Let me start by saying this solar charger solved my biggest annoyance with the Blink doorbell - constantly swapping batteries! The installation was a breeze, just snapped it into place and boom - continuous power. No more climbing ladders every month.

The first few weeks were magical. My doorbell stayed at 100% charge even during cloudy Seattle days. The sleek black design blends perfectly with my exterior, and the weatherproofing held up against heavy rain.

But here's the reality check: After about 3 months, I noticed performance dropping. Like other reviewers mentioned, the solar panel started looking cloudy (oxidized?) even though it was still working. By month 6, I was back to occasional battery swaps during winter months.

The voltage issue is real - when I tested mine with a multimeter, it showed similar low voltage readings that others reported. It seems the doorbell just demands more power than this panel can consistently deliver long-term.

For high-traffic homes (like mine with delivery people all day), this is still better than pure battery power. But temper your expectations - it's not a perfect 'set it and forget it' solution. At this price point, I expected more durable materials that wouldn't oxidize so quickly.

Final verdict? Worth trying if you hate battery changes, but have a backup plan for when (not if) performance eventually declines.