question for solar/battery gurus

[QDM4fun]

I am having issues with new covert camera killing battery. I'm using a 12v battery and solar panel and the cam killed the battery in a week. I'm thinking of connecting 3 panels together, one in the center and one on each side at 45 degrees to the center. Thinking this will provide good charging almost all day. Also thinking I will add a second battery. I will use a charge controller. I think I will need to add blocking diodes on the positive wire of each panel.

Anybody ever done something like this?

[Loneaggie]

If it's killing your 12v in a week you either have a bum battery or cam problem.

[TD2000]

I am having the same but with a 6 volt system and 12 batteries system (Red 40)

Planning on calling tomorrow for RTA or suggestions.

I did notice they have software upgrades available on website for various models to assist with battery drain

[kenfa03]

Was thinking coverts were 6v?

[QDM4fun]

the cam is 6v, but their power cable has a built in resistor to allow hooking it to a 6v or 12v.

The only thing I did different, I set it to send to two email addresses. not sure if that was using a lot more power when signal strength is low

[gonehuntin68]

It could also be a bad SD card as I have had camera's eat batteries trying to write to the bad cards. I found out the cards were bad when I put the card in my computer and it took a long time to load the pictures from the card. They do write to them but it takes forever and kills the battery. If I had to guess I would say it's poor signal strength as that will also eat the battery as it's constantly trying to send pics until it goes through.

[tbgascorer]

Your batteries are likely discharging through the face of the panel at night. Blocking diode will fix.

[Green Arrow]

Your batteries are likely discharging through the face of the panel at night. Blocking diode will fix.

Bingo...
I used to get them at radio shack but don't know where to get them now.

[SaltwaterSlick]

How many pics are you getting sent before the power is dead?

[gonehuntin68]

Your batteries are likely discharging through the face of the panel at night. Blocking diode will fix.

Bingo...
I used to get them at radio shack but don't know where to get them now.

I highly doubt this is the case since the loss will be less then 25ma a night without a blocking diode. With a blocking diode you will also loose some power during the day because the blocking diode will eat up some power from the solar panel to the battery and it will probably be more then the 25ma you are loosing without the diode. In any case if yours doesn't have a blocking diode I wouldn't worry about it as that is not your problem.