Battery Life

[bradleydale]

Hi all,
I'm in the process of building my first 2 camera setups, one with the regent sensor and the other with a RS sensor some of you are using. My question is with the Regent, how long is your 9 volt battery lasting?? Or do you advise going ahead and using a gell cell of some sort?
For those of you using the RS sensor with the 9 volt battery, how long are they lasting???
Thanks for any help or advice!!

[SWAMPFOOT]

BRADLEYDALE
I USE THE MS20W/9VOLT BUT I GO AHEAD AND WIRE 3 OF THE 9VOLTS IN PARALLEL THAT IS ALL THE RED WIRES TOGETHER MAKING ONE AND ALL THE BLACK WIRES TOGETHER MAKING ONE THEN CONNECT IT TO THE MS20 BOARD THIS GIVES YOU THREE TIMES THE BATTERY LIFE IN MY OPINION MUCH BETTER THAN THE LARGER BATTERIES BECAUSE I USE THE SMALL 6X6X4 ELECTRICAL BOXES I LEAVE MINE IN THE WOODS FOR 3-4 WEEKS AT A TIME AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS W/BATTERY LIFE.

[Tinhorn]

I am using 6V Alkaline Lantern Batterys ($7) in all but one of mine, using an MS20 and a timer. ###I have not replaced any battery's yet but I expect 5 months of CONTINUOUS use out of them.

The other battery is 4 AA's in series (6 volts) in my Nestle's Quick Cam.....I think it's been used a month continuos by now, ###I replaced the battery's in it with out checking the old ones.....

Tinhorn

[wvhunter]

I am using the RS sensor and the 9v lasted at least 4 weeks. ###That is the longest run I have had the cam out so far. ###It was still going strong after that amount of time.

[gtk]

I buy two of the 6volt lantern batteries, wire them in parallel (or series wichever gives you 12 volts.) ###I have one cam that's been in continuous use since mid-feb. ###Still showing 11 volts on the battery tester.

[spectr17]

I have a cam using the Radio Shack 49-425 PIR in testing and it has run 3 months on 1 9vdc battery so far. The battery voltage is down to 8.1 vdc and it is still tripping the relay.

More next month if it's still running

[Archilochus]

Hi bradleydale,
I've got mine out for about 7 1/2 months now on a set of 4 "AA" batts. I did change out the cam batts a few times. ###The sensor and timer are all home-made, so this does not apply to the RS or Regent sensors.

Archilochus

[jam]

I have a the radio shack motion detector and a cannon pf. How long should a nine volt battery last and how long will the two AA last in the camera. Also are the lithium 9v worth the price. Thanks for any help.

[jayber]

Jam,
Checkout 'Battery Source, >>Battery Option' thread on the second page. ###Some other options have also been covered there.

[jayber]

I just had a camera where the LED would come on and stay on.......flicker a bit, but not go out. ###Needless-to-say, this cause a few pictures to be shot consecutive. ###Turns out changing the batteries solved the problem. ###I got about 4.5 months out of them (4 C's) using a MS20 with two-stage timer.

[Tinhorn]

Thanx for the Info Jayber,

Almost don't have to worry about the battery's at that rate......

Tinhorn

[Dbworld]

I opted for the 9vdc setup on the mainstay wm2 sensor....now I'm kinda wishing I'd gone 12vdc. ###Do these suck down the batterys? Pretty fast. ###Roughly... how long do 2 or three normal 9v batteries in parralel last? ### Other inexspenive solutions?

[StringShooter]

Really, a 12 volt battery only runs about 12 or so bucks. I use a Powersonic 12 vdc 1.2 amp as seen here http://www.power-sonic.com/

They last a long time and work well in cold weather.

I just use a small car battery charger to charge it up.

(Edited by StringShooter at 9:43 am on Dec. 27, 2001)

[Dbworld]

next time I'll go the 12vdc route

[StringShooter]

Did you know that you can still run a 12 vdc battery even though you might be using a 9 volt relay?

Thats the way my MS20's are set up. No problems, the relay can handle it.

[Dbworld]

I didn't know that. Thank you!! That solves my dilemma then. ###I just figured it would cause problems with the relay. Should I get a 12vdc LED then? ###I haven't bought one yet (tonight). Hmmmm...I'm not even sure they have a voltage rating? ###I'm NOT an electical guy. ###But with the instructions on here I guess I don't have to be. ###

[StringShooter]

If your shopping at ###Radio Shack, get the #276-270, it will work.

[bradjenkins]

I have been having a problem with my cameras eating batteries. ###I can usually leave them out for two rolls of film (about 2 weeks) and I have to replace both the camera and sensor batteries. ###I am using a Canon Owl PF and MS20 sensor. ###The weather in Miss. was very cold this past week, could that have anything to do with it?

[Zeke]

My cam has been out almost 3 weeks and its on the 4th roll of film, and the battery indicator is still showing full charge. I'm using the Owl PF and RS sensor. Its been pretty cold here in NC the past 2 weeks and I've had no problem. Except for getting the 3rd roll developed. I cant get out of my driveway(snowed in). Slick as snot!! ###I hoping there will be some good pics on it, with the snow coming in maybe the deer were moving better. Also, I put better foam in to seal off the shutter from the flash. ### ### ###Z

[springdrl]

The batteries in my Owl PF are still fine after several rolls of film. I am using seperate batteries for my timer circuit and RS sensor. Let me add too that JoeD's timer circuit will last a lot longer on a set of AAA batteries than others being made available here.

[Tinhorn]

Brad

The Owl PF owners manual says the AA batt's will last 18 rolls of film with the flash used 50% of the time. ###

Of course, most of us are using the flash 100% of the time so I don't know how many rolls of film this would be but I get a lot more than 2 rolls and 2 weeks of use out of a set of batterys????

I bet I get 10 rolls and several months of use!

Are you using Alkaline?

If the shutter was held closed for extended amounts of time (like a min or 2) it "Might" be hard on batterys (have no idea really) ### IS the MS20 set on <Auto> or <Test> ?

Cold weather does affect battery life but not that bad surely!

Tinhorn

[gizz]

The only thing I've consistently noticed is that the batt's that came with the owl pf's in the bubble wrap must've been old cause they "went" pretty quick, ~ few rolls, then I'd replace them with fresh alkalines and they seem to be holding up well. It's been a very cold week or two here in PA and I checked the cams this AM before the snow hit and all was fine. Lot's of pics and even had one roll completed.

Good to see ya back Tinhorn, I was gettin worried.

[bradjenkins]

I have been using alkaline batteries for the MS20 sensor and the camera. ###I wired in the relay and no timer. ###I keep the sensor in the test position so I can take pics during the day. ###Anybody got any ideas? ###I thought about putting a 5v relay in and using 6 volt lantern battery.