Tactacam Battery Life

[huntandfishguy6]

I don't know how but I have Tactacam that's still sending photos. That camera hasn't had new batteries since December. I'm still getting the daily check in photos, and a few random deer pictures a week.

[Leverhunter]

Get the Tactacam solar panel and forget about changing batteries. I run my feeders and cam 6 - 7 months using the solar panel with battery pack and never change a battery.

[mjhaverkamp]

Get the 12 volt HME battery with solar pack, I have 18 tactacams with this set up, over 2000 pictures a week.

[AntlerCollector]

Your cameras will read 100% anytime an external power source is on the camera. That doesn’t mean the panels internal battery is truly 100% charged. They are more than capable even in partial sun though.

[bboswell]

Your cameras will read 100% anytime an external power source is on the camera. That doesn’t mean the panels internal battery is truly 100% charged. They are more than capable even in partial sun though.

true, in the past solar panels simply provided a charge to the camera batteries but thats not how these work. These panels have their own internal battery and they provide all power to the camera unless the battery in the solar panel dies and at that time the camera starts running off of its batteries and the battery meter will start going down telling you to plan a trip soon

[Goldensammy]

I can’t stress enough for you to get a solar panel with a built in battery. They literally pay for themselves. You don’t ever have to put batteries inside your camera. I’ve been using Tactacam cameras since they hit the market and a couple have taken around 100,000 pics and never had a battery inside them.

Can you link an example of your setup?

[AntlerCollector]

Can you link an example of your setup?

All mine now have Tactacam’s own solar panel with internal battery. Really nothing to it. Set up your camera, set up the solar panel, plug it in and you’re done. Their panel comes with everything you need.

[tjs011]

Agree with the tactacam solar panel - I won't have camera without one. Since it has as built in battery in the solar panel, you don't even need to install batteries in the camera, which means it starts to pay for itself right away. Mine stays at 100% charged all the time.

[piercebronkite]

I started with batteries and different settings to preserve batteries and that was a waste of time and money. Put a solar panel on it and never have to worry about it.

[Goldensammy]

All mine now have Tactacam’s own solar panel with internal battery. Really nothing to it. Set up your camera, set up the solar panel, plug it in and you’re done. Their panel comes with everything you need.

Noted. Thanks for clarifying.

[doright]

I have the solar panel and it lasted almost a year and then died. I replaced the factory battery set up with the lithium from tactacam and it lasted almost 3 weeks. I am going back tomorrow with a voltmeter to see if the charger is putting out anything. I was impressed to start with but now I think it should have lasted longer.

[Mr. Public]

First couple assembled cameras done. Few more to do.

These are for feeder pens.

Finally broke down and bought some cell cameras. Tired of driving just to take hot hikes to check SD cards. Usually takes 2.5 hrs and 1/4 tank of fuel so these will actually save me time, money and my footprint on the properties.

One more for my refuge lease down south- 12hrs round trip is too far to go check cameras, EVEN FOR ME!

Just sharing my set up incase others may like it. Very simple, pretty inexpensive, minimal tools, everything for hardware I got at Lowe’s.

Happy to help with any questions.

[Mr. Public]

Also,

Solar panels can flip up to face the oppose direction or
the camera or down to face the same directions.

Such as if you want the camera to face north - flip the solar panel up to face south.

[Mr. Public]

Just got an email form Tactacam: kind spam. But there is apparently a new a Tactacam Reveal 3.0 in July, so it may be worth waiting to purchase the newest one out if your contemplating buying a cell camera.

[Black Ice]

I think I’m going to be done with Tactacam and Stealthcam. I’m tired of constantly getting them to work then leaving the property and them not working. I’ve got 13 cams out with 6 not working and 2 new Tactacams I’ll be putting out or replacing some of the 6 I can’t get to work.

Stealthcam solar panels are garbage and constantly break. The Tactacam panels seem to be much better but they just stop taking pics.

I buy the Tactacam Pro with the solar panel and the lithium battery pack. I may have one that doesn’t have a battery pack and I use lithium AA as back up to the solar panel.

Going to give Wiseye a try and start throwing some of these other cams in the garbage like I did my SPYPOINT cams.

I spend way too much money on panels, batteries, battery packs and cell service to have this much trouble.