Batteries

[NOCK NOCK]

This subject comes up periodically so thought I'd share a recent experience.

Hung an older bushnell cam on Oct 2, 2019 @6000' elevation. Cam takes 4 AA bats. I always use Kirkland batteries instead of the name brand, or lithium ones. Set on 3 shot burst. 32g card.

The camera was retrieved on 6-23-20, so it was soaking for nearly 9 months.

Verdict..….8796 pics, took the vast majority of the pics in May of 2020, still taking pics up until June 7th 2020.

IMHO, Lithium batteries are not worth the cost.

[Machias]

I've had different results with the cellular cameras, probably because they are sending a photo or as in the new ones from Spypoint I'm using they send several every couple of hours.  Without the Lithium batteries I get maybe 2 months, with Lithium I get nearly 5 months.

[MtnMuley]

Good luck winning that argument. Quality lithium batteries are far superior in trail cams.

[Katmai Guy]

Reason it took most of the pictures in May and June of this year is because it was too cold from October to March or April for the alkaline batteries to work.

[jrebel]

I run kirkland AA batteries in all my trail cams and have never had a problem.  I run them all winter long and depending on the set can get 8-14 months per set of batteries.  All my cameras take 8 AA batteries.  No way I can justify the cost of lithium based on my experience. 

[NOCK NOCK]

Good luck winning that argument. Quality lithium batteries are far superior in trail cams.

Not trying to win an argument. "Lithiums are Far superior" is YOUR Opiniuon, I'm entitled to mine. 

Reason it took most of the pictures in May and June of this year is because it was too cold from October to March or April for the alkaline batteries to work.

Nope, it took pictures all the way through, just not much action with 6+ feet of snow on the ground in winter time.  On a side note, It was quite eye opening how many deer/does especially, stayed up that high well into December.

[grundy53]

I've used both and had the opposite experience. But if it works for you that's great. Hope you got some good pics.

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[Buzz2401]

Use nothing but kirklands and have yet to wear a set out in one season.

[huntnnw]

I ve had cams out in cold weather and bought lithium's and they were dying not much after the double A's..I haven't bought them again. I couldn't justify price. 

[grundy53]

My cameras are on the westside. I wonder if it's the moisture affecting them. Often the alkalines would start leaking.

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[NOCK NOCK]

I ve had cams out in cold weather and bought lithium's and they were dying not much after the double A's..I haven't bought them again. I couldn't justify price.

Agreed.     I leave overwinter cams out every year, alkaline always work well for me. Was not impressed by the lithiums or rechargables either.

I use bear boxes, so maybe that helps keep the cam/batts. more insulated. 

Also, if you do use alkaline, do some research. Most brand name batteries do not have any significant power value over off brand ones. Energizer, Duracell, etc. your paying extra for a name only.

[Stein]

It's not like Costco has a battery plant somewhere, they use one of the big name producers.  There are tons of tests out on YouTube, for most cases they are plenty good enough and the cost is a fraction of the competition.

A lithium battery does have more power, the same as a Ferrari, but we don't all need to drive those either.

Here is a great test of AA batteries both lithium and alkaline:

They didn't test Costco in that one, but after a ton of viewer comments he did test them at the end of this one which is on rechargeable (tested the Kirkland alkaline starting at 7:45).  Kirkland were either on par with the name brand or only slightly lower despite the huge difference in cost.  There is also a chart showing the number of mAh per penny and Kirkland was the highest of any battery by far at 68.98.  Duracell was 27.33 and Energizer 27.52, so if you look at the amount of juice per penny, it's more than double the name brand.

[Katmai Guy]

Good luck winning that argument. Quality lithium batteries are far superior in trail cams.

Not trying to win an argument. "Lithiums are Far superior" is YOUR Opiniuon, I'm entitled to mine. 

Reason it took most of the pictures in May and June of this year is because it was too cold from October to March or April for the alkaline batteries to work.

Nope, it took pictures all the way through, just not much action with 6+ feet of snow on the ground in winter time.  On a side note, It was quite eye opening how many deer/does especially, stayed up that high well into December.

Maybe it's my camera that doesn't work in the cold then, not a battery issue.  Hmmmm.

[Machias]

I think in order to have a real discussion, we'd have to be using the same batteries with the same settings.  So many different variables, how many shots per trigger, how long in between trigger, any video modes, is the camera sending them to an e-mail and/or text messages, sending them in bundles or each instance,  etc...  Just so many different things affect battery life in a trail camera.  With the cellular trail cameras you just don't get any kind of life with alkaline batteries.  They don't even come close to the lithium batteries.  Also I buy mine on base and 12 AA lithiums are only $8.95, which I know is a LOT cheaper than most places.

