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Batteries
We recommend that you begin with 8 AA alkaline batteries, unless the daily
average temperatures are below freezing, or the night time lows are below 20
⁰
F / -6
⁰
C. In that case, you should use 8 lithium AA batteries, which work
particularly well in cold weather. You may wish to transition to rechargeable
Low Self-Discharge NiMh batteries after you have benchmarked the operating
life in your preferred mode, on regular alkaline batteries.
The PlotWatcher Pro utilizes two battery banks: an upper bank of 4 batteries,
and a lower bank of 4 batteries. You can populate one or both banks with
batteries. Battery types should not be mixed in a given bank. The camera will
always operate on the bank with the higher voltage. In practice, this means
they will fall off in voltage equally, as the camera automatically switches back
and forth between the higher of the two banks. However, if you load used
batteries into one bank, and new batteries in another, then the new batteries
will be used until they reach the level of the used batteries.
The Battery % indicator on the main status page registers 100% for anything
above 6 volts, and 0% for anything below 4 volts, and a proportional
percentage for any voltage in between. This is based on the voltage
characteristics of alkaline batteries, so keep this in mind if you are using a
different type. Different types of batteries have different voltage
characteristics. Four new alkaline batteries are 4 x 1.6v = 6.4 volts. Four new
lithium batteries are 4 x 1.8v = 7.2 volts. Four new, fully charged NiMh
batteries are 4 x 1.25v = 5 volts. NiMh rechargeable batteries may show 50%
battery when first installed, yet operate for many days at that level. Lithium
batteries may show 100% for most of their life, and then fall rapidly.
