Anyone Made Their Own 12V Battery Pack For Camera?

[Special T]

I was thinking about buying one of those rechargeable 12v batteries that hooks up to my camera... Then i go to thinking that a good deep cycle would work better. I'm pretty sure Radio shack sells the correct adapter... Has anyone tried this? I'm using some of those cheep Wildview cameras that sell in the 2 fer pack at Cabellas.. Any thoughts? 

[Sniffles]

Yeah pretty simple, I use Stealth Cam's and got ahold of a few of the small 12V batteries for free, I think I remember buying the cables from cabela's, If I remember right they were pretty cheap, the right size plastic tupperware, some calking to waterproof the hole where the cables come out, and your good.  Good luck

[bonkellekter]

Yes, I bought the battery @ sportsmans warehouse $6.97 (look in the boat motor section SLA 12v Battery 1.3 Ah) then went to radioshack (bring your trailcam w/ you and they will select the right size barrell plug for your cam) the barrel plug was $6.99 (wildview requires size N) and the cable was $3.69. when I get home I will post a pic of my cable. My battery kit was for a wildview game cam.

[bonkellekter]

Forgot to mention you will also need a couple of spade connectors to go to the battery terminals and when you wire it you need to make sure that the center of the post is positive and outside is negetive. this can be done with a volt meter and even with a simple test light using your battery. If you have questions on this shoot me a message. I built this setup for 4 wildview cameras (two 2 fer packs) and it is working great.

[Special T]

SWEET how long does the batterie last?  Does it last in the cold? I'm stoked! 

[bonkellekter]

The batteries have been lasting us about 2 1/2 weeks in the cold weather ( 20 deg. F)- we were only getting about 2 days with the C cell batteries. I did notice in your original post you were thinking of using a deep cycle battery, I wouldnt try that even though they are still 12v the amperage output is way too high and will fry these cameras . But the setup we are using has really made our cameras work great. Other guys in warmer climates are getting up to 2 and 3 months with these batteries. Good Luck

[Special T]

BK I picked up the batteries and one plug and cord at Rat Shack... The batteries were on sale and I picked em both up for less than 12 bucks! I'll have to go back to Rat Shack and get another cord. Once the batteries are drained, do you just trickle charge em to use em again? Thanks for the help, I'm looking forward to some long soaks in the woods! 

[bonkellekter]

"Once the batteries are drained, do you just trickle charge em to use em again?"  

Yeah - I am using a 6-12v 500 mA wall charger for my batteries. Takes about 12-16 hours to charge then your good to go for another soak.

[lokidog]

For those cameras that do not run on 12V, you can go to goodwill and buy a plug in wall unit for 9V or 6V, get a cheap power converter and then use your big 12V battery

I did notice in your original post you were thinking of using a deep cycle battery, I wouldnt try that even though they are still 12v the amperage output is way too high and will fry these cameras

The above would solve the amperage problem for 12 volt as well.  Though deep cycle 12V's are certainly not cheap.  I had to do this to use my new StealthCam Rogue IR since we didn't have 8 C batteries....  Of course I can drive right to the locations I want to put my cameras.   

It might be cheaper to find the converter and just use the wiring and plug portion.  I don't know how much the Goodwill ones go for though.