[NOCK NOCK]

I think in order to have a real discussion, we'd have to be using the same batteries with the same settings.  So many different variables, how many shots per trigger, how long in between trigger, any video modes, is the camera sending them to an e-mail and/or text messages, sending them in bundles or each instance,  etc...  Just so many different things affect battery life in a trail camera.  With the cellular trail cameras you just don't get any kind of life with alkaline batteries.  They don't even come close to the lithium batteries.  Also I buy mine on base and 12 AA lithiums are only $8.95, which I know is a LOT cheaper than most places.

That's a very good point.  Location/elevation, weather, settings will all have an effect.

My main point here was to share what could be a cost saving to some. 

[blindluck]

I bought energizer batteries from Costco put them in my camera and they only read 60% battery life. I then opened the second package same thing 60%. Returned them and bought Duracell they read 98-99%.

[Mxracer532]

I run kirkland AA batteries in all my trail cams and have never had a problem.  I run them all winter long and depending on the set can get 8-14 months per set of batteries.  All my cameras take 8 AA batteries.  No way I can justify the cost of lithium based on my experience.

That's all I used to run also. But after batteries leaking in a couple cams and essentially ruining the cam I switched. This last go around I just bought energizer something or anothers. LOL

[CoryTDF]

This is so weird to me. I only get about 3 weeks out of my cam batteries. I do have it set on 3 and 30 and typically get about 1K-3K pictures a week so I'm sure that is the issue but I've never gotten more than a month out of any camera I have. No, not all the pictures are of animals as the sun and moving trees do account for some. I have StealthCam, Cabelas, Moultree, and SpyPoint cameras. 

I mostly use Home Depot HDX, Costco, Rayovac battries. Once I use the ones from the dollar store...once.

[b0bbyg]

Been using the same group if Eneloops for 3-4 years in 2-3 cameras.  Usually refresh early in the year if charge is low and they are still good the next year.  I probably run cameras actively for 3-5 months and then use the same ones off and on around the property.

[gramps]

Re:  leaking batteries.  A cotton swab and a weak acid, vinegar works well, can be used to clean up the leak and corrosion.  Most times the device will work just fine again.  Have successfully done this a number of times.

[NOCK NOCK]

I run kirkland AA batteries in all my trail cams and have never had a problem.  I run them all winter long and depending on the set can get 8-14 months per set of batteries.  All my cameras take 8 AA batteries.  No way I can justify the cost of lithium based on my experience.

That's all I used to run also. But after batteries leaking in a couple cams and essentially ruining the cam I switched. This last go around I just bought energizer something or anothers. LOL

Did they leak while in use, or in off season while cam was in storage? I have put literally hundreds of kirklands thru 15 cams in the last 10 years, and have only had a battery leak once(while cam in storage) All cams batteryless in off season now.

[huntnnw]

I think extreme cold will do it. I ve had a few leak and its always been super cold

[Cylvertip]

I avoid Duracell if I can help it.  They seem to be the worst culprits for leaking and corrosion.  The Kirklands  do much better. The Duracell have ruined a bunch of Costco flashlights.  Duracell are what they are packaged with and I keep making  the mistake of not just pitching them from the get go.

[throwingsticks]

This subject comes up periodically so thought I'd share a recent experience.

Hung an older bushnell cam on Oct 2, 2019 @6000' elevation. Cam takes 4 AA bats. I always use Kirkland batteries instead of the name brand, or lithium ones. Set on 3 shot burst. 32g card.

The camera was retrieved on 6-23-20, so it was soaking for nearly 9 months.

Verdict..….8796 pics, took the vast majority of the pics in May of 2020, still taking pics up until June 7th 2020.

IMHO, Lithium batteries are not worth the cost.

Thanks! You just saved me some $$$ I was just getting ready to order some lithium batteries. I have had bad luck with Kirkland batteries leaking in remotes etc so I don't use them but this is reassuring.

[Stein]

The right side of my hearing protection wasn't working so I popped it open and the Costco AAAs leaked all over...  Nothing is perfect apparently.

[NOCK NOCK]

The most common reason for any battery to leak is time...….Leaving an alkaline battery in a device for too long it will eventually leak. Take bats out of devices if you are not going to use them for a long time. I run 15 cams and change bats regularly as well as removing them if the cam is not in use. I have literally run 1000s of bats thru my cams and yet to have one leak.(knock on wood) 

[Onewhohikes]

Run lithiums

[goldenhtr]

How long do you guys store your unused batteries? and where or how.