Rechargeable AA lithium update 1

Speedwell-Hunter

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2021
Messages
1,473
Location
East TN
I just put 12 of the rechargeable amp torrent in my first camera

Spartan cell

It is on a Trigger interval of every 60 minutes

1 photo and thats it.

Today is friday 5-12-23

I'm starting on a very low setting just to see how good it does. I will report back once the batteries are dead.
 

Attachments

  • F0CC64A7-C17F-41B6-90B4-51833AE0B57C.jpeg
    F0CC64A7-C17F-41B6-90B4-51833AE0B57C.jpeg
    217.2 KB · Views: 68
  • 6284A2AD-8DB0-4D8C-B599-4F3DF3ACD390.jpeg
    6284A2AD-8DB0-4D8C-B599-4F3DF3ACD390.jpeg
    508.8 KB · Views: 65

Speedwell-Hunter

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2021
Messages
1,473
Location
East TN
Why? Whats with these batteries?
I am not familiar with them
Thanks
Theoretically, they should save you money in the long run over non-rechargeable lithium ion.

Now I know a lot of people just run normal alkaline batteries, so if you do that, you probably have no interest. BSK and I used to buy a lot of the lithium ion batteries but they've gotten so expensive. Everyone is looking for other alternatives.

$2.44 a battery is the average cost for a double a non-rechargeable lithium ion, and one camera takes 12 lol
 

Speedwell-Hunter

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2021
Messages
1,473
Location
East TN
Thanks! This should be interesting.
Update 1; external voltage of rechargeable batteries is 9.09 while non rechargeable hover in high 9s. I made sure to have all the batteries charged up in a couple days ago so that to me as interesting so far that the external voltage is already about one point lower.
 

Attachments

  • D7785B5E-A225-4434-A9BA-91C271BD9F41.jpeg
    D7785B5E-A225-4434-A9BA-91C271BD9F41.jpeg
    14.5 KB · Views: 56
  • 91FED63C-9B26-42F5-BCED-98E754F18B09.jpeg
    91FED63C-9B26-42F5-BCED-98E754F18B09.jpeg
    13.6 KB · Views: 52

Speedwell-Hunter

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2021
Messages
1,473
Location
East TN
Update , it is June 13, my camera is reading 20% battery. I have only 58 pictures taken in the last month on these batteries (rechargeable lithium ion).

My setting was one photo on a trigger interval of 60 minutes.


Quite disappointing if this is the performance I get out of these. Standard, store bought lithium batteries last 2-3 months with much shorter trigger interval. I will put another set of the rechargeable into this camera and see what happens, but so far not impressed at all.
 

Andy S.

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 26, 1999
Messages
23,687
Location
Atoka, TN
Thanks for the update. Not being a debbie downer, but I'm not overly surprised due to them being cheaper and Made in China. I have ran high quality Eneloop (Made in Japan) rechargeable AA batteries for years and they do a solid job in cooler/cold temps, but they are just "okay" in warmer/summer months, especially in cell cameras. They do perform better in non-cellular cameras when compared to cellular cameras. I suspect the AmpTorrent batteries are a better fit for wireless keyboards, wireless mouse, etc. Those "low drain" applications are a far cry from cellular cameras. My .02

** On a side note, if your experience holds true for other end users, I will be shocked to see Trailcampro.com continue to endorse these. **
 
Last edited:

TheLBLman

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 12, 2002
Messages
38,063
Location
Knoxville-Dover-Union City, TN
Quite disappointing if this is the performance I get out of these. Standard, store bought lithium batteries last 2-3 months with much shorter trigger interval.
Very disappointing.
Could part of the issue be the particular cam you're using for the testing?

Just saying that because I set my cell cams for much more frequent triggering (and with mulitple pics) and am getting over 6 months usage with most my Browning & Ridgetec cellular cams. Actually, am getting closer to a year with some of them (Energizer Lithiums).

** On a side note, if your experience holds true for other end users, I will be shocked to see Trailcampro.com continue to endorse these. **
A given.
Trailcampro will stop recommending if many people have such experiences.
These rechargeable lithiums will go the way of cuddebak trail cams on the website.
 

Andy S.

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 26, 1999
Messages
23,687
Location
Atoka, TN
A given.
Trailcampro will stop recommending if many people have such experiences.
These rechargeable lithiums will go the way of cuddebak trail cams on the website.
TrailcamPro's current description is just as concerning at this point. They really endorse them. Sentence below is their opening statement:

"We have tested a lot of batteries over the years, most of which we end up discarding. The AmpTorrent Rechargeable Lithium AA caught and held our attention for a number of valuable reasons." ...........................
 

Speedwell-Hunter

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2021
Messages
1,473
Location
East TN
Very disappointing.
Could part of the issue be the particular cam you're using for the testing?

