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Trail cam Batteries

bigmike23

Well-Known Member
Jan 29, 2020
1,701
4,329
113
NE PA
I have reveal x's. I bought 10 packs of lithium AAs a couple of years ago for 7.49 a pack. Target had them on fire sale. So I never used regular batteries in mine.
The price of Lithium AAs today is simply hysterical, so ill be going regular batteries. How long do regular batteries in general last? And do they preform as good as lithiums? I heard as the batteries get lower the cameras don't preform as good, as the flash and range detection gets weaker.
 

Tjraley2

Well-Known Member
Vendor Rep
Feb 21, 2018
814
1,227
93
37
Stoughton, WI
Alkaline batteries are a no-go for me, especially for cell cams. They really hinder the performance, especially if it’s real hot (now) or cold (fall). I recommend the rechargeable lithium battery sold by REVEAL if they’ll work in your cam. Great product!
 

roosterstraw

Well-Known Member
May 14, 2019
279
313
63
For my cameras on public that take aa I’ve been running rayovac batteries. They won’t last an entire year. What I do is change them in July/august and they will last through hunting season. Just get a multimeter and check voltages before putting them in your cameras.
 

Ckwilli

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Oct 15, 2019
1,294
2,172
113
52
I’ve been using the Amazon basics rechargeable AA’s for the last three seasons and they work well.
 

Exhumis

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Mar 12, 2019
3,961
6,806
113
45
Northern Virginia
I run rechargeable eneloops in my cams. If set to pictures only I get about 9 months and that’s on a ranch with livestock walking around, I average about 30 livestock pics to every 1 of a deer and about I dunno, 400-500 a month.
 
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kbetts

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Oct 13, 2015
1,873
2,937
113
Delaware
LOCATION
Delaware
I have always run lithiums but have noticed the price increase as well. A friend runs rechargables. I don't trust them yet. Seem weak over time. He runs a bunch though so they must work.
 

Rutman

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Dec 11, 2021
681
1,174
93
48
NW Georgia
Is anyone running a Reveal with just the solar panel alone? No batteries.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Ckwilli

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Oct 15, 2019
1,294
2,172
113
52
I have always run lithiums but have noticed the price increase as well. A friend runs rechargables. I don't trust them yet. Seem weak over time. He runs a bunch though so they must work.
The only issue I’ve found with rechargeable batteries is most of them are 1.2-1.3v instead of 1.5v. My cameras will show a low battery indicator but they still run a couple months before I need to recharge them. I typically have mine set to 5 second video with a 30 second interval.
 

Camelcluch

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Oct 2, 2020
1,598
2,406
113
48
Battery Junction and buy rechargeables. Use a set and charge a set. Lithium hopefully will come down with the find in California.
 

bigmike23

Well-Known Member
Jan 29, 2020
1,701
4,329
113
NE PA
For my cameras on public that take aa I’ve been running rayovac batteries. They won’t last an entire year. What I do is change them in July/august and they will last through hunting season. Just get a multimeter and check voltages before putting them in your cameras.
That's what I was looking for. I don't run cameras year round. As long as Alkalines get me through hunting season. Oct-dec I'd be happy
 

elk yinzer

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Oct 23, 2017
2,939
7,202
113
36
State College, PA
Same boat. I also end up with so many half-used batteries because I don't wanna waste the effort of putting a camera out, that managing those has become a big hassle.

Alkis are fine until you get below freezing. Then they suck.


I'm trying these currently. Early returns are promising but I have to put them through the paces of a couple seasons before I decide to go all in.
 

Rutman

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Dec 11, 2021
681
1,174
93
48
NW Georgia
Big difference in battery life in regular cams vs cell cam battery life. I’ve had a regular cam last over a year on rayovac’s, taking thousands of pics. Same spot with a cell cam might last 12 weeks. I’m going to try a couple lithium battery packs and a couple solar panels ok some cams I’m putting out next weekend.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

GreginPA

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Apr 10, 2020
711
1,123
93
I have reveal x's. I bought 10 packs of lithium AAs a couple of years ago for 7.49 a pack. Target had them on fire sale. So I never used regular batteries in mine.
The price of Lithium AAs today is simply hysterical, so ill be going regular batteries. How long do regular batteries in general last? And do they preform as good as lithiums? I heard as the batteries get lower the cameras don't preform as good, as the flash and range detection gets weaker.
buy the reveal rechargeable packs - I got them for $40 and they seem great to me. The solar panel also works well too.
 
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BenG

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2017
412
300
63
37
I have reveal x's. I bought 10 packs of lithium AAs a couple of years ago for 7.49 a pack. Target had them on fire sale. So I never used regular batteries in mine.
The price of Lithium AAs today is simply hysterical, so ill be going regular batteries. How long do regular batteries in general last? And do they preform as good as lithiums? I heard as the batteries get lower the cameras don't preform as good, as the flash and range detection gets weaker.

The reveal works good with alkaline. You can get a few months out of them fairly easily in low deer density areas and I really haven’t seen any performance issues other than not working in extreme cold days but I’ve also had lithiums stop working for a day or two in extreme cold.
 

Loopwing

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Mar 10, 2020
1,477
1,960
113
47
Virginia
X2 the reveal battery packs! They last almost a whole season. I have my pics delivered immediately and have usually 20-30 pics a day minimum on my cameras. I will put in a set of lithium batteries while I charge the battery pack over night.
 
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GreginPA

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Apr 10, 2020
711
1,123
93
I'm using both. camera is reporting 100% battery and been deployed since February. Per Tactacam the battery report is only for the lithium battery pack not the solar panel. if/when it shows <100% that means it is officially on the lithium pack instead of the solar panel battery. I was waiting for it to drop below 100 once full canopy happened, but it hasn't.

In my opinion - the combo has paid for itself already in batteries/time to go out and change

If I had to pick only one, I'd do solar panel and back it up with regular aa's just in case.

The only issue I see, but also haven't had to deal with yet, is what do I do once I see the solar panel isn't powering it. I'll have to take the panel home and fully charge it, then take it back out there and hook it back up again. Unless of course I just buy an extra panel to have juiced up and take out with me.
 

Huntermax-4

New Member
SH Member
Mar 7, 2023
13
14
3
40
I went to external 12v batteries in a box from herd360.com on mine. Get a long life out of a single charge and when its dead just charge it up and put it out again. Its not expensive at all when you consider you can quit buying batteries over and over.

Box I used

battery I use
I’m surprised more people don’t go this route. It ends up a lot cheaper