Let me start by saying I *really* wanted to love this solar panel. The idea of never worrying about my Blink Outdoor camera batteries again? Yes please! The panel itself looks sleek, feels sturdy, and the 360° bracket makes positioning a breeze. Installation took me about 15 minutes - just screwed it onto my fence post near the camera.

Here's where things get interesting though. The first week was magical. My camera showed full power constantly, even during cloudy days. That built-in battery is a game-changer for overnight operation. But then... it just stopped charging my camera randomly one afternoon. No storms, no physical damage - just decided to quit like an employee on Friday at 4:59 PM.

The waterproof claim holds up (mostly). I left it out during heavy rain and while some moisture got behind the panel (not ideal), it kept working. The cable connections are solid with those nice gaskets - no water intrusion there.

Now the frustrating part: reliability seems to be a lottery. My neighbor bought the same panel and his works flawlessly 3 months in. Meanwhile, I'm on my second replacement unit after the first two failed within weeks. When it works, it's fantastic - but that 'when' is apparently unpredictable.

Pro tip: If you do get one that works, angle it slightly more vertical than you'd think - collects sunlight better throughout the day in my experience.