There are a number of things that could contribute to having a shorter battery life than our estimations:
1.Battery type
We recommend using lithium batteries for longer projects, for example with a 10 min capture interval you can expect a battery life around 120 days with lithium batteries whereas if you are using alkaline you will get around 80 days.
Make sure you select your battery type in the settings of your camera – instructions can be found on the Battery Settings page of your camera manual.
Download the newest version of the manual on our
support page.
By selecting the correct battery type your camera will adjust how it consumes power and optimize the longevity of your batteries.
Lastly do not use zinc-carbon batteries with our cameras or swap out single batteries. To optimize power and performance only use fully charged lithium, alkaline or rechargeable NiMH batteries.
2.Camera settings
Our battery estimations are calculated using the camera factory settings. If you change white balance, add flicker filters, or adjust any other of your camera’s settings it can have an effect on your camera battery life.
3.LCD screen
Turning your camera on and off as well as using the LCD screen to adjust camera settings for extended periods of time can drain power. If you will be making big changes to your camera settings and require the use of your LCD for an extended period of time then we recommend using an external power source for the setup period so that you do not drain your batteries. When everything is set up and good to go unplug your camera and it will switch to using battery power.
4.Firmware version
Check if your camera has the newest firmware version. The firmware version on your camera can be accessed by going MENU -> MORE -> System Info, please check that it matches up with the newest firmware version on our
website.
5.Filming environment
Your battery life can vary depending on the environment you are filming in. The estimations in our time lapse calculator are done under 77 °F (25 °C) conditions. Extreme temperatures can affect the longevity of your batteries.
The official operating temperature of our cameras is 32°F-113°F (0°C-45°C) however many of our customers have had success filming long term projects in locations such as Siberia and Dubai. If you are planning to film in extreme heat or extreme cold please make sure you are using high quality batteries such as Energizer Ultimate Lithium Batteries which have been made to withstand temperatures from -40ºC to 60ºC. Low quality batteries are unable to withstand extreme temperatures and using them will result in drastically lower battery lives.
Frequent lighting changes can also affect the longevity of batteries and our battery life estimations have been calculated in a stabilized lighting environment.
Your camera is not waterproof, filming outdoors will require using a waterproof housing such as our ATH1000 or ATH2000 housings. Please note we also do not recommend using the wall mount outdoors. In addition to the waterproof housing we suggest using one of our all-weather clamps such as the ACC100P or AWM100.