You can install a solar CCTV camera yourself in around 30 minutes: pick a spot with sun and a clear view, fix the camera and panel, fit the SIM and memory card, then pair it with the V380 Pro app on your phone. This guide walks through each step for a 4G solar camera such as the V380 PRO 4G Solar CCTV 4MP, which runs on a SIM card and does not need WiFi at all.
Before you start: what you need
Gather four things: the camera with its solar panel and bracket, a SIM card with an active data bundle, a microSD card, and a phone with the app. A ladder and screwdriver finish the list. The V380 PRO uses the V380 App and works with any SIM card, so Safaricom, Airtel, Telkom, Faiba or others are all fine as long as you have signal where the camera will hang.
The card matters more than people think. A 64GB microSD rated Class 10 / U1 writes at 20MB/s, which is enough for continuous loop recording without dropped frames. That is why we suggest the 64GB Memory Card SD for this setup.
Step 1: Choose the mounting spot
Height and sunlight decide how well the camera works. Mount it high enough that nobody can reach it easily, but not so high that the 20m night vision cannot pick out a face at ground level.
Point the solar panel toward the sun for as many hours a day as you can. The V380 PRO runs on solar plus an internal battery and gives up to 28 hours of backup on a full charge, which helps most during a run of cloudy days when the panel is not topping up the battery as quickly as usual.
The 355° pan range means one camera covers a wide area, so a corner of the building often suits better than a flat wall.
Step 2: Mount the camera and the solar panel
Fix the bracket first, then hang the camera and tilt the panel. Use the screws that come with the kit and check the camera is firm before you let go of the ladder.
The V380 PRO is IP66 rated, so rain and dust are not a problem, but the panel still needs a clear view of the sky. Avoid hanging it under a roof overhang or in the shade of a tree that will grow.
Step 3: Insert the SIM and the memory card
Open the sealed compartment, slide in the SIM and the microSD, and close it firmly. Do this before final tightening so you are not up the ladder twice.
Make sure the SIM has an active data bundle, not just airtime. The camera sends video over the mobile network, so a SIM with no data will power on but show nothing on your phone.
Step 4: Power on and wait for the solar charge
Switch the camera on and give it a few minutes. The V380 PRO stores up to 28 hours of backup on a full charge from solar plus its internal battery, so a fresh unit may need time in the sun before it performs at its best.
If you are installing on a cloudy day, expect the first charge to take longer. The 28-hour figure is the backup runtime, not a promise for every day of the year.
Step 5: Pair with the V380 Pro app
Install the V380 App, create or sign in to your account, and add the camera. The app walks you through the pairing, and once connected you can pan the camera through its 355° range and use two-way audio from your phone.
Name the camera clearly, for example “Gate” or “Shamba”, so alerts make sense when they arrive.
Step 6: Set recording and alerts
Decide whether you want continuous recording to the SD card or motion alerts to your phone. The 64GB card gives a reasonable buffer before old footage is overwritten, and the 80MB/s read speed makes pulling clips for review quick.
Test the two-way audio while you are still at the camera, then walk to the gate and check the alert reaches your phone. Adjust sensitivity until it ignores passing dogs but catches a person.
Step 7: Test at night and in a week’s time
Come back after dark and check the night vision reaches the 20m it is rated for. Then check again after a week: look at the battery level in the app and confirm the panel is keeping up.
If the battery is falling, the panel is probably shaded or pointed the wrong way. Move it before you assume the camera is faulty.
The mistakes we see most
Most failed installs come down to three things: a shaded panel, a SIM with no data, or a camera mounted too high for the 20m night vision to be useful. Fix those first.
- Panel in shade for part of the day.
- SIM inserted with airtime but no data bundle.
- Camera aimed at a wall instead of the approach.
- Cheap unrated SD card causing dropped frames.
For a closer look at how these cameras compare with wired options, see 4G vs WiFi security cameras in Kenya. You can also browse the full 4G cellular security cameras range.
Where you would use it
- Farms and shambas Watch a gate, store or livestock pen where there is no mains power or WiFi.
- Construction sites Mount on a pole to cover materials overnight without running cables.
- Homes without power Keep an eye on a compound or gate where the electricity supply is unreliable.
- Remote plots Check on a plot or rental property from your phone anywhere you are.
- Temporary setups Move the camera to a new spot when the job or season changes.
Other options worth a look if you want a different camera for another spot on the same property.
- YIOT WiFi PTZ Bulb Camera 5MP | Auto Tracking, Night VisionKSh 2,500
- V380 GSM 4G CCTV Camera 4MP | Outdoor, Two-Way AudioKSh 7,500
- WiFi Nanny Camera with Screen | 1080p, Two-Way VideoKSh 3,000
- V380 PRO Solar CCTV Camera | 1080P WiFi PTZ, App Remote, Night Vision, PIR Motion, IP66KSh 6,500
- V380 Bulb Camera 5MP WiFi | Dual Lens, Full HD 1080pKSh 2,700
- icSee Dual Lens 6MP WiFi Baby Monitor | Color Night VisionKSh 4,000
- 4G Solar Camera with Dual Lens | 4MP, PTZ, IP66KSh 9,000
- 4G SIM Outdoor Bullet CCTV Camera, Colour Night Vision, 30 m, IP66, Two-Way AudioKSh 5,000
Ready to set yours up? The V380 PRO 4G Solar CCTV 4MP gives you 4MP resolution, 355° pan, 20m night vision and up to 28 hours of backup, all from a SIM card and the sun.
Get the V380 PROKSh 6,500 · Sold out
Frequently asked questions
No. The V380 PRO works entirely on a SIM card, so you only need mobile data coverage at the camera location, not WiFi.
The V380 PRO gives up to 28 hours of backup on a full charge from solar plus its internal battery. Cloudy days will reduce how quickly it tops up.
A 64GB microSD card rated Class 10 / U1 is a good match. The 20MB/s write speed keeps up with continuous loop recording without dropped frames.
Yes. You need a ladder, a screwdriver, a SIM with data and a phone with the app. No electrician or cable run is required.
Any SIM card works, including Safaricom, Airtel, Telkom and Faiba, as long as you have signal where the camera is mounted.
