trail camera batteries

[SteelheadTed]

I've been struggling with my trail cameras for a while.  The cameras would just shut down, miss days in a row of any shots, etc.  I thought maybe it was my cameras, Moultries that are a few years old, but now I know it was the batteries.  So, I got digging into batteries after this happened.  I had been using the Eneloop pro rechargeables.  Turns out, the output voltage for rechargeable batteries isn't good enough for reliable trail camera usage.  I felt a little dumb for it taking so long to realize this.  I had used Eneloops in so many other gadgets that I never thought they were the issue.  I still love them, just not in my trail cameras.

I now run Energizer lithium batteries (not rechargeable) with good success (there is a good deal on 12 packs right now on Amazon where the cost comes to just over $1/battery).  These batteries last for quite a long time so it isn't too big of a deal but it is still costly, even at $1 per battery.  I did some poking around to see what alternatives there are and general consensus seems to be that the lithiums are the way to go.  Alkaline batteries work too but only in the warmer months.  They suffer in cold weather.

That's what I know and what I am currently doing.  Anybody else doing anything different?  Anyone doing any kind of jerryrigging, say, working up a harness to run 18650 type batteries instead of AA?  I've done some googling and can't find much.  I might just have to try this, I've got extra time these days!

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Solar charger at the camera location? If your camera accepts one?

[SteelheadTed]

Solar charger at the camera location? If your camera accepts one?

I've considered it but my cameras live in the deep dark woods, very few of them spend time in well lit areas.  Not to mention the fact that it would become more equipment for someone to steal. 

[Bowhunter3]

How much life are you getting out of a set of batteries? I run a large amount of browning strike force hd pros with lithium ion batteries year round and will chance them maybe twice a year, and that’s only the cameras that produce over 6,000 videos a year (all 20 second ultra quality). I know browning also has external battery packs that you can connect to your cams, and other companies might too.

[Archry]

Duracell batteries from Costco is what I run. I also carry a battery tester. if the battery Show Low at all I change them out. I also carry spare batteries. I don't buy cameras anymore that take AA batteries. the cameras I prefer take C batteries.

[grundy53]

I use lithium ion. They last way longer than alkaline.

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[yakimanoob]

I use lithiums in basically everything.  They're not cheap, but 9 times out of 10 you save money in the long run. 

I've had excellent life (like, 6+ months over winter with many hours worth of video) with the energizer e2 lithiums and my Bushnell E3. 

[hal]

I have 16 cameras, most are Stealth Cams. I run 13 for 7 months a year and the other 3 12 months. I use duracells and change them once per season. You can buy them reasonable on line and don't have to worry about charging. Simple is better

[jrebel]

I run quite a few cams.....I think currently there are 9 or 10 out.  I run only AA battery cameras with great success.  I use the kirkland / costco pack and get 8-12 months per set depending on how many pics they take.  I have two cams that literally take 2-4k pics a month and they will last 8 months on 8 AA batteries from costco. 

[Bango skank]

Any quality semi-modern camera will get 12+ months from a set of good lithium batteries.  Even through winter.  My old 2012 bushnells can easily go 14-16 months.  Some newer cams are claiming 18-36 months off a set of aa lithiums.  Im putting that to the test right now.  I wont screw with rechargables.  I figure if i spend 10-12 bucks on a set of batteries for a year or more, its well worth it.  A dollar a month?  Thats nothing if you consider the frivilous crap we all spend money on.  Hell, buying one cheap cup of nasty gas ststion coffee per month is more than that.