Better Feeder Batteries

[J Wales]

I have been buying Game Winner brand 12 volt feeder batteries to run in my all seasons feeders for several years now. Over the past year or two, it seems that the batteries go bad very quickly. All of the feeders have solar chargers on them (the stock All Seasons chargers). Occasionally, if I notice that a feeder has quit spinning, I'll pull the battery and throw it on a charger. It's one of the chargers that has lights on it to tell if the battery charge is full, dead, or charging...and all of the lights flash if the battery is bad. I've tried a different charger and reinstalled the batteries to confirm that the charger is correct. The batteries just seem to go bad very quickly.

Any ideas of the problem? Has anyone else had this problem with Game Winner batteries? Are there any better batteries out there, or do you think it might be a charging problem?

Thank you-

[Smart]

Better Feeder Batteries

I have not had any noticeable problems with them in the past but I have started buying all my batteries from Bucees due to ease of purchase and their price. So far so good with all my replacements and new feeder adds.

[RMW]

I buy Dakota Lithium 12v batteries on Amazon for all my deer feeders. Never had one go bad, got some going 7-8 years old.

[Rj Flores]

I have been buying Game Winner brand 12 volt feeder batteries to run in my all seasons feeders for several years now. Over the past year or two, it seems that the batteries go bad very quickly. All of the feeders have solar chargers on them (the stock All Seasons chargers). Occasionally, if I notice that a feeder has quit spinning, I'll pull the battery and throw it on a charger. It's one of the chargers that has lights on it to tell if the battery charge is full, dead, or charging...and all of the lights flash if the battery is bad. I've tried a different charger and reinstalled the batteries to confirm that the charger is correct. The batteries just seem to go bad very quickly.

Any ideas of the problem? Has anyone else had this problem with Game Winner batteries? Are there any better batteries out there, or do you think it might be a charging problem?

Thank you-

Same here.
Started buying 6 and 12 volt rechargeable batteries from home depot. A little bit more expensive but going on 2 years without having to reharge them.

[DamonJ]

I buy Dakota Lithium 12v batteries on Amazon for all my deer feeders. Never had one go bad, got some going 7-8 years old.

is $100.00 each the norm on those?

[Smart]

Better Feeder Batteries

I have been buying Game Winner brand 12 volt feeder batteries to run in my all seasons feeders for several years now. Over the past year or two, it seems that the batteries go bad very quickly. All of the feeders have solar chargers on them (the stock All Seasons chargers). Occasionally, if I notice that a feeder has quit spinning, I'll pull the battery and throw it on a charger. It's one of the chargers that has lights on it to tell if the battery charge is full, dead, or charging...and all of the lights flash if the battery is bad. I've tried a different charger and reinstalled the batteries to confirm that the charger is correct. The batteries just seem to go bad very quickly.



Any ideas of the problem? Has anyone else had this problem with Game Winner batteries? Are there any better batteries out there, or do you think it might be a charging problem?



Thank you-

One more thing. Have you confirmed your solars are in good working order and get ample light? ... plus are your connections to it clean and solid? We have had some go bad. But honestly never have we had a battery needed to be recharged unless it goes bad or the solar goes bad. Usually get 5-6 years out of a battery

Now two of our members used to run those cheapo Remington timers and had them drain down batteries even with a solar because they sucked. Changed out timers and haven’t had an issue.

[axisbuck]

Buccess 12V batteries seems to work best with all seasons feeders and chargers

[ruger41]

Check your solar panels. They do go bad but not very often. We had a 6 volt solar charger on a 12 volt batter that did the same thing.

[Old Blue]

We have had issues with batteries as well . Bought from different places. I just dont think they are made like they were in the past.

[BlackHogDown]

PigSticker64 had the exact problem with one of his. Soldered in a blocking diode, which the controller was supposed to have, and fixed the problem by preventing the panel from drawing from the battery. Has been running strong for 3+ months now whereas before, a new battery would only last a couple weeks.

I bought the diode for $0.03

[Smart]

PigSticker64 had the exact problem with one of his. Soldered in a blocking diode, which the controller was supposed to have, and fixed the problem by preventing the panel from drawing from the battery. Has been running strong for 3+ months now whereas before, a new battery would only last a couple weeks.

I bought the diode for $0.03

Something was plenty wrong there if he's only getting 3 weeks from a battery with a solar panel. Hell we have gotten two months WITHOUT a solar panel running on a straight battery. Is his panel a standard feeder solar panel or one salvaged from some other device?

We have 17 plus corn and timed protein feeders on our lease with standard feeder solar panels and feeder batteries...some 6V for the Lamco timed protein feeders, but mostly 12V. We normally get 4-6 years from them using the TheTimer control unit and box if we add in the 6 volts too..

Hopefully that fixed his problem.. but still seems short even with a draw...

[BlackHogDown]

Something else was wrong there if he's only getting 3 weeks from a battery with a solar panel. Hell we have gotten two months WITHOUT a solar panel running on a straight battery.

Yes... without a panel to draw from the battery. Which it will without a functioning blocking diode which is included in most controllers. I'm guessing they malfunction occasionally. This one, in particular, was dumped in a storm and got all wet.

Maybe I misunderstood the details of what was going on before but all I know is we soldered a blocking diode (did it on my desk at work) and he hasn't had a single issue. The battery level indicator has been on 3 of 4 ever since.

I'm not at all familiar so cant even begin to argue. Just stating what our two master electricians told us.

[Smart]

Yes... On batteries with a diode somewhere preventing the panel from drawing a charge.

Maybe I misunderstood the details of what was going on before but all I know is we soldered a blocking diode (did it on my desk at work) and he hasn't had a single issue. The battery level indicator has been on 3 of 4 ever since.

I edited my initial comment after going back and reading yours... I read it as you confirmed he had a diode already and added another one. Still seems short to me with a full day of sun and small draw only at night.....and two feedings. Hopefully he got it fixed.

[BlackHogDown]

I edited my initial comment after going back and reading yours... I read it as you confirmed he had a diode already and added another one. Still seems short to me with a full day of sun and small draw only at night.....and two feedings. Hopefully he got it fixed.

I misread your "WITHOUT PANEL" comment and edited my post as well. Same story, different page.

[dosrobles]

My experience with Game Winner anything is low price and low quality. You just have to pick you battles. I won’t buy anything I count on in academy store brand