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Tacticam Reveal

Memory cards have worked since day 1. I've run these cams for 3 years now. No issues till this past week. i'm headed to the field to check them out this weekend. i'll see whats up.
 
LoadedLimbs said:
For those of you who are considering buying the $50 rechargeable LiPo battery cartridge, you need to know that it does not contain nearly as much stored energy as a set of AA Energizer Ultimate Lithium (disposable) batteries do. I called the Tactacam customer support line to find out the capacity of the LiPo battery cartridge and they informed me that it's 5000 mAh. Each of the Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA batteries has a capacity of 3000 mAh, so the stored energy is 7 times greater in a set of 12 disposable lithium AA batteries. Considering that my experience with the Gen 1 Reveal X cams was that I got about 9 months of uninterrupted use out of a set of 12 Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries, I expect the LiPo cartridges to need to be recharged about 6 times in a 9 month period. The customer support person I interacted with at Tactacam was trying to tell me that the life of the LiPo battery cartridge is comparable to using 12 Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA's, but they're wrong.

I purchased the LiPo battery cartridge to conduct a comparison test and set up two XB cams side by side. One started with a fully charged LiPo battery cartridge, and the other with a new set of 12 AA Energizer Ultimate Lithiums. My test isn't finished yet because neither has run down far enough to require my intervention (yet), but I can tell you that the LiPo battery cartridge is reporting 80% battery strength after < 1 month, whereas the cam with AA batteries is still reporting 100% battery strength. (And it's the warmest month of the year - August - which is the easiest on battery life!) Both have been configured with identical settings and both have been taking and capturing an equivalent number of pics and video clips. So if you're thinking about buying the Tactacam LiPo battery cartridge, just be aware that you'll need to visit the cam more frequently than if you're using disposable lithium AA's - potentially A LOT more frequently, depending upon your settings and how frequently the cam is triggered.

You can add the Tactacam accessory solar panel to your set up to help but that's another expense, and ripe for stealing if your cam is on public land. That's my two cents on the LiPo cartridge.
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@RMcDonald7 @bowhuntr09 @ofor @GreginPA @weekender21 @MA_PAdeerslayer @DEERHUNTER247 @woodsdog2 @Topdog -

Following up on my earlier post about the Tactacam LiPo battery cartridges made for the Tactacam Reveal X, XB, SK, X Gen2, and XPro ... I have now had my battery life comparison test running in an over & under arrangement using Tactacam Reveal XB cameras since August 1st, 2022. The Tactacam LiPo battery cartridge started in the camera brand new, after receiving a FULL charge using a wall charger at home.

The operational environment has been outdoors in the woods with average high temperatures of 85 to 90 degrees F in August, and average high temperatures of 75 to 85 degrees F so far in September. (Those temperatures are FAR from cold weather!) Yet in 51 days elapsed time, the battery charge level being reported for the camera with Tactacam's rechargeable LiPo cartridge went from 100% charge on August 1st to just 60% charge as of September 20th. (As reported via the Tactacam Reveal mobile phone app.) During that time, it sent 78 photos to my mobile phone, and captured 78 10-second full high definition videos to the SD card.

Meanwhile, the "control" camera in my experiment had a brand new set of (12) Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA batteries in it, set up in an identical location for the same period of time. After 51 days in the field, 78 pics sent + 78 10-second videos captured to the SD card, it still reports 100% charge on September 20th. Thus, it appears that the rechargeable Lithium cartridges will require recharging about every 60 days during warm weather months - and perhaps much more frequently during cold weather months. When you consider that I've routinely gotten 9 months of uninterrupted use of the disposable Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA batteries, that's a STARK difference in how long they'll allow you to leave a camera undisturbed.

Conclusion: The use of the rechargeable cartridges requires much more frequent intrusions into the placement area than the use of disposable Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA's to keep the camera powered and working.
 
RMcDonald7 said:
over the past week, my gen 1 tacticams have been taking only black and white pictures where they should be taking color. not sure whats up here.
but I did get my first bucks on camera today! so thats a plus. Hope these two can live past the orange army!
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my gen 1 just started doing the same thing. Just put it out. Test pic was fine before I walked out and every pic since was night mode.
 
