The Blink Outdoor is so versatile, I use it not only to keep tabs on my house, but I even use one to watch the birds in my yard. Another great feature is that the Blink camera, which runs on two AA batteries, uses so little power that it can last up to two years on a charge. It’s not just hyperbole from Blink, either: I’ve had these cameras around my house for a long time, and have only changed them once. Still, unlike many of the best home security cameras, you do have to change the batteries, which 1) is a minor inconvenience and 2) contributes to e-waste. Last year, though, Blink came out with an accessory that would take care of both of these problems: a solar panel charging mount that would supply the Blink Outdoor with nearly limitless energy. Goodbye, AA’s! There’s only one problem: You can only get the solar panel if you buy a new Blink Outdoor camera. The camera, solar charger, and sync module (which you need to use the camera) cost $139 when bundled together (opens in new tab). The camera and solar charger alone cost $129. That was October 2021. We’re still waiting. If Blink doesn’t want to take advantage of this opportunity, there are others who will — and who already have: Wasserstein, which makes a large number of accessories for smart home devices, currently sells a third-party solar panel for the Blink Outdoor for $39.59 (opens in new tab). While not as seamless a design as Blink’s panel, Wasserstein’s panel offers more flexibility in where you can mount it, so you can capture light more efficiently, and place the panel where it’s more convenient. Making a solar panel accessory available to the tens — if not hundreds of thousands of customers who have already bought a Blink camera would be one of the easiest steps the company could take. Not only would it be better for the environment, but it would be better for consumers, too.