Just saying that because I set my cell cams for much more frequent triggering (and with mulitple pics) and am getting over 6 months usage with most my Browning & Ridgetec cellular cams. Actually, am getting closer to a year with some of them (Energizer Lithiums).


A given.
Trailcampro will stop recommending if many people have such experiences.
These rechargeable lithiums will go the way of cuddebak trail cams on the website.
Are you using same brand rechargeable ones I am?
 

TheLBLman

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 12, 2002
Messages
38,063
Location
Knoxville-Dover-Union City, TN
Are you using same brand rechargeable ones I am?
I've not personally tested the same brand you're using.
I have tested other brands of rechargeables and had poor results with cell cams,
just not as poor as what you experienced.

I've had very different testing results with different cams, skewed even further if they're in different locations.

One of the biggest factors effecting your battery life (regardless of brand or type) is the strength of your cell signal. I've had Energizer lithiums only last a couple weeks in areas of poor cell signals.

I do plan to personally test the exact same batteries you're using later this summer.

One more thought:

Is it possible your battery meter could be inaccurate?

I commonly have battery meters on cell cams to temporarily go low, then come back later to 100%, when there didn't appear to be anything wrong with the batteries.
 

TheLBLman

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 12, 2002
Messages
38,063
Location
Knoxville-Dover-Union City, TN
Very disappointing. Guess I'll still be taking a loan to get this year's shipment of Energizer lithiums.
I don't think the dataset is large enough for a blanket conclusion, yet.
Lots of possibilities, including a single bad battery,
which can happen even with Energizer lithiums.

You'll need an even bigger loan should you decide to go with these particular rechargables :D

If they will work satisfactorily, even close to what Trail Cam Pro suggests, they can save a good bit of money over time.
 

Speedwell-Hunter

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2021
Messages
1,473
Location
East TN
I don't think the dataset is large enough for a blanket conclusion, yet.
Lots of possibilities, including a single bad battery,
which can happen even with Energizer lithiums.

You'll need an even bigger loan should you decide to go with these particular rechargables :D

If they will work satisfactorily, even close to what Trail Cam Pro suggests, they can save a good bit of money over time.
Agree, I am still deciding.

LBL , so interesting note, the camera has been on 20% since June 13. Today is June 20, 2023. It's taken only 9 new pictures since June 13. Not much activity. But I have had that issue before with cams, where the battery indicator reads low and then bumps back next day. This one has not. It has remained on 20% since June 13. Not super impressed with these thus far, but hey, its nice to know I can just go recharge them and not spend $2 or more a battery for a single use. So not a complete failure, but not as good as the disposable ones. I will continue to use most likely
 

Speedwell-Hunter

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2021
Messages
1,473
Location
East TN
Anyone know about lith rechargeable? The rechargeable one shows only 1.52 bolts when it's fully charged, but my alkaline one shows 1.65 why is that?

Thanks
 

Attachments

  • FB044429-D4B1-4818-B34C-EF0F8C4054B0.jpeg
    FB044429-D4B1-4818-B34C-EF0F8C4054B0.jpeg
    42.7 KB · Views: 34
  • 5FE239E7-C826-497D-81E2-36EAFAF3F45E.jpeg
    5FE239E7-C826-497D-81E2-36EAFAF3F45E.jpeg
    49.4 KB · Views: 33

Andy S.

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 26, 1999
Messages
23,687
Location
Atoka, TN
That's normal. Rechargeable AAs are the least hot (1.5 V), then alkaline (1.6V), then Energizer Lithium (1.8V). FWIW, I'm not a fan of any rechargeable AA batteries during the hottest months of the year. They tend to drain exponentially quicker in summer months when compared to cooler/colder months. I've tested and occasionally run Japan made eneloop rechargeable AAs in Tactacam Reveal cell cams and I only get 3-5 weeks in summer over high activity salt licks. In winter, I typically get 14 weeks or so on a scrape, so that covers most of the main deer season (Oct - Jan). Colder temps and less activity (scrape vs salt lick) is where my rechargeable eneloops shine.
 

Speedwell-Hunter

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2021
Messages
1,473
Location
East TN
That's normal. Rechargeable AAs are the least hot (1.5 V), then alkaline (1.6V), then Energizer Lithium (1.8V). FWIW, I'm not a fan of any rechargeable AA batteries during the hottest months of the year. They tend to drain exponentially quicker in summer months when compared to cooler/colder months. I've tested and occasionally run Japan made eneloop rechargeable AAs in Tactacam Reveal cell cams and I only get 3-5 weeks in summer over high activity salt licks. In winter, I typically get 14 weeks or so on a scrape, so that covers most of the main deer season (Oct - Jan). Colder temps and less activity (scrape vs salt lick) is where my rechargeable eneloops shine.
Well, that makes me feel better that the results I got are similar to yours
 

Latest posts

Top