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Moving the Receiver just a few centimetres can sometimes make a big difference
to the strength of the signal, so to obtain the best reception, we suggest you move
the Receiver around to find the best location by trial and error.
5.5
Cleaning the Nest Box
Once a year, after the nesting season has finished and all the birds have left the
nest, we recommend that you clean out the Nest Box and dispose of all nesting
material and unhatched eggs etc. Under UK legislation, you can only remove
unhatched eggs between August and January, and then must dispose of them.
To do this, remove the circuit board and carefully clean it with a soft cloth or
brush, being especially careful with the camera lens and electronics.
Take out any nesting material and throw it away, and wash out the box with boil-
ing water. With the side panel removed, leave it for a day or two to dry out, be-
fore refitting the circuit board, and putting the Box back in position.
The Battery Box will also benefit from an annual clean, and it will be worth using
a small brush to remove any insects or debris from the box, electronics and bat-
tery holders.
5.6
Mains Power Supply for Nest Box
The system is designed to be used on battery power, but if it is convenient, you
may prefer to use mains power.
The mains power supply which is included is designed for interior use only. It is
intended to be connected to an internal socket on a fused 13A electricity supply.
IT IS DANGEROUS TO FIT IT OUTSIDE OR IN A DAMP ATMOSPHERE.
The cable (which operates at low voltage) is safe to use outside. If you need to
extend this cable, this can be done with the “Mains to Battery Extension Cable”,
product A35.
To use mains power instead of batteries, remove the batteries and disconnect the
Solar Panel from the circuit board. Fit the PP3 connector at the nnd of the lead
from the mains power supply unit to the mating connector marked yellow on a
short wire from the circuit board.
The nest box can also be operated with single use batteries.
The battery box has a connector for fitting a second solar panel or a wind genera-
tor, either of which will increase the energy collected and reduce the chance of
the rechargeable batteries running down.
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