Offering 2000 lumens of floodlight safety and continuous charging for a Ring Stick Up Cam Battery or Spotlight Cam Battery, the Wasserstein 3-in-1 Floodlight with Charger is a suitable solution for adding dual-faceted security to your home. The motion-activated, hard-wired floodlight integrates a mount and USB charging port for the latest versions of these Ring cameras, enabling bright illumination of your yard and the capture of full-color video in the dark of night. Read on for the details of our review.
Compatibility
This version of the Wasserstein 3-in-1 Floodlight with Charger is designed specifically for the latest 3rd-generation outdoor version of the Ring Stick Up Cam Battery and the Ring Spotlight Cam Battery. These cameras incorporate a round charging port, and the Wasserstein package includes a short USB charging cable designed to match. The camera is not included in the Wasserstein package.
If you have the 2nd generation of the Ring Stick Up Cam Battery you will need to seek another solution. The Wasserstein Ring Floodlight and Solar Charger will work just fine in that case—see our previous review of that product.
Floodlight Installation
Since the Wasserstein Floodlight with Charger is hard wired to your home, it must be installed on an outdoor electrical junction box. If you are not comfortable with making electrical connections, by all means consult a qualified electrician to do the work.
Ideally, you already have an existing outdoor lighting fixture or floodlight you can remove, then the Wasserstein unit can be installed as a replacement. You will need to locate and switch off the circuit breaker in the electrical panel associated with the existing fixture before beginning the work. Then, it’s a matter of removing the old fixture, attaching the included Wasserstein crossbar bracket, and reattaching the wires to the floodlight. A single recessed screw is used to secure the floodlight to its bracket.
Ring Camera Installation
If you are using a new Ring camera, follow the instructions provided by Ring to set it up using the included battery and get it connected to the Ring app. Since the Wasserstein floodlight has an integrated camera mount, you will not need the camera’s standard Ring mount. Remove it and store away in the event you desire to use it in the future.
When using the Ring Stick Up Cam Battery, the camera body attaches directly to the screw mount of the Wasserstein floodlight through its rear mounting port. Begin by removing the camera’s charging port cap, then simply rotate the camera onto the mount and use the thumb wheel to secure it. Plug the Wasserstein cable into the floodlight’s USB port then wrap up the install by pushing the other end into the Ring charging port. Both ends of the Wasserstein cable fit snugly in their respective ports and are nicely sealed with O-rings to prevent the entry of moisture.
In the case of the Ring Spotlight Cam Battery, you will first need to attach the included Wasserstein screw converter to the camera’s mounting port. Then the installation is just as simple as that of the Ring Stick Up Cam.
Once the camera is working as expected on the floodlight mount, be sure to go back into the Ring app and change the camera’s power source from Battery Mode to Wired Mode in order to use the floodlight’s power source. After that, you can leave the Ring battery pack in place or remove it.
We wish Wasserstein would have provided more top clearance for the Ring camera when they designed the mounting system. While the mount can be slid up and down in its track to adjust the camera, with the Ring Stick Up Cam Battery we found you need to position the mount all the way to the bottom before attaching the camera. That leaves scant upward angle adjustment for the camera, and may be a problem depending on the area of the yard you intend to monitor.
Daily Usage
The Wasserstein Floodlight with Charger is fitted with a passive infrared sensor (PIR) for motion detection and a light sensor, so the dual floodlight heads will only activate at night and only when the sensor detects motion. Wasserstein says the motion sensor has an angle of 120 degrees with a range from 13 to 33 feet.
As such, it works best to detect motion parallel to the wall where the light is mounted. In our testing we found that to be the case. We had it installed in a narrow side yard, and the floodlight instantly activated as soon as it detected motion on the left or right, whether it was a person or an animal the size of a small dog.
Be aware the Wasserstein floodlight and Ring camera motion detection sensors operate independently, and there is no digital connection in that sense between them. In most cases, we found the Wasserstein floodlight and Ring camera activated within a second or two of each other when motion occurred. The benefit here is that the Ring camera will immediately begin recording in full color as soon as the Wasserstein floodlight illuminates, adding much better resolution and detail to your Ring recordings. That can be particularly helpful when working with local law enforcement officials in attempting to identify the perpetrator of a crime. Once the Wasserstein turns off, the Ring will continue to record but in typical black-and-white night mode.
The other benefit of course is continuous power for the Ring camera, so the chore of periodically removing the Ring battery pack and recharging it inside your home becomes a thing of the past. Furthermore, you’ll never need to worry about your camera going dead right in the middle of a security incident.
The Bottom Line
At a cost under $70, the Wasserstein 3-in-1 Floodlight with Charger is a good choice for its floodlight illumination capabilities, and when mated with a compatible Ring Stick Up Cam Battery or Ring Spotlight Cam Battery it becomes an even more worthy addition to your home while helping to enhance security all around. The IP65 waterproof-rated floodlight is available in either a white or black finish, and is made from durable plastic and aluminum for an expected long life.
