trail cams (batteries)

[SWAG]

Do any of you have problems with batteries going down quickly? How often are you checking your cameras? Does the flash make alot of difference in how long the batteries last.....ie 24 hr setting vs. just daytime monitoring?

[chopper30]

Every camera is different on how long the batteries last. Also the flash will wear them down faster. The weather can also play a part in how long they last. The colder the weather, the shorter the battery life. I have 2. One is the new Cuddeback Excite, and it averages around 1000 pictures on a set of batteries. I did have it up in August and was getting mostly daylight pictures and was getting somewhere around 1500. My other camera is last years model Cuddeback 3.0. It has a little longer battery life, I would guess around 1200-1400 pics. I changed the batteries in both camera last weekend, and that made it the 3rd set of batteries since July in the older model, and the 4th set since July in the newer model.

[Jelly]

Every camera is different on how long the batteries last. Also the flash will wear them down faster. The weather can also play a part in how long they last. The colder the weather, the shorter the battery life. I have 2. One is the new Cuddeback Excite, and it averages around 1000 pictures on a set of batteries. I did have it up in August and was getting mostly daylight pictures and was getting somewhere around 1500. My other camera is last years model Cuddeback 3.0. It has a little longer battery life, I would guess around 1200-1400 pics. I changed the batteries in both camera last weekend, and that made it the 3rd set of batteries since July in the older model, and the 4th set since July in the newer model.

Hey Chopper, I have the 3.0 from last year.. Do you like the excite better? Pros vs Cons?

[chopper30]

I personally like the 3.0 from last year better. The reasons: 1.)battery installation in the new cuddebacks (this includes all of them) it is a pain in the butt. The will come unconnected very easily during attachment to the tree leaving you with wrong time and date... 2.) connecting to the tree. With last years model you had the option of the screw, or the cable. I liked this, because if you were hanging it on small trees you could use the cable, and it was very easy. The new ones only have the screw. So you can only use the screw, and in my experiences with the screw, it is hard to attach a lock to the camera when screwed into the tree because it is so tight up against the tree. Not to mention you can't tilt it or move it without unscrewing the camera. 3.) althought they say they are, the new cameras aren't waterproof. I opened my camera last week and there was a small amount of water resting on the inside of the camera on the battery plate. Although nothing important got wet, I can only imagine the amount of corrosion and other effects this might have in the long run. 4.) I'm already having problems with my new camera. I don't know if it was in effect of the water inside the camera, the batteries going dead or what, but this weekend when I checked it, I had 325 pictures, but only about 40 pictures of deer. The rest were of nothing. The camera would just go off once a minute for like 30 minutes and then stop. 2-3 hours later it would do it again until the battery ran out. The camera had been in this same spot for about a month and hadn't done that before, so it wasn't from limbs or anything blowing in front of it. I put new batteries in it and we'll see what happens. If it does it again, I'll send it in for repairs I guess.

Pros of the new cameras: they have an on/off switch, and the slot for the memory card is more easily accessible. With my old one, I always have to stick a key or something in it to mash the button for the card to pop out. With the new cameras the card slot is on the bottom, and it has a cut out for you fingers to grab the card. The 2.0 Excite doesn't have all the bells and whistles the older 3.0 or the new 3.0 or higher have like advanced mode and video mode, but I never used those, so it doesn't bother me.

[waterfowlwidowmaker]

Chop,
the thing about the camera taking a bunch of pictures for 20 or 30 minutes and then doing it again is most likely caused by the batteries going dead. At least thats what happened to the cuddy we had out in madison and another one we had at the salt lick back home on the farm.

We'll have to check yours out this weekend to see it thats what it was.

[hatcher]

As far as batteries go, I have noticed that cheaper cameras tend to have very poor battery life while more expensive, or better quality, cameras tend to have great battery life. I own 10 Cuddeback 3.0 cameras and they have all had great battery lives. I know some that own those moultrie cameras and they are always replacing batteries and even have sent them back due to battery issues.

On another note, always remember that batteries will tend to last longer in warm weather and tend to fade out quicker in cold weather.

[waterfowlwidowmaker]

As far as batteries go, I have noticed that cheaper cameras tend to have very poor battery life while more expensive, or better quality, cameras tend to have great battery life. I own 10 Cuddeback 3.0 cameras and they have all had great battery lives. I know some that own those moultrie cameras and they are always replacing batteries and even have sent them back due to battery issues.

On another note, always remember that batteries will tend to last longer in warm weather and tend to fade out quicker in cold weather.

10 cuddybacks? Dang it boy, you got one helluva investment in just trail cams. I would hate to know what all kinds of pics you get.

[TODO]

I own a couple of moultries, they use a six volt batt. They need replacing about every two weeks, regardless of how many pics have been taken. My 35 mm stealth cams can make it about three weeks on several double a's. What kind of batt is the cuddeback using?

[chopper30]

What kind of batt is the cuddeback using?

4 D's

[dukmisr2005]

i have a moultie digi cam that lasted 6 weeks on one battery...

[hatcher]

Your right about the investment, however I didn't have to pay for them. I work for MSU and used them to conduct a camera survey that I plan on turning into a workshop. It will be great once I compile all the data.

I didn't pay full price for them as I talked with the main salesman for them and was able to get a discount, I got them for 250 each. They were factory refurbs, but hey let me tell you they work great. I have some up right now going on 10 weeks and batteries are just now getting to a level 1 and 2. Will need replacing soon im sure due to cold weather.

If someone could tell me how to upload pics i could share a few with you.