Nest Cam with Floodlight - Floodlight not Showing in App but Light Works

[DBCooper]

I recently purchased and installed two Nest Cams with Floodlight. Both worked fine for about a week.

Now, one of the units does not show the Floodlight option in Device Features (in settings), and it also doesn't show as a light in Google Home. The other unit works fine and shows the floodlight settings and is operable as a light.

I removed and re-added the camera, but it still doesn't show the Floodlight. I've tried three different iOS devices, and they all have the same issue.

When I walk in front of the camera, the flood light does turn on. I've recycled power at the breaker, the light turns on when I do that and when I walk in front of it, but Google Home thinks this is just a normal Nest Cam Battery and won't turn on when live viewing or give me the ability to adjust the timer/sensitivity, etc. This is very frustrating.

I called support, didn't get much help.  Case #3-327600003178

[compmavin]

Have the exact same issue with mine. Also now, the camera while being plugged in is draining battery somehow. 

[DBCooper]

Mine reports plugged in. 

[compmavin]

So does mine, but said 8% battery left on the alert and in the app. It's now showing the infinity symbol. And magically the light control is back too.

[Brad]

Hi there, 

I apologize for my late response and thank you for all of your patience while waiting for a reply. I can definitely understand how frustrating your situation must be, but I wanted to make sure that your issue was addressed. Do you still need help with this issue? I know that there's been a delay in response since you posted.

Please let me know if you need further assistance. 

Best Regards, 

Brad.

[Nick1021]

Are you using Google Home?

[DBCooper]

Of course. That’s the only way these new ones work. 

[BG]

I tried experimenting, I turned the Flood cam off with the power switch, and the live camera feed shows the little battery icon (not present when there is power), and I opened the lights control icon, and scrolled down to the Room I have them in "Security", and I see all 6 off my Floodlights, but the one without power was disabled, but it still showed as a device. So, I don't think it is a power issue specifically. Once joined to Google Home, you should always see it. Just out of curiosity, you know you can rename the floodlight device independently to the camera right? You can rename the camera and you can rename the floodlight. When you re-added it, are you sure you picked the "Floodlight" option and not just the Nest Battery Cam? It's almost as if it only knows it's a Nest Battery Cam only.

The Floodlight sensor works independently to the Camera floodlight sensor event controller, so it should work anyway, but it's not set up as the Nest Cam (Battery) Floodlight product.

Also, I noticed that there was a Google Home App update that added the Floodlight device separate from the Nest Cam Battery device about a week ago.

[DBCooper]

My light disappears when it’s not working. I don’t see it as disabled. It just comes and goes. I always have power (infinity). 

[DBCooper]

I swapped cameras from my good one to the bad floodlight and it didn't work there. I put the bad camera on the good floodlight nad it worked. So the issue is the flood light.

I was able to get it working by really wiggling the connection cable between the camera and the floodlight. It rained a TON yesterday, I think either the connection got wet or something inside the light housing. I did caulk/seal it and it hasn't tripped the breaker, but it seems some part of the connection between camera and floodlight (not camera and power or light and breaker) is sensitive. It's drying out and has remained on, so I'm going to caulk/seal the connector, but I'm wondering it water is coming in from the light connection, etc.

[compmavin]

I have also noticed that after any rain, the light stops appearing in the app. Going to do the caulk/seal around the base.

[DBCooper]

I did caulk seal the entire base liberally, but I think water is getting in somewhere near the connection cable or more forward in the housing. Given my wires are right near where the caulk/house is, clearly water isn't getting in there.

This particular light is completely exposed, no roof overhang so it gets pounded.

[DBCooper]

It hasn’t rained all day and was working. Now it’s dark and the Floodlight has disappeared again. So annoying. 

[cherry]

I am having the EXACT SAME ISSUE. Let me know if you ever got it to work. 

[DBCooper]

I had a really poor support experience with Google. Made no progress and they flaked on a replacement. I returned the unit to Lowes and got a new one from them. New one worked perfectly after install and Has continued to work for 2-3 weeks now. I think there’s some hardware defect on the signal between the camera and the light.  One of those connections on that magnetic connector must’ve had some issue. It sucked to have to remove and reinstall, huge hassle but new one works. 

[compmavin]

I got better support response by using the Twitter handle. Also looks like they pushed an update to the camera. Mine's still working....for now at least.

[DBCooper]

Good to hear. I just checked, all my cameras are running 1.59 now, when I had the issue, it was all 1.57 so definitely they updated something. I can't find any release notes published though.

[Brad]

Hey Folks.

At this time, I'll go ahead and lock this thread. If you're still experiencing problems, feel free to start a new thread and we'll be happy to help.

Best Regards,

Brad.