I have 2 of the 60 Blacks that are just over a year old. They both have started consuming batteries like crazy. They will run down 4 AA batteries in 2 days. Number of pics does not seem to matter. Any thoughts?
Covert Users
- Thread starter hitek7
- Start date
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
You're not using enough batteries? Mine use 12 AA batteries.
If they're both doing that, I suspect bad batteries. I've had brand new batteries be bad.
With either Energizer Alkaline or Duracell batteries (12 of them), you should get approximately 6 months of use (usually more) unless you use the cam in field scan mode.
Just an observation, but the 2012 model Covert Black 60 seems to have longer battery life than the 2013 model. I have a single 2012 model Black 60 that has been continuously running (without a battery change) since October 2013 over salt licks, scrapes, and food plots (moved frequently), and a couple days ago the battery meter was still showing enough I didn't change the batteries. That one is using coppertop Duracells.
If they're both doing that, I suspect bad batteries. I've had brand new batteries be bad.
With either Energizer Alkaline or Duracell batteries (12 of them), you should get approximately 6 months of use (usually more) unless you use the cam in field scan mode.
Just an observation, but the 2012 model Covert Black 60 seems to have longer battery life than the 2013 model. I have a single 2012 model Black 60 that has been continuously running (without a battery change) since October 2013 over salt licks, scrapes, and food plots (moved frequently), and a couple days ago the battery meter was still showing enough I didn't change the batteries. That one is using coppertop Duracells.
I used either 4 or 8 batteries in the camera for the first year with no problems. The batteries are good as I put the same ones in my Moultrie (after recharging them) and they are still going strong after 3 weeks. If I use 4 batteries I get about 2 days, with 8 batteries 4 days. I figure with 12 batteries I will get 6 days. I have not changed the way I run them.
Reddirt24
Well-Known Member
Cold weather may play a factor in running the batteries down as well.
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
And that may be especially true if you're running so few batteries, and they're old rechargeable ones?Reddirt24":1hat2t96 said:
I bet if you load those cams up with 12 new Duracells your problem ends. Highly unlikely both cams would simultaneously develop this same problem unless the problem were with the batteries rather than the cams.
These are new Energizer rechargeable batteries. I will try 12 new regular batteries and see what results I get. Running 4 in the Moultrie M80's and another Covert and they hold up just fine. Anyone got a couple Moultrie M80's you want to swap for some Coverts?
Could be the batteries, but it wouldn't hurt to do the firmware update. You can get it off coverts website. Just download it to a SD card and update your cams. I did it to my black 60s and got better battery life. Mine were having issues when in video mode. I have been told to use lithiums for best performance.
weatherby man
Well-Known Member
Gee wonder if it could be a bad cam. According to some folks, happens all the time. I did get an 8 pack from Wally World and they lasted a whole week. 4 in each of 2 cams. Never happened since. Cams working fine so it could be a bad batch of batteries.
Vermin93
Well-Known Member
Sounds like a "short" resulting in excessive idle power consumption.
