Stealth Cam DIGRC-X

[davidshane]

A long while ago, I picked-up a Stealth Cam Digital Trail Camera. After using it a while, I realized that the battery life was worse then horrible. Six brand new extended life AA batteries would only last 3 days in cool weather.

I then purchased a 12 volt battery for the camera so that I could leave it in the field for extended periods. However, it didn't work! I should have looked closer because the battery was good for the DIGRC-XV unit, not the DIGRC-X. I called the company and was informed that for the -X unit, only a solar charger can be used to extend battery life.

While looking for a place to purchase a solar charger and batteries today, I found a Texas hunting forum where the posters made claim that there was a way around this problem. One guys said that you can put rechargable batteries into the unit and hook up a 12 volt battery to it (with you unit on charge mode) and the 12 volt battery will work. Another guy said that he tried it and it did not. The second guy claims that the -X unit lacks some internal wiring to allow a 12 volt battery to work. He also believes that the first guys probably has the -XV unit which does have the wiring.

My question to our guys is this:

Has anyone who has the -X unit attempted to power it with an external battery? Does this work? I havn't found a way to make my external battery power the camera.

Also, anyone have experience with the solar charger and rechargable batteries? How long will the batteries keep continuous use capability?

Thanks!

Dave

[luv 2 bowhunt]

I had the DIGRC-XTRV, the 12 vt battery worked fine, but the camera itself didn't work too well.
After about nine months the camera just quit taking pictures of animals.
I could walk in front of the camera and it would take my picture, I would leave the camera out for a week or two and get back and have ONE picture on the camera.
Many times it would flash, but not take any pictures.

I sent it back to the Stealth Cam company and they sent me back a
STC-WD3 unit.
SO FAR this unit is working flawlessly, even in the cold weather I am getting nice pictures.
This unit has 12 vt. and solar ports to power the camera besides the six C-cell normal power system.

[target-panic]

I'd package it up and send it back to them with a letter telling about the problems. The trail cam market is pretty competitive these days......if they don't make it right with you...........well, maybe they won't be selling cameras too much longer. I wouldn't worry if you bought it a while ago. They should still attempt to make it right with you. Good Luck!

[davidshane]

Well, I'm trying something a little different.

I did go buy (6) rechargable batteries for my unit, When I hooked up the 12 volt external battery last year, I had normal Energizer batteries in it. The guy on the Texas site said that you have to use rechargable batteries. This make since knowing that you cannot put normal batteries into a recharging unit and recharge them. I though last year that the 12 volt simply bypassed the internal power; guess I was wrong.

What I am doing!

1) When I put the R-C batteries in the unit, it read full charge but for only a short time.

2) The low battery light came on.

3) I turned the unit off, switched a setting button to charge, pluged in the 12volt battery, and turned the unit back on.

4) The low battery light went off and the charge level was full again.

5) I left it hooked together while I was at work.

6) When I got home, I disconnected the 12 volt from the unit and the power level still read full.

7) I started taking pictures of a piece of paper - 1 pic per minute w/ a flash(it's moving from a fan).

8) I now have 124 pics as of 10pm on Monday.

It looks like the guy was correct. The 12 volt external had to recharge the 6 internal batteries. Otherwise the first low reading with only the R-C batteries would had to of been false.

9) I plan to continue taking pics with only the R-C batteries only until the low indicator light comes on again. This will allow me to determine how long these batteries will operate the unit under my set conditions.

10) After I get the low siginal, I will re-hook the 12 volt and do the same test again leaving the 12 volt connected. This will allow me to determine how long the unit will last under the external power. If I get a great deal of additional battery life, I will know that the unit will operate under the 12 volt exteral power - the same power that Stealth Cam told me would not work.

I'll keep this updated for anyone who might have the same camera and the same problem with battery life.

[hondakid]

What brand of R-C batteries are you using? All the R-C batteries I could find are rated at 1.2volts. When I used them in the camera it didn't work properly, but with standard batteries it worked ok.

[davidshane]

Radio Shack AA 1.2 volt 1800 mAh

Just checked it again and the low battery light was on - 144 pictures.

I turned it off, switched selection to charge, plug in external unit, and turn back on.

The battery read full and the low light went off.

I will check it again in the morning and see how the power looks.

[davidshane]

7:30am Tuesday morning - 367 pics and full charge.

[davidshane]

Wednesday morning, 6:30am - 696 pics and battery still shows full.

No dout about it, the external power sourse is working just fine. I find it puzzling why Stealth Cam told me over the phone that an external battery (their external battery) wouldn't work with the -X. They specifically said that only a solar charger would. They make a 6 and a 12 volt battery for their units. The packageing for those batteries list all the models that the batteries work with and mine is not listed.

Oh well, why kick a dog that fetches you a beer; just shut up and be happy that he does! As long as you have rechargable batteries in the -X unit, the 12v will keep the R-C's fully charged until it has lost it's capability. Wonder how long that will be!

[luv 2 bowhunt]

My 12 volt external battery has lasted over a month, could have been more, but I just went out and took the camera back in.

[davidshane]

luv 2,

What model camera is yours?

[davidshane]

Wednesday 6:00pm - 992 pics and batteries still read full charge.

I guess one the the two complaints that I had about this unit is resolved; the length of time it can be left unattended in the woods is now exceptable.

Now if I could only do something about the slow trigger speed. Guess I will just have to use it on specific type set-ups.

[luv 2 bowhunt]

davidshane:

I had the DIGRC-XTRV.
But it wasn't working well at all. I sent it in and they replaced it with the
STC-WD3.
I have only put it out three times, I just got the new one the end of Dec.,
But it has been working just fine.

[Deb423]

Thank you for posting this info on the Stealth Cams. I bought a new one that took the 12 volt rechargeable battery and it works like a charm. No more changing batteries every weekend or missing photos because the batteries went out. This 12 volt lasts weeks and weeks, Great. But when I tried to hook a second one up to my old Stealth Cam, even though it had the same outlet with the same 12Volt DC markings, it didn't work. I dug out the old book and it said only use a solar charger with it. I was bummed and considering trashing the cam. Then I did a google search on it and found your post. Thanks so much. I use the rechargeable AA batteries by Duracell but they are losing the charge way too quickly now. I'll put them back in and attach the 12 volt, it will be great if it works like yours does. Thanks for posting this info!