Solar panel build for trail cam Tgil style

[OrangeBlood]

Well, I was a little disappointed when I got to my camera over the weekend. I can't tell you how many thousands of pics it has taken since I put it out in Oct of last year, but when I got to it, it was at 40%. The card has been full since May and I really don't see how that could affect the battery or panel performance? The bad part is, because I've never been let down by a panel in the past, I wasn't prepared to address this find while I was there.
I can only assume the panel is degrading since it was an old one I had laying around, I'll start there when I go back.
On the good side, I was glad to see the box that contains the battery has held up to the heat!

40% is better than 0%. I would say its a success in my book.

nice job...

[tgil]

40% is better than zero, but to me it's very frustrating to show up for a hunt and find a dead battery in the feeder or expect to get pics and find the battery croaked.
I'll be going up in a another week or so with a fresh battery and I'll keep spare stuff around during season to keep this from being an issue.

[azle]

Do you still use bateries in the camera? rechargable? or none?
Thanks

Azle

[tgil]

None, but, that brings up a good solution for my fear of dead batteries. I think this unit will revert to internal batteries if the external power fails? I'm going to look into that. Thanks for asking that question!

[jkg2003]

Has anyone done any reasearch to figure out which brands take which type of battery and what size plug??

I know that:

Moultrie is 12volt DC
Primos is 6volt
???

[RascalArms]

Nice thread...where is the drool button?

[southtexaslayer]

hella cool build!

[Booner Sooner]

Great info!

[maverick18]

Any need for charge regulator?

[tgil]

Any need for charge regulator?

No

[QDM4fun]

Nice work

[QDM4fun]

You inspired me to build one also. This one is for a covert code black mms cam

[arrowsonly88]

So this has been holding up for you? I'm gonna look into getting one started. Did you figure out when the card fills up if the primos 35 keeps trying to take pictures? And uses battery's?

[tgil]

So this has been holding up for you? I'm gonna look into getting one started. Did you figure out when the card fills up if the primos 35 keeps trying to take pictures? And uses battery's?

I didn't ever determine that. That is the only time I had an issue with it. I just set it back out in a new spot. Still holding 99%.

[tgil]

You inspired me to build one also. This one is for a covert code black mms cam

What is at the top of the long pole? Antenna?