This old Moultrie has been sitting on a shelf in my shop for almost a year. Still goes off every morning and evening. Why is it that the more expensive feeder systems with rechargeable batteries, solar panels, etc., that you fret over all year will quit running as soon as you're home from the lease??

I just use the standard lead acid rechargeable batteries. They're the black ones with the little metal nubs for the power hookups. They seem to work the best for me, but I've never tried a solar panel.

I ran rechargeables and a solar panel on my old broadcasters. Worked great. I've got several old school broadcasters that I've replaced the motors and spin plates.

How much sunlight do you need for a solar panel to be effective?

There is no 'load' on that one sitting in your shop, so that battery will last 10x longer than if it had a load (corn-thru funnel).

also that's pretty 'protected' sitting in a shop - unit/battery gets a lot colder/hotter sitting out in the open weather.
I've even noticed that the plastic around those battery-clips, in very COLD weather, will often 'shrink' causing the battery-clip to open/come loose !!!

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There is no 'load' on that one sitting in your shop, so that battery will last 10x longer than if it had a load (corn-thru funnel).

also that's pretty 'protected' sitting in a shop - unit/battery gets a lot colder/hotter sitting out in the open weather.
I've even noticed that the plastic around those battery-clips, in very COLD weather, will often 'shrink' causing the battery-clip to open/come loose !!! [/quote]

Yep. Knew that. Was simply trying to show the irony of how some things mechanical will give up on ya despite all the care in the world, while others keep at it no matter how neglected.