Any chance that something is obstructing or obscuring the light sensor, causing the cam to capture B&W only?
 
This video discusses the importance of keeping a trail camera's photoelectric (light) sensor clean. An obstructed or dirty photoelectric sensor can cause an infrared-flash trail camera to behave as if it's nighttime during daytime, and to save black & white photos when it should be capturing color photos...

 
If it's not a dirty or obstructed photosensor, I'd call Tactacam's customer service number and ask what they recommend for further troubleshooting. I'd also ask them if there is a known quality control issue causing the problem. Regardless, if they can't help resolve the issue, I'd initiate a warranty claim.
 
I've got 3 OGs and 2 of the newer Xs. Never had an issue with any of them and I absolutely love them. As @Bwhana said make sure you've got the right SD card and don't look back. As far as the black and white issue, I've found it happens this time of year with a full canopy and limited sunlight getting to the forest floor. I don't care if it's b&w or color as long as I can tell what the subject is
 
Bought a Reveal cellular in the spring and put it up the mountain from my house. Got deer, bear, turkeys, a coyote and a trespasser. I’m only getting pictures through the cell signal but they hit my phone immediately. Also bought a metal box since I’ve lost multiple cameras to bears. I’ll be buying another one to put on top of the mountain to track movement without disturbing the area.
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deleted_user04 said:
Thanks for the response. Those are a little rich for my pockets.
It looks like I can purchase a 5 dollar adapter to convert what I have to work on my Tactacams.
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did you end up converting your panels for your tacticams? I'm looking into going the solar panel route this year.
any suggestions on what panel or just go with the tacticam panel for $60
 
Just an FYI - I've been VERY happy with my tactacam solar panels. I have 3, I snagged them for $50 each. They have more than paid for themselves vs battery costs already.

I've had one of them deployed since February and the camera shows 100% battery. Note - that doesn't mean the solar panel still has 100%. Per tactacam it just means that the camera has not had to use any of the back up rechargeable lithium tactacam battery I have installed in the camera.
 
GreginPA said:
Just an FYI - I've been VERY happy with my tactacam solar panels. I have 3, I snagged them for $50 each. They have more than paid for themselves vs battery costs already.

I've had one of them deployed since February and the camera shows 100% battery. Note - that doesn't mean the solar panel still has 100%. Per tactacam it just means that the camera has not had to use any of the back up rechargeable lithium tactacam battery I have installed in the camera.
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I have a X cam out since 8/31/2022 with with nothing but the original set of lithium batteries in it. No solar at all and it’s still reporting 100% on battery level. During off-season it sends pics twice a day and during season it sends in real time.
 
bowhuntr09 said:
I have a X cam out since 8/31/2022 with with nothing but the original set of lithium batteries in it. No solar at all and it’s still reporting 100% on battery level. During off-season it sends pics twice a day and during season it sends in real time.
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good point. I forgot to mention that I keep mine on immediate sending of pics, plus twice a day check in pics. For what it's worth I was getting about 6 months out of a set of lithiums before.
 
went to walmart and picked up 2 solar panels last night. Might get a cam or 2 out tomorrow.
 
Question- will the X gen 2 send video? I switched the setting last night to Pic + Video and since, i have not received any pictures at all.
 
RMcDonald7 said:
Question- will the X gen 2 send video? I switched the setting last night to Pic + Video and since, i have not received any pictures at all.
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once you get a pic - you long press the pic and can request the video from there. it will then show up in your gallery at the next check in. Only issue I've had with this is during full canopy sometimes the signal is insufficient to send the video. I just request it again and it eventually shows up
 
bowhuntr09 said:
None of them will send video unless you have the schedule set to timely. If you have it set to sending once or twice a day that function will not work.
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Its set to timely, still no pics, i'll let it go through tonight and see if the settings kick in
 
RMcDonald7 said:
Its set to timely, still no pics, i'll let it go through tonight and see if the settings kick in
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Was it set to timely before or is that a new setting change? You can’t get any video from any previous pics over the air unless it was set to timely when it was taken. They will be on your card though.
 
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