Battery Performance in Trail Cameras

Sorry I've been a bit quiet recently but I've been busy behind the scenes, so to speak.

I've just completed an extensive test to determine how different battery types perform in and affect the performance of the IR Remote Cameras that I've been reviewing. This is in response to various questions and comments I've received about issues such as the shortening of video length and battery longevity in trail cameras.

The chart below is a summary of my analysis but please note that operational conditions and individual camera performances vary considerably; and this is intended as a guide only.

Click on this chart to open to full size or copy to your computer. You are free to use this on a web page
or other media but please clearly acknowledge its source and author.

Battery Data Sheets:

Duracell 2450 mAh       Vapex 2900 mAh      Energizer Lithium     Energizer Industrial Alkaline

Ltl Acorn 6210 MC and Bushnell 119467 - Review - Part 3

Back to Part 2 - First Impressions and Case design

Fig 10 Energizer Industrial AA Alkaline cells
used during camera tests and evaluation

Batteries and Power Supplies:


In part 2 of this review I complained about the design of the battery compartment in the Bushnell, which on reflection, was not entirely justified.


The battery cells are loadable without the cross bar being removed, as shown in Fig 11. It's still a 

Fig 11 Inserting cells into the battery case of a 

Bushnell Model #119467

bit of a fiddle, especially when removing them, but it does work.

Acorn 6210   Internal cells are arranged as three
sets of four (Fig 12). Each set is isolated from and in parallel with the others. The external DC input is a fourth isolated circuit, also in parallel with the other three circuits.

The camera will operate with just four cells in any one of the circuits or an external DC power source of 6 to 12 volts plugged (see Fig 13) into the DC input socket. Use an external battery pack or a solar panel. The centre pin is positive polarity.

Be certain to observe the correct polarity, as indicated on the inside of the battery covers, when inserting cells

Fig 12 Acorn 6210 internal battery circuits numbered 11 22 33
 Sets of 4 x AA cells 

Because the circuits are isolated and in parallel, if any set of cells in one circuit is at a lower charge, they will not drain power from the other sets.


When all battery cells are removed the Acorn is able to retain time and date settings long enough to change batteries but with the Bushnell these will be lost. Keep one set of cells in place while you change the others to avoid having to reset the time and date.

Bushnell 119467   The arrangement of power circuits (see Fig 12a) is basically the same as the Acorn 6210 except that it can only use a 6 volt 
external supply.