We have 3 brand new Moultrie 1.3 MP digital game-cams. We put 6volt gel cells w/solar panels on all three. The problem is, that we are only getting about 3 or 4 days worth before the batteries are COMPLETELY drained. We usually get about 20 or so pictures before this happens. I realize that digital flash cameras use alot of juice, but we thought with the solar panels (all are getting good afternoon sun), they would keep up. I understand the whole "you get what you pay for" speech, these were FREE. We have NO problem with the quality of the pics, just battery life. We have used other 35mm cameras in the past, and they would be good with C or D batteries for 2-3 weeks. Anyone have any similar experiences? Suggestions? Thanks.

I don't know anything about cameras but I noticed your screen name. Are you a jeep enthusiast? I drive a '76 CJ 7.

Yes, I have an '85 CJ7. aka "THE MONEY PIT" If you have one, you know what I mean.
J ust
E mpty
E very
P ocket

Yes, but they sure are fun to drive! I've got a friend who's extremely handy that helps me out with the little things. Mine really hasn't been a whole lot of trouble. I've had it for almost two years and all I've really spent money on is new tires and a winch (that I'm not quite sure how to use exactly). The gas mileage is it's biggest downfall. It's got some big motor that came out of an old corvette and it eats gas. I'm sure the big ol tires don't help either.

You've got a CJ7 with an LT1?? Now you have my attention. Is it fuel injected? I;m assuming you bought it after the swap was done. Do you use it for your daily driver? How much lift, what size tires? Standard or automatic transmission? Do you ever take it offroad?

Easy killer!! I'll do my best. I'm pretty sure it's carburated (sp?) 6" of lift on the body, something about the axcels switched out with axcels on an international scout I think, and then put over the springs, or under (whatever the opposite of how they come is). I've got some great big tires that make it really hard to drive but I think the ones on it now are 33". It's got one of those B&M shifter thingies I think that's what they call it?? I take it out to the ranch and run through mud and run over trees and stuff. Don't know if that answered your questions. I did the best I could

Cool. CJ7 w/350 (maybe LT1), 4 speed, swapped Dana 44 Scout axles, sprung-over lift on 33's. With 6" of lift you could easily get 35's under it. Sounds like fun, it'd be tough for a daily driver, though. Hooooooahh.

We have the same problem with the Moultrie Cameras. Enough about the jeeps. What is the solution?

It's very, very, possible you bought a camera
that eats batteries. I did once-still have it but
bought another that lasts a year without a battery
change. It will drive you nuts. Also, lots of flash
pictures cuts down on life. Good luck.

Two weeks ago we bought new (again) 6volt gel cells and put them in the cams. Cliffs got 216 pictures over the next several days, mine got 52. Both batteries were dead as a hammer. I understand his being dead after all his pics, but mine should have take more than that before dying.

I'm running into the same problem. Camera is dead within a week even with a solar charger. Going to try moving it to a sunny area and see if it helps. If not, may call Moultrie and see what they say.

I put Energizers in mine and it seemed to drain them pretty fast - a couple of weeks, considering it was only taking 5-10 pics. I think it missed alot. Its slow.

I dont have to worry about it anymore. Someone stole it last week.

cj7zrcool, I recently bought one of the Moultrie Game Spy 100 1.3MP Digital Cameras. I used it with an Energizer 6V but only for a few days before returning home.

You might try different brands of rechargeable 6V batteries, and try pointing the Solar cell opposite of your current setup. If your pointing to afternoon sun, point to the morning sun. It's possible that your battery is not fully charged before it gets drained /goes dead. It's worth a shot.

I plan to try a solar cell setup just like I have on my Kenco tornado feeders. The Kenco tornado feeders are setup with one Solar Cell + rechargeable battery, and one 6V Energizer battery. This setup will last 8-10 months before I have to change out the Energizer. The rechargeable batteries are going on 2 yrs now.
If I run into the same problem, I'll experiment with dual 6v batteries. Thanks
- Dion

I appreciate the suggestions, but this is a brand new camera with a brand new 6volt gel cell & solar charger. I feel it's no fault of the power supply that the &%$#@^* thing won't run more than a few days, especially since I've seen posts from other guys that are getting 3 weeks from a non-rechargeable lantern battery!! I'll contact Moultrie to see what they have to say. Hopefully they will send a replacement unit.

do you have trouble getting to the pictures after the battery dies and you replace it? The one I am using does not want to show the pictures after the battery dies and has been replaced.

We have 256mb SD memory cards, so we just take them out plug 'em into the reader, and the reader into the lap top. I really like the picture quality, I'm just extremely frustrated about the battery life.

The in-laws came up big when they gave me an ebay gift certificate this Christmas....I was thinking about buying two of those Moultrie Digital Game Cams.....The black 1.3 megapixel....BUT I don't want to get cheated a buy a piece of crap....Does anyone use the new 3.1 version with solar charger and what are the results???? Good, bad, worth it or not????

Hey,
I red your post on Texas hunting forum about the game cams draining the battries. I have the same cam with the same problem. Some times two weeks some times two days and that was with a solar charger. I was very fustrated as my hunting partner had the same cam same setup and has yet to change a battery. We checked out our cams and noticed my had a older software version. The number you see when you turn it on. Mine was a 2.3 and his was a 3.? Anyway I called the 1800 number for Multrie (1-800-653-3334) they said send it in and it is a free fix. They know about the problem and will do a simple code update. Hope this helps

Thanks
Patrick

My new moultrie 4.1 outfitter game cam has sleep mode. Its been almost 2 weeks and the cam shows 99 percent battery with a solar panel an rechargeable bat.

Don't know if it has anything to do with the problems mentioned or not, but some solar chargers only maintain a battery. It is not designed to charge from a fully discharged state. Charge the battery first then see if the solar panel will keep it charged.

you should use rechargeable batteries with the solar panel .....my moultrie 200 battery lasted about 7 weeks with no solar panel.....it may just be the camera.

Does anyone have pics of there game cam set up...I just bought a Moultrie 100....(fyi Walmart had them marked down to $78) I don't have any big trees so I'm thinking of setting up 5 gal bucket with cement and 4x4x4 mount cam and solar panel to it....any suggest or pics would be great....

I use a Tpost when i do not have a tree handy to hang it on. I have also hung it off of wire fences, cornerposts, etc. This is stealth brand...I am not sure how the moultrie attatches to the back of the camera. On mine I take the strap out and use some bailing wire to wire it to the Tpost.
JR

I use a tpost and zip ties. FYI I put mine out a week ago and didnt have a post handy so I put it on a tree and this weekend it was full of ants. I have the stealth cam wildview II and it was full of the lil things even in the readout window.