Tactacam Reveal External Solar Panel 3 Month Test. Will it Last Your Entire Hunting Season?
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 8 сен 2024
- Just how efficient is that solar panel? Will it power your Tactacam Reveal camera for your whole hunting season? Do you even need batteries? Find out in my 3 month test!
🏷️SHOP FOR THE TACTACAM SOLAR PANEL BELOW!
➼ TACTACAM Reveal External Solar Panel amzn.to/3To45g8
👕 🧢 Get yourself some killer Mountain Buck Gear! mountainbuck.m...
I have the tactacam reveal x and i been getting around 5,000 photos before my batteries go dead thats with aa batteries and cameras placed towards my feeder im amazed how many photos and how fast it sends u im really impressed and this is my number 1 camera now versus moultrie
That’s a ton of photos! Thanks for sharing your insight! 👍🏻
@mountainbuck yes that's what I been telling my family and it picks squirrels up on a tree that's a little distance away sometime I look at the photo and tell myself there's nothing there but zoomed in can. See a squirrel . So it's totally worth it and only $13 a month at that for unlimited photos. My number to camera is gana be the spypoint flex m I had it out for 2 months and still haven't changed batteries yet and they have free services for when u don't want to pay for a month it automatically goes to free 100 photos
thanks for putting this together. I have a lot more technical questions and you ,might consider providing more technical data on your next video based on some of these questions. 900 pictures during a 12 week period is 84 days and about 10 pictures per day. Do you transmit the pictures every time your camera gets a picture? That is real important because when devices transmit it uses more power than at other times. If you transmit 1-2 times per day that would be important to know versus transmitting 10 times per day. It would be good for you to put on the bench and send an object across it and regulate the number of pictures and number of transmit times then check the battery levels (led lights). You could do 10 pictures per day, 50 pictures per day and even 100 pictures per day. Transmit 1 time per day, 10 times per day and then each time a picture is taken. Eventually the rechargeable batteries inside the solar panel will go bad and not take a charge or hold charge. What is the process to replace them? Can they even be replaced within the panel so that you can save some more cost in the future or do you have to buy another panel with the batteries inside it? thanks
Hey BFS! I believe I had this camera on the "Timely" setting for photo transmission. Those are some great suggestions, for sure! I've had feedback from viewers about their solar panels being at 100% for months and they most likely have varying transmission settings and varying activity. If I get some time, I may play around with testing the panel (and lithium cartridge) under different settings. I'm more interested on how the solar panel and lithium cartridge work in tandem (will the panel actually charge the lithium cartridge). Thanks for the input and for watching!
I have had my Tactacam reveal x pro hooked up for about 6 wks has taken about 500 pictures took the energizer AA batteries out checked them on meter they were all at 100% so The solar panel is doing a great job
Hey Mark! Thanks for the input! Definitely saves on batteries 👍🏻
Only Uses the AA's when the solar power bank is at 0% right?
I disagree that your solar panel battery is actually at 100% the entire time. The camera readout or phone app may show 100% all of the time, but this is not what the solar panel battery is actually at.
NOTE: You must have AA batteries in the camera's internal battery pack in order for the camera to show the actual % remaining in the solar panel battery.
Think about it; the solar panel charges its battery during daylight, but the camera draws power for taking pictures/videos and connecting to the cell tower both in the day and at night, which has to reduce the solar panel battery to less than 100%. The amount of power coming from the solar panel to charge its battery on a cloudy day is even less, while the camera continues to use that battery power from the battery during the day and night. The battery has to have a deficit (less than 100%) until it can be fully charged again on a sunnier day.
If you don't believe me, put those AA batteries in and you'll see the % battery life vary as it shows the actual amount in the solar panel battery.
Hell ya, good video right to the point no bullshittin' 👍 liked and subscribed
Thanks so much teejayy!! I really appreciate it 👍🏻
Hopefully, this works better than the solar panel that comes with the tactacam sk that didn't hold up for longer than 2 months, and I had the lithium battery with it
It definitely will. Thanks for watching 👍🏻
I have 3. One is hooked up to a tactacam xb and I charge it once or twice a year. Other is on a tactacam 2.0 and only last a week if I'm lucky.
Hey thanks for your feedback. That’s interesting and makes it really tough to plan… is your 2.0 on an active food source that takes tons of pics?
@mountainbuck no, I have it on a path that the deer use. I get maybe 10 pics a day. I know they recommend the herd 360 solar panels but I have an hme hooked up to one of my spypoints and it works well for that one and is about $40 cheaper. So not sure if I want to go hme or the herd 360 solar panel.
I’ve had some good performance out of the Moultrie Mobile universal panel/battery
Thanks for the info
Thanks for watching Todd! 👍🏻
You need to have full sun on the solar panel for it to last all season. The ones I have in full sun do ok nut tye ones in the woods where the solar panels do not get fulll sun have to have the camera batteries replaced regularly.
Hey dheller thanks for the input! Have you tried their new rechargeable battery cartridge?
