So I hunt in east Texas, typical pines/ oaks with canopy. I’ve moved my feeder several times trying to get the best sun so the solar panel will charge a 6v battery. I have a rechargeable battery it was charged full before setting the feeder a week ago. First sit of the year, 7:00 comes and nothing. I just went down and checked it the battery is half full and everything was set right. I tested the feeder it spun corn. I fought all last year with the same problem what the heck am I doing wrong. The timer and solar panel have slid clips that go on the battery not alligator. Should I splice the two together so it’s only one wire instead of 2?

Sounds like a timer issue to me if the motor spins when tested.

If you spend most of a day out there you should be able to find a particular spot that gets the most sun, problem being that if it’s not a decent size spot the sun won’t hit the same spot year round. No you don’t need to splice them, but should have 3 way connectors that have 2 male ends to be able to slide both wires on. I would worry more about your timer.

I agree with Western. If it tests ok and slings well, then I would look closely at the timer. I know that on more than one occasion when I set a couple of mine in bright sunlight I misread the am/pm setting and was 12 hours off!

Is the corn level in the feeder going down?
If so you know it's spinning.
I would check the AM PM settings to make sure there not reversed.

If the feed level is not going down I would replace the timer.

What brand and type of timer is it?

Wildlife innovations from academy, 6v rechargeable battery and 6/12 volt wildlife innovation solar panel. So before I left because we got chased out of Athens with approaching tornadoes I spliced all positive cconnections together, spliced all negative together so I would only have one wire from positive and negative connecting to battery. I also put a fully charged 12 volt in it instead of a 6v. Hopefully that does something if not I’m just going to buy a new timer. It’s on a edge of a pine thicket that gets a lot of afternoon sun so hopefully the solar panel will work or help keep the battery charged.

Not familiar with 6/12 solar panels, but generally 12 volt batteries don't work well on 6 volt timers or 6 volt motors.

Wildlife innovations aren't known for quality, nor longevity, been down that road already. I'm sure there are few who luck into a good one, but you will find more folks that have moved on.
I have also found the same with their trail cameras, you defiantly get less than the little you pay for them imo.

You want a damn good one from a member here, get a hold of Kevin (TxAg) owner of Weaverbilt
http://texashuntingforum.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/users/4825

I thoroughly agree with western however I get the feeling you are on a limited budget. If I were you I would get me a box style feeder control unit that uses a 12 volt motor. Academy used to sell a Everlast for about $99.00 dollars. They screw/bolt to the bottom of the barrel and you can adjust the spinner gap as well as the run time of course. Tthat way if the timer fails you can change it out without much effort. I used to use the HCR's G box on my feeders and still have them operating 12 years later, another hint leave your unit running year round to prevent the weather/rain from allowing the motor to seize up. If I were in the market for a timer today I would go with THE TIMER.
Once you have the box installed everything else can be considered components and can be replaced, motor arond $20.00, battery $20.00, Timer $29-70.00, and yes stay away from the cheaper ones.

I got tired of similar problems. I quit buying batteries & timers from Academy & other such places. I finally spent the good money & purchased The Timer, bought a sealed lead/acid motorcycle battery online. Bought a more expensive Solar unit from Sweeney. Have not had a single problem since. The Timer runs perfectly every time, works great with its remote & never loses time.

Cheap stuff gives you cheap results.

Wildlife Innovations, aside from being owned by that sorry Busbice clan in LA, is nothing but cheap junk.

I have a number of 6v motor/timers that will last 3-4 months without a solar panel running 1-2 seconds twice a day. Sounds like a timer issue unless there was corrosion on some of the connections? I find it hard to believe that a fully charged battery would drop to 1/2 charged in a week, are you sure the solar panel isn't hooked up backwards?

Set the time to go off in 10 minutes. Wait around 10 minutes and see if the timer and motor work. If they do Then check your time settings.

My experience with Wildlife Innovations crap is that it peters out pretty quick and using 12v batter on 6v timer usually wears out the timer or causes faults. My suggestion is cry one and buy a 12v system box with The Timer, eliminator plate, and quality 12v battery and solar charger (check out West Texas Supply) and other sell unit completely assembled with a 12v solar panel mounted on side of housing box. For wooded areas, I use a Coleman 1.5v solar panel that have added long extension wire (threaded through metal flex conduit)with this running up a tree about 10-15' and then with a 90 joint runs out horizontal to best opening for sunlight.

I too got tired of franken equipment and have been very pleased since going with quality which run 365 with no issues for last 3 years and same battery.

X2

Replace everything that has Wildgame Innov on it and about 99% of your feeder issues will cease.

Make sure your solar panel wires are wired to battery correctly. You can check with a volt meter. Hooked up correctly a 6 volt will run for a long time just not as powerful as the 12 volt. I have both.

The WI timers aren't great. If money's no object, I'd buy The Timer and call it good, or, you can get a Spintech on eBay for less than what the WI costs. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Spintech-6v-Sure-Time-Deer-Feeder-Replacement-Timer-A030/273502694133?hash=item3fae07eaf5:g:u8MAAOSwTY9bvlAA:rk:3:pf:0#rwid

Take that junk off and install a Moultrie Pro series..Ive had zero problems with em..it even has a feature of how many lbs you put in = the time = how many days..it will last. 6 start times..etc..

Hunt west of Austin, problem solved

Upgrade the timer. We spend too much money to scrimp on a timer

^^^!

Wildlife Innovations does not make a single combination solar panel for use on both 6 and 12 volt batteries. They have a 6 volt model and a 12 volt model. Your using a 6 volt solar panel at less than 1 watt for a 12 volt battery. Your solar panel is not going to maintain a 12 volt battery.

Regardless about the solar cell is charging or not, when you do the test and it goes off, then it has nothing to do with your solar charger. I still run 5 Wildgame timers. Definitely not the best but they still work. First like above, verify Am and Pm settings. I have done that before. Second if settings are correct replace your controller. I have had WG controllers get a mind of their own for no reason at all. You probably wont get the plug on here but Academy sells a good unit for an inexpensive price. They still rep WG but carry their own controllers now. I don't know how but the Academy brand use about a quarter of the charge in a 6 volt battery compared to WG. I have and use both controllers now. When the WG goes bad they are replaced with Academy brand. You can by the complete unit minus solar panel for about $36 bucks. Rarely do I ever change out the batteries out of the Academy units. They are like the "energizer bunny", they go on and on.