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Trail Camera External Battery Question

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6.4K views 9 replies 7 participants last post by  SilentElk  
#1 ·
I have been running several external battery packs for my cellular cameras. I currently have just a cheap charger off of Amazon. Is there a better charging option to extend the life of the battery or will the cheap charger work just fine?

Thanks.
 
#2 ·
I guess it depends on what you currently have, Amazon has lots of chargers so you may need to narrow that down just a little.

My advice would be go to a local battery source, someone that knows batteries not Walmart or one of the chain auto parts stores, a dedicated battery supplier should give better information. I have a small charger, from a local battery source, that will charge 6 and 12 volt batteries, it will float or not overcharge, and it is selectable for three different battery chemistries and I have had good luck with it.

I don't remember the name of the charger but if I make it out to the toy box today I will snap a pic and post it up.
 
#3 ·
I am puzzled why more are not looking at the Brand Camera they are using for a Solar Panel Exiernal Power Pack? Most Game Camera Brands offer them as well as a few offer a External Power Pack. With the Solar Packs it charges the Batteries in it so no need to drag / have extra batteries with you but for the "Camera" Itself. I started using the Browning Solar External Powee Pack a couple years back being most of my Cameras are Browning and it sure has helped with buying a lot more 1 Time Batteries especially when the Lithium Versions have tripled in cost. I also have a Solar Power Pack for my Stealth DS4K and It does the job as well. The only issue I could see is it you use cams in a colder enviroment snow / ice can cover the solar panel but it will melt over time. As for Thw Browning Vserion you can chnage the Rechargeable Batteries it used the Stealth Version are not readily Accessable. Depending on what voltage you camera uses the Brownng could used if it is the proper voltage. Just an option less to deal with dragging batteries in and out and also having to charge them.
LFM
 
#6 ·
I am puzzled why more are not looking at the Brand Camera they are using for a Solar Panel Exiernal Power Pack? Most Game Camera Brands offer them as well as a few offer a External Power Pack. With the Solar Packs it charges the Batteries in it so no need to drag / have extra batteries with you but for the "Camera" Itself. I started using the Browning Solar External Powee Pack a couple years back being most of my Cameras are Browning and it sure has helped with buying a lot more 1 Time Batteries especially when the Lithium Versions have tripled in cost. I also have a Solar Power Pack for my Stealth DS4K and It does the job as well. The only issue I could see is it you use cams in a colder enviroment snow / ice can cover the solar panel but it will melt over time. As for Thw Browning Vserion you can chnage the Rechargeable Batteries it used the Stealth Version are not readily Accessable. Depending on what voltage you camera uses the Brownng could used if it is the proper voltage. Just an option less to deal with dragging batteries in and out and also having to charge them.
LFM
I agree. I have a few of the solar panels in places that receive adequate sunlight, however, there are places in the timber that a solar panel is not an effective method to keep the camera up and running.
 
#7 ·
On my Property where I have these Solar Panels I first look for a decent opening in the tree line that allows sun in if none I might trim some limbs to allow the sun in. If not I also use "Brownings" TRail Camera Power Pack ( BTC-XB ) But again I use mostly Browning Trail Cameras. I also only do Video so that uses some battery life up especially come late Summer & Fall when Deer especially Bucks start going Nocturnal which requires the Camera's Flash to be used.
LFM
 
#9 ·
I’ve been running my cellular trail cams with an external solar panel, and haven’t changed the other internal batteries a single time all summer. The cameras are set to send photos instantly so they are sending dozens of photos a week. The solar panels I bought have an integrated lithium battery in the panel itself which means the AA batteries in the main tray have stayed at 100% strength for the last four months.

It’s not even a question for me if the extra cost of a solar panel is worth it.
 
#10 ·
A small sore panel will make it so you never have to charge it again. You also will need the solar controller to protect your battery. Although I have a really small solar panel that's probably two Watts at most on a deer feeder and I don't run the controller. But it works so I'm just leaving it be. On my cameras I just used the factory boxes with solar.