and installed on the same side of the house. They do have the homebase to take care of some of the AI work, but I still expected the S40 to last longer than it did.
➡ Get The eufy S40 SoloCam at eufy: share.eufylife.com/v1/shopping/s/g/dcfDGzrhk (Affiliate Link)
➡Buy on Amazon: geni.us/9OBty (Affiliate Link)
✅Buy on eufylife.com: eufyofficial.com/64C3R8 (Affiliate Link)
Update Dec. 24th, 2022: The battery has died after around 2 months due to the Winter season. Most days have been overcast, which resulted in minimal solar charging, as well as being cold, which depletes battery life quicker. Something to keep in mind if you live someplace where there are a decent amount of overcast days.
Thanks for the information. In a situation like this do you just unscrew the camera from the mount and charge it in your wall charger indoors ?
When this happened, I just left it up there because I had another solar camera that was working. When the weather improved, this camera started charging again. But if you want it working quickly again, you can unscrew it from the mount and charge it indoors, or you can connect a charging cable to it and hook up a power bank temporarily to it to give it some charge. In the Winter I would probably take it inside, let it sit for 2 to 3 hours to get to room temperature and then charge it back fully before mounting it again. Hope that helps.@@slipperyslope9545
Great review! Looks like the Home Base 3 does not work with the S40, Eufy says "December 2022". Hopefully that's the case since I prefer to have the extra storage capacity.
Glad you found the video helpful Brian! Yes, Eufy said end of this year or early next year. Of the 8 GB capacity, I've used 2.9 GB since Oct 21st. So in just over a month I've used around 36% storage and I have a ton of cars and people on my sidewalk in front my house throughout the day. I can likely get around 3 months until it need to overwrite again, which is great, but yea the Homebase 3 support will add in functionality for pets and cars too.
for a camera that you recommend theres an awful lot of complaints about this camera? what up with that. I bought this upon your recommendation
Not sure why there's so many complaints, mine recently lasted through three heavy Winter snowfalls and high winds in Canada, so no durability issues so far. Charging is weak since there's many overcast days in the Winter and I had snow settle on top of the solar panel, but I've also had reduced solar charging with other brands, which is normal with reduced sunlight during overcast days. I also have stable connectivity to mine because it isn't super far from my modem. Once you get yours and it's connected to the eufy app, you place it near where you want to install it and pull up live view on the eufy app to ensure the live view feed is strong and doesn't time out or disconnect before you permanently install it.
Can the camera pointed left or right after mounted on base or is it only straight view?
Hey @motivationnation771, yep you can angle to the left or right because it has a small rotating head.
@DemCrumblies Thanks! Keep up the good work!
@@motivationnation771 Thanks for watching : )
Do they sell an solar panel that can attach to the USB at the back of camera in case you put it in someplace that doesn't get too much sun like an overhang. Will be nice no.
They sell solar panels, but it doesn't seem to be for this model: us.eufy.com/products/t8700
I'm sure you can attach almost any type of USB C solar charging panel, but you probably won't get a great seal to maintain the weather rating.
can I have two of these cameras, and they work together? Meaning seeing both views at the same time on the app?
Unfortunately, you can only stream or view one camera feed at a time in the eufy app or on their online web portal. If you're looking to stream more than one feed simultaneously, you will probably have to look into offerings from Reolink.
Can you easily add cameras to the "system"?
Yes, the eufy app makes it quite easy to add more cameras as standalone units, or you can buy the optional HomeBase 3 to pair with the cameras for additional storage and more AI features.
Thank you, excellent review .
question: can I turn on/off wifi to use it as a standalone camera without connection to the network? (of course i know the app wont work without connectivity)
Is there a user interface in the camera menu or is it only configurable via the app?
how do I download the hours long recording to my laptop? Only via wifi?
Hey needsomehike, the S40 needs to have WiFi to work. It seems most of Eufy's cameras must have WiFi even if you didn't need app access. It doesn't record 24/7, so it will only record motion-based events to the built-in 8 GB onboard storage. If you want to download clips, you will have to do it through the Eufy App, which will download to your phone or share to an online service, then you can upload it online storage to download it to your laptop. There is no removable memory card that you can pop out and insert into your computer. All the camera settings must be through the App too. It seems most security cameras I have tested require WiFi and settings adjustments through an App. There are some brands that use a SIM card for data, but that would get expensive quick.
@@DemCrumblies thank you for the reply, much appreciated.
@needsomehike You're welcome. Thanks for watching 😊
Does the spotlight only activate when somone enters your activity zones? or will the light continously activate regardless of your activity zones?
I'll have to test that and get back to you because I don't have any activity zones set up.
@@DemCrumblies Thanks for getting back to me. I live on a busy road like you and I think the light continously going off would use a lot of battery that's all.
@@lukoevans Hi Luko, totally understand. Where my cameras are pointed are facing a road with lots of car and pedestrian traffic too. I tested it and the spotlight comes on even with a set activity zone unfortunately.
@@DemCrumblies I thought so! Thanks for getting back to me trying it out, I really appreciate it!
@@lukoevans Anytime. Good luck on the hunt Luko.
No it's not wifi
water gets into that camera, its not waterproof
Hey @JoseAlvarez-zv4qt sorry to hear that. Was the rear port covering securely fitted in all the way? Mine is still working after going through some heavy rainfall a couple of months ago. I'm due for some rainstorms here within the next 1 to 3 days, so I'll see how it holds up.
This one of the worst camera I have ever own. Stops charging in the cold about 35 Degrees. Motion detection sucks. Playback is just awful. Had touble with mounting hardware Don't Buy!
Yea many of these solar cameras won't fare well in Winter temperatures. Mine is still charging though in negative temperatures whenever there is enough sunlight available. Motion detection really depends on placement height, angulation and sensitivity, but generally walking straight up to the camera will result in a slower detection than crossing in front of it. Are you having problems with stable playback? Could it be WiFi related?
🎊 Promo'SM.
The S40Solar charging is pretty weak. Doesn't really keep it fully charged, have to take down about every 4 months for a recharge, especialy in winter. Highly under-engineered product and very disappointing. Better choice is to use a regular Eufy cam with an external solar panel. I have three of them and they never die. The S40 is garbage
Yep, I actually updated my pinned comment on Dec 24th because mine died during the Winter. Unless it's regularly sunny, there's no way this will last through an overcast Winter like what we've been having in Canada. My Eufy S330 cameras are still around 60% battery and installed on the same side of the house. They do have the homebase to take care of some of the AI work, but I still expected the S40 to last longer than it did.