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Spartan GoCam: solar panel & battery help

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    Spartan GoCam: solar panel & battery help

    Trying to figure out the best solar panel and external battery combo for my Spartan gocams. Upon Roscoe's recommendation I'm using a 6 volt battery due to the fact that 12 volt batteries have smoked a couple of the Covert wires. Any recommendation on a panel for a 6 volt external battery?

    #2
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      #3
      I have been using HCO 6v solar panels on my Spartans for two years, but I'm going to an external battery on my cameras next year.
      Last edited by retrieverman; 01-15-2017, 02:48 PM.

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        #4
        I use 6v external sealed cell rechargeable batteries on mine. Lasts 3-4 months with >40 photos a day without solar panel. Limiting factor on mine appears to be AA batteries inside cameras. They are first issue after 3-4 months, not the external battery.

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          #5
          Originally posted by retrieverman View Post
          I have been using HCO 6v solar panels on my Spartans for two years, but I'm going to an external battery on my cameras next year.
          It doesn't appear that they still make a solar panel?


          Originally posted by Pineywoods Paul View Post
          I use 6v external sealed cell rechargeable batteries on mine. Lasts 3-4 months with >40 photos a day without solar panel. Limiting factor on mine appears to be AA batteries inside cameras. They are first issue after 3-4 months, not the external battery.
          I've been using an external 6V as well but due to having a weak signal I'm only getting about 6 weeks out of it. Only taking about 40 pics a day as well.

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            #6
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                #8
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                          #13
                          I know there are some TBHers who have some experience with this! Let's hear what you've got?

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                            #14
                            Spartan GoCam: solar panel & battery help

                            Originally posted by Pineywoods Paul View Post
                            I use 6v external sealed cell rechargeable batteries on mine. Lasts 3-4 months with >40 photos a day without solar panel. Limiting factor on mine appears to be AA batteries inside cameras. They are first issue after 3-4 months, not the external battery.
                            I'm quite sure what you are saying here. How the Spartans work is they draw off the internal batteries or external battery depending on which has the higher voltage. So we never recommend using lithiums with external batteries because lithium batteries have the highest voltage and the camera will use them up before switching to external. Alkaline or rechargeables are fine as their voltage is lower than an SLA. I do recommend using LSD (low self discharge) batteries if going the rechargeable route as standard rechargeables won't have much juice left in 3 to 4 months of sitting.

                            What Spartan has coming in the pipeline is an external battery box. The prototype was delivered to our Shot Show booth last week. It will handle either a 6v or 12v battery...up to a 42ah 6v dimension wise. It will have an on board converter to handle 6v or 12v and an over charge controller to allow for a solar panel that does not come with charge controller. What it will not come with is a solar panel. I have been told this from multiple sources that most panels are made in China and there is some tariff deal going on with products "flooding the market" and basically tripling the cost of panels. Just what I've been told. With what he's in including in the package with an on board controller it will make it a lot easier to pick up a panel off eBay/Amazon and add it to the setup.

                            I'll see if he can give me better idea on availability.


                            Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
                            Last edited by Roscoe; 01-26-2017, 02:49 PM.

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                              #15
                              Originally posted by Roscoe View Post
                              I'm quite sure what you are saying here. How the Spartans work is they draw off the internal batteries or external battery depending on which has the higher voltage. So we never recommend using lithiums with external batteries because lithium batteries have the highest voltage and the camera will use them up before switching to external. Alkaline or rechargeables are fine as their voltage is lower than an SLA. I do recommend using LSD (low self discharge) batteries if going the rechargeable route as standard rechargeables won't have much juice left in 3 to 4 months of sitting.

                              What Spartan has coming in the pipeline is an external battery box. The prototype was delivered to our Shot Show booth last week. It will handle either a 6v or 12v battery...up to a 42ah 6v dimension wise. It will have an on board converter to handle 6v or 12v and an over charge controller to allow for a solar panel that does not come with charge controller. What it will not come with is a solar panel. I have been told this from multiple sources that most panels are made in China and there is some tariff deal going on with products "flooding the market" and basically tripling the cost of panels. Just what I've been told. With what he's in including in the package with an on board controller it will make it a lot easier to pick up a panel off eBay/Amazon and add it to the setup.

                              I'll see if he can give me better idea on availability.


                              Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro


                              Thanks Roscoe, great info!

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