JCDEERMAN
Well-Known Member
I pull all my batteries like this when they get down to 30% or so. Then, when the wife asks for batteries for the gadgets around the house, kids toys, etc, I'll give her those
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Joe2Kool
Well-Known Member
Never tried rechargeable. About 50/50 on Energizer or Duracell, with a mix of standard and lithium. Buddy bought some to help me out one time - RayoVac I think. Asked him if he was coming back next weekend to replace them? 
holstonangler
Well-Known Member
I just got two seasons out of energizer lithiums from my browning cameras. The good thing on lithiums is they do not leak out and they hold a charge better in cold weather.
Ironically, there was a dbl droptine. But he was not a 170. More like a 150.
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JCDEERMAN
Well-Known Member
Great buck!
I have always ran Duracell or Energizer Max
Crappieaddict
Well-Known Member
Yep, or the ones from Rural King. Exide. I think
JeepKuntry
Well-Known Member
Amazon or Members Mark from Sam's.
I mainly use Eneloop rechargeables and lithium AAs. It all depends on the camera, how the camera is setup (pics, vids, cellular), how frequently I am in the area of the camera, and how far from the truck the camera is. Every situation calls for a different battery consideration.
Correct. Energizer Lithium AAs are 1.8v or so when new.
How many is a lot? I assume pics were taken in temps ranging 30-50 degrees, is this correct? If you want a quality rechargeable, buy some Eneloops and be done.
Did you purchase these based on the reviews you mentioned earlier in this thread where the name brand rechargeables did not perform the best?
Ive been out west so i don't know what the temps have been here. I think its been a little colder than that.
I didn't count them before i deleted but they had 100-300 pics or so. One had 500 probably.
That pic count is terrible, even for the cheapest alkaline battery. Get you some rechargeable Eneloops and you will be set.
Rechargable eneloops and I am trying the Amazon brand rechargeable AA's now. Both have worked well with a slight edge to the eneloops even though they are 2+ years old and have been recharged 40-80 times. I havent checked the voltage but my experience tracks with others. Freshly charged, my camera rarely says more than 75% charge, BUT i haven't walked up to a camera with dead batteries in 3 years even with it set on video. Rechargables cost more up front but for about double what alkaline AA's cost, you get as much as 100 or more cycles out of them so they cost a tiny fraction what Alkaline batts cost.
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
THIS may be the big take-away of this entire thread!
Like Andy, I have been a big fan of rechargeables now for many years.
But I absolutely cannot exclusively use them.
Over the course of a year, I am using rechargeables for about half my applications.
One issue I didn't see mentioned was the fact that some specific makes or models of cams will only work properly with a particular battery (rechargeable, alkaline, or lithium).
For example, the Browning Dark Ops simply does not work well with rechargeables, but is a fantastic cam when loaded with lithiums.
Another issue is both extremely cold and extremely hot weather.
Alkaline batteries become worthless in extreme cold.
I do not use them at all in any cam after October, or before March.
I do use them some between March & October.
Rechargeables can be bad in extreme hot weather, such as when a cam is in direct sunlight during the summer.
Lithiums perform the best, and longest, across the spectrum.
Surprisingly, in many circumstances, using lithiums can actually cost you less money over time because you can go longer between servicing cams. This is especially the case when you would otherwise make special trips and use lots of gas.
That said, there is one problem with lithiums that hasn't yet to my knowledge been overcome:
Lithiums do not work with the battery meters of most cams.
The meter will simply say 100% ongoing, then completely fail without warning.
Currently, all my cell cams are loaded with lithiums.
About half my non-cell cams are currenlty loaded with rechargeables,
while the other half of non-cells are loaded with lithiums.
Like Andy says, every situation calls for a different battery consideration.
JCDEERMAN
Well-Known Member
Why is that you think? I've seen you mention that specifically with Brownings
Hunter 257W
Well-Known Member
I don't pay any attention to what specific brand or type battery I use. I always buy a big pack of a good quality batteries, not the bargain cheapo's, and use them. I get something different every time. I started using Trail Cameras back when they used film then the early digitals that burned a handful of C Batteries ever few weeks so these newer Browning Strike Forcer Explorer 18 MP I have that run months and months on 6 AA's are so good that I don't even question if I'm getting the optimum life possible or not.
The reason Energizer AA lithiums show 100%, then voila they're dead is because they are hot right out of the package, literally 1.7-1.8 volts instead of the 1.5 volts they're advertised at. Once a lithium AA measures 1.4 - 1.5 volts, it's on the verge of dying, yet the trail camera battery meter is still showing 100% due to the 1.5 volt reading. The L91 Energizer AA Ultimate lithium battery discharge curve below shows how they hold voltage very well over time, and then suddenly tank, rendering them useless in short order. In a way, it is similar to NiCd/NiMH cells. Typical AA alkaline batteries have a gradual drop in volts that most trail camera battery meters can detect and display as a gradual drop over time (90%, 80%, 70%, etc), where as lithium AA cells hold a high voltage level, then drop off suddenly (100%, 50%, 0%).
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DoubleRidge
Well-Known Member
We have a data logger at work with software that's used to reset the logger....in the software there is a warning to disregard the "battery monitor" if lithium batteries are used.....I never understood why....until reading your explanation....makes sense now....thanks for sharing.
