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.