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Battery Indicator and Information for GoLive/Ghost

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Feature release date 02/15/2022

 

What’s New?

  • New battery icons that correspond to the device powering the camera.
  • Simpler way to read the power level of your camera.
  • Ability to label the power option on the Spartan Camera App or website.

For information about the battery indicator for the GoCam, please read the article Battery Indicator and Information for GoCam.

As part of our efforts to optimize the usage of our cameras, Spartan Camera has changed the appearance of the battery indicator for our Ghost and GoLive models. Prior to this change, the status report would show accurate voltage levels of the batteries or external power source, but the battery indicator would not always reflect the actual charge still left in the power source. These new icons will more accurately reflect the current power level of your camera and help keep you aware of when you need to change or recharge your camera’s power source.

Note: A fully-charged internal battery will show 4.03v. If there are no AA or 12v batteries installed, the photo info strip will show LI1 for 3.9v and higher and LI0 for anything below 3.9v. The battery is dead at about 3.6v. 

If you have just added your camera to your account and the camera is not powered on, the first status report you receive from the camera will be blank. The status report will show that the camera has no signal and the battery indicator will show the empty battery icon. Request another status report from the camera after turning the camera on and completing any setup that you need to do to get an accurate reading of your camera’s current state. It is recommended that you do not leave the camera site until you receive a status report showing that your camera has a signal and that your batteries and/or solar panel are powering the camera effectively.

If the last status report you’ve received from a camera that was on and sending photos shows the empty battery icon, it means your external batteries are dead. If your camera’s internal battery has enough charge, then it may keep the camera running for a few more days. However, you should make a plan to change your camera’s batteries as soon as possible. Once the battery level is ≤4.8v, the camera will stop transmitting photos to your Spartan Camera Management App. These photos will still be stored on your camera’s SD card.

 

Power Options

You can select the type of external power you are using on both the Spartan website and the Spartan Camera mobile app.

Please note: If you choose the wrong option, you may get inaccurate battery information and voltage readings. These options can be changed at any time. 

To find the power options on the website:

  • Log into your account at https://my.spartancamera.com.
  • Select the Camera Management tab at the top of the page.
  • Click or tap the dropdown menu labeled Manage Camera and select Change Settings.
  • Scroll to the section labeled System Settings and select the Battery Type setting. 

To find the power options on the app:

  • Go to the Home tab and select the unnamed.png next to the camera you want to change.
  • Select Camera Settings.

Scroll to the section labeled System Settings and tap the Battery Type setting.

 

Battery Indicator

Battery type options available are:

 

AA batteries

This option is for cameras that will only be powered via AA batteries. It is recommended that you use 12 1.2v - 1.5v AA batteries, but you can use 6 AA batteries in either the top or bottom tray for emergencies or testing the camera.

The following types of batteries can be used:

  • High-performance alkaline 
  • Lithium 
  • Rechargeable NiMH*

*Rechargeable batteries may show a lower base voltage when put in the camera. Please be sure your rechargeable batteries are fully charged before putting them in the camera. Keep in mind that rechargeable NiMH batteries will discharge more quickly with frequent use; you may need to monitor older NiMH batteries to gauge how long they will hold a charge.

External Voltage

Icon

Description

≥8.6v

mobile_3x.png

AA 5

Fully Charged

8.1v - 8.6v

 battery_80__light_mode__web_3x.png

AA 4

7.6v - 8.1v

 battery_60__light_mode_web_3x.png

AA 3

7.1v - 7.6v

 battery_40__light_mode_web_3x.png

AA 2

6.6v - 7.1v

 battery_20__light_mode_web_3x.png

AA 1

<6.6v

 battery_0__light_mode__web_3x.png

AA 0

The external batteries are dead/are not charging the camera.

*This icon will show up if your AA batteries are over their normal output voltage. This is because a voltage in the upper 10v and the lower 11v range is mistaken for an external 12v battery. If you see this icon, your batteries are fine and are powering the camera.

¹Fresh lithium batteries will often cause this icon to appear. The voltage of lithium batteries can often be higher than 10.6v which can read as a discharged 12v battery. Once the camera has been set for a bit, the voltage will drop into the upper AA battery range and you will see the AA battery indicator.

 

 

12v Battery

A 12v battery is a great, long-lasting way to power your camera without having to constantly change the batteries. However, like most batteries, the 12v battery will eventually need to be recharged or replaced. You should not let your battery drop below 11.5v for an extended period. 

External Voltage

Icon

Description

>12.5v

 12v_mobile_3x.png

PB 5

Fully Charged

12.3v - 12.5v

 lead_acid_battery_80__light_mode_web_3x.png

PB 4

12.0v - 12.3v

 lead_acid_battery_60__light_mode_web_3x.png

PB 3

11.7v - 12.0v

 lead_acid_battery_40__light_mode_web_3x.png

PB 2

11.4v - 11.7v

 lead_acid_battery_20__light_mode_web_3x.png

PB 1

11.3v - 11.4v

 lead_acid_battery_0__light_mode_web_3x.png

PB 0

11.3v - 10.6v

 question_64x64.png

Question Mark²

System is unable to identify the type of battery in voltage range.

<10.6v

 battery_0__light_mode__web_3x.png

AA 0

The external battery is dead/is not charging the camera.

²A discharged 12v battery (≤11.3v) and/or fresh lithium batteries (≥10.6v) can cause this icon