The innovative design includes a modular solar panel that continuously charges the built-in battery, ensuring your camera remains powered. Even on cloudy days or extended periods without sunlight, the fully charged battery can provide up to 180 days* of uninterrupted performance.
Enjoy the flexibility of wire-free installation
Receive real-time alerts for true security concerns with free person/vehicle detection, eliminating false detection from other objects.
Store footage locally via a microSD card (up to 512GB)* or via cloud with a Tapo Care cloud subscription.
Capture vibrant color night vision up to 30ft away for enhanced security to monitor for possible intruders or motion.
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The innovative design includes a modular solar panel that continuously charges the built-in battery, ensuring your camera remains powered. Even on cloudy days or extended periods without sunlight, the fully charged battery can provide up to 180 days* of uninterrupted performance.
Enjoy the flexibility of wire-free installation
Receive real-time alerts for true security concerns with free person/vehicle detection, eliminating false detection from other objects.
Store footage locally via a microSD card (up to 512GB)* or via cloud with a Tapo Care cloud subscription.
Capture vibrant color night vision up to 30ft away for enhanced security to monitor for possible intruders or motion.
Model: TP-Link 𝗧𝗮𝗽𝗼 SolarCam C402 Kit, Outdoor Battery Camera w/Solar Panel Base, Wireless, 1080P, Free Person/Vehicle Detection, SD/Cloud Storage, Color Night Vision, No Hub Needed, Works w/Alexa
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Sale Price does not include sale prices at Amazon unless a deal was posted by a community member.
The solar is there just to charge the battery, not to run the camera... so it would not really be able to keep up with 24/7 recording.
The best way I found to eliminate bushes and flags is to only turn on detection for PETS, VEHICLES, and PERSONS. With this setting, I do not get any detection for things blowing in the breeze.
Bought this on the last deal. The downside on this camera, compared to other wired Tapo cameras, is that it won't record continuously on to the SD card, just when it detects motion.
It was sitting at $40 for a long time, was briefly up to $50 for like a week. And it's been available for about $30 too
Edit:
March 27 - April 23 @ $40 (with occasional coupons thrown in making it lower)
April 24 - April 30 @ $50...
May 1 @ $40 once again
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Nowadays it is better to buy one that can rotate in any direction. There are a lot of them on Amazon & eBay and cheaper too and using solar technology. This TP-Link camera is fixed and can't rotate in any direction.
Who made you an expert in cameras? What point are you even making?
I have this camera to watch my backyard. It's on the Tapo ecosystem so spouse can view as well. The detection isn't the greatest but not what I use this for.
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Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank shyamster
Bought this on the last deal. The downside on this camera, compared to other wired Tapo cameras, is that it won't record continuously on to the SD card, just when it detects motion.
Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank luddite_cyborg
It was sitting at $40 for a long time, was briefly up to $50 for like a week. And it's been available for about $30 too
Edit:
March 27 - April 23 @ $40 (with occasional coupons thrown in making it lower)
April 24 - April 30 @ $50...
May 1 @ $40 once again
Bought this on the last deal. The downside on this camera, compared to other wired Tapo cameras, is that it won't record continuously on to the SD card, just when it detects motion.
Can it not be enabled in the app? I know I had to physically go in and turn that feature on for a different type of tapo cam.
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Quote
from AdamE1838
:
Can it not be enabled in the app? I know I had to physically go in and turn that feature on for a different type of tapo cam.
No, the wired Tapo cameras can have continuous recording turned on, but the battery powered ones do not have this feature. They will only record events that they detect.
No, the wired Tapo cameras can have continuous recording turned on, but the battery powered ones do not have this feature. They will only record events that they detect.
This. I would understand disabling 24/7 recording if the cam is operating on battery power alone, but once you install the solar panel, the app should enable that feature. That's such a huge black spot on an otherwise good value. IIRC, you also can't create detection zones on this model? I installed 5 of these for my elderly mother. Gives her great piece of mind since she lives alone. But trees and bushes and her flags constantly bombard her with motion notifications when a breeze kicks up. I would love to be able to exclude those areas from motion detection.
Last edited by ruouttaurmind May 1, 2025 at 11:04 AM.
Do you have a link of one you would recommend? Amazon is overflowing with crap China brands, I have a hard time discerning the quality China product over the cheap crap one...
TPLINK/tapo and Eufy are good. TPLINK/TAPO has local SD card storage + cloud. Eufy some products I need to buy homebase. I have both at home. I also have Blink and ring, but I did not pay monthly service fee so they are just to view. Hikvision is also good but only for commercial.
Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank ten80
Quote
from ruouttaurmind
:
This. I would understand disabling 24/7 recording if the cam is operating on battery power alone, but once you install the solar panel, the app should enable that feature. That's such a huge black spot on an otherwise good value. IIRC, you also can't create detection zones on this model? I installed 5 of these for my elderly mother. Gives her great piece of mind since she lives alone. But trees and bushes and her flags constantly bombard her with motion notifications when a breeze kicks up. I would love to be able to exclude those areas from motion detection.
The solar is there just to charge the battery, not to run the camera... so it would not really be able to keep up with 24/7 recording.
The best way I found to eliminate bushes and flags is to only turn on detection for PETS, VEHICLES, and PERSONS. With this setting, I do not get any detection for things blowing in the breeze.
Would someone be able to recommend a good solar cam (wireless) that support RTSP? Perhaps one that have a larger battery that could record 24x7, thanks.
these TP-link doorbell and camera have amazing reviews on Amazon. What's everyone's real world take ? Eufy is decent but video is super laggy and impossible to have a conversation over the doorbell ...
This. I would understand disabling 24/7 recording if the cam is operating on battery power alone, but once you install the solar panel, the app should enable that feature. That's such a huge black spot on an otherwise good value. IIRC, you also can't create detection zones on this model? I installed 5 of these for my elderly mother. Gives her great piece of mind since she lives alone. But trees and bushes and her flags constantly bombard her with motion notifications when a breeze kicks up. I would love to be able to exclude those areas from motion detection.
I have 3 of these, so I speak from experience. You can absolutely create detection zones. Just did it the other day since the tree leaves now come into view by wind. However, if the trees create shadows that are in the middle of the viewing area, there's no way around it but to turn motion detection off. I don't think this is a problem particular to Tapo though.
What's funnier is occasionally it detects long shadows as limps of a person and thus triggers person detection. That indeed can be problematic.
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It was sitting at $40 for a long time, was briefly up to $50 for like a week. And it's been available for about $30 too
Edit:
March 27 - April 23 @ $40 (with occasional coupons thrown in making it lower)
April 24 - April 30 @ $50...
May 1 @ $40 once again
& posted by staff....
Last edited by NavyMint1272 May 2, 2025 at 06:20 AM.
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The best way I found to eliminate bushes and flags is to only turn on detection for PETS, VEHICLES, and PERSONS. With this setting, I do not get any detection for things blowing in the breeze.
Edit:
March 27 - April 23 @ $40 (with occasional coupons thrown in making it lower)
April 24 - April 30 @ $50...
May 1 @ $40 once again
47 Comments
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Who made you an expert in cameras? What point are you even making?
I have this camera to watch my backyard. It's on the Tapo ecosystem so spouse can view as well. The detection isn't the greatest but not what I use this for.
Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank shyamster
Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank luddite_cyborg
Edit:
March 27 - April 23 @ $40 (with occasional coupons thrown in making it lower)
April 24 - April 30 @ $50...
May 1 @ $40 once again
Can it not be enabled in the app? I know I had to physically go in and turn that feature on for a different type of tapo cam.
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank Khemo
Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank ten80
The best way I found to eliminate bushes and flags is to only turn on detection for PETS, VEHICLES, and PERSONS. With this setting, I do not get any detection for things blowing in the breeze.
What's funnier is occasionally it detects long shadows as limps of a person and thus triggers person detection. That indeed can be problematic.
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
Edit:
March 27 - April 23 @ $40 (with occasional coupons thrown in making it lower)
April 24 - April 30 @ $50...
May 1 @ $40 once again