Because of my ADHD, I need a reminder to take my laundry out of the dryer, so changing batteries and remembering to charge devices just isn’t going to work for me. As I reluctantly charged my Ring Doorbell for the second time in a month, I found myself thinking about solar panels. My Reolink outdoor camera came with a solar panel that I mounted nearby and connected to the camera. What was to stop me from using that panel for another non-solar camera or device? After a week of testing, I learned the answer was “absolutely nothing” and immediately began purchasing solar panels for my non-solar outdoor devices and at least one of my solar devices.

This works on any device that has a USB port for charging. Solar panels come in different wattages, and the key is not to choose too high a wattage. I chose panels from five to ten watts and that was enough.

You also want to pay attention to what type of connector the panel has, as there are a few different types of male USB connectors. Make sure you get the right one for your device. While you can get dongles to convert them to the type of connector you need, you want as few connectors as possible, as you are outside and each is a potential point of water infiltration.

Next, you need to think about mounting. Most panels come with a mount that can be used on any lateral or horizontal space, but there are also mounts you can buy that can be used on poles or other surfaces. For example, if you’re powering a smart birdhouse, you’ll want a panel that mounts to the pole that the birdhouse is sitting on.