Yes I have the lithium cartridge in 3 of my X Pro cameras. I did not know that the solar panel will not recharge the battery pack. The solar only comes into play when the internal battery is dead. Then the camera can run off the battery in the solar panel. The solar panel will not charge any batteries placed in the camera.@@mountainbuck
@@dheller777interesting, I beleive the sk model has a pack and panel and the panel keeps the pack charged
My understanding is that the solar panel charges its own lithium battery, but not the AA batteries inside the camera. I've read that the AA batteries would only power the camera if the solar panel battery is insufficient or dead.
You can actually operate the camera with only the solar panel battery without any AA batteries inside the camera.
I always have AA batteries in the camera's in case the solar panel battery dies, and, so the actual correct % battery is shown.
Awesome video!
Just got my Tactacam Reveal X gen 2 along with an external solar panel!
I cannot wait to get it set up!
Do you recommend purchasing the adjustable camera stake that allows to attach solar panel or simply mount on a tree? Just curious
Thanks again for the video!
Hey thanks so much! I always just mount on a tree and then use a little stick to adjust the angle (up or down). Best of luck with your Tactacam! You’re going to love it! 🦌👍🏻
What was your weather ie temperature like throughout your hunting season? Love your review.
Hey thanks so much! Average temps in my area last year:
- September 60 degrees
- October 47 degrees
- November 41 degrees
@@mountainbuck Thanks I just ordered one anxious to see how it works!
You will love it and save a ton on batteries! Best of luck👍🏻
This information is huge. Because I need to set my camera software from 3 to 6 hours away from the house. For elk. Does it have a built-in GPS?
I know at least one of the more expensive models does. I use Reveal 2.0 cams and they don’t have GPS. Very solid cameras though. I have 5 and love them
The Tactacam X Pro does have GPS, the Tactacam X 2.0 does not. Most people don't need GPS or the display that is on the Pro. Both of those options use more battery.
When that solar panel fit browning cell cams??
If I remember correctly, this is a 6 volt setup. I’m not sure what browning has… you might want to think about a universal solar panel/lithium battery just to be safe. Moultrie Mobile makes one that I like. 👍🏻
Will the solar panel charge the "tactacam Lithium cartridge" ?
Hey secretjourney! That is a really good question! I will have to check that out! 👍🏻
No, It doesn't
Just wonder of you need to use rechargeable AA batteries or can you get away with regular AA? Thanks
Hey Kevin! You can use regular AAs as a backup. Thanks for watching 👍🏻
So, basically, after the batteries died, you did not get any night pictures. so this question is how soon in the daytime. Are you getting pictures? Did you have to wait a couple hours after the sun came up?
Hey Randy! This panel will function and power the camera even if the AA batteries are dead. This includes nighttime shots.
@mountainbuck I'm hooked. Saving now. Thanks for responding.
No battery? How did work at night ?
Hey thanks for watching! No batteries in the camera, but the External Solar Panel has an integrated lithium body that is continually recharged by sunlight and that powers the camera day and night.
So you don't need rechargeable battery pack just the panel and does is come with the cord to hook up
So it just uses AA's as a backup right? Will always drain the solar battery 1st?
Hey Cody! Yes, I believe it will use the AA batteries as a backup. Thanks for watching. 👍🏻
Will the solar panel recharge if it dies after 4 months being set up?
Hey Owen! I believe you may have to plug it in and charge it up again if it dies. Thanks for watching 👍🏻
Was the test performed in the woods & was the panel in full sun?
Hey Minnesotalife! This was at the edge of the woods so it had direct sun for most of the time the sun was up. Thanks for watching 👍🏻
Mine has lasted a year so far but it’s in full sun
Hey whitetailsup! Thanks for the info! Best of luck this season 🦌
When running the solar panel with batteries in the camera, do you set the camera to alkaline lithium or external mode?
Hey Justin, I believe I had it on alkaline mode, but as I mentioned, you may not need batteries as the panels do a really good job providing power over long periods of time. 👍🏻
@@mountainbuckSo is the lithium battery necessary if I have the solar panel? Thank you
@@robertprater7172hi Robert. It is not necessary.
@@mountainbuck Awesome! Thanks for that. Just one more question so I do need the regular batteries at first to get it set up correct?
@@robertprater7172if the solar panel is fully charged, it should power the camera without batteries. 👍🏻
I disagree that your solar panel battery is actually at 100% the entire time. The camera readout or phone app may show 100% all of the time, but this is not what the solar panel battery is actually at.
NOTE: You must have AA batteries in the camera's internal battery pack in order for the camera to show the actual % remaining in the solar panel battery.
Think about it; the solar panel charges its battery during daylight, but the camera draws power for taking pictures/videos and connecting to the cell tower both in the day and at night, which has to reduce the solar panel battery to less than 100%. The amount of power coming from the solar panel to charge its battery on a cloudy day is even less, while the camera continues to use that battery power from the battery during the day and night. The battery has to have a deficit (less than 100%) until it can be fully charged again on a sunnier day.
If you don't believe me, put those AA batteries in and you'll see the % battery life vary as it shows the actual amount in the solar panel battery.
Hey thanks for the info. Good information 👍🏻!
My pro’s eats batteries 🥲 I have to change every 3 days. Just bought 2 solars
Yeah man. Solar is the way to go 👍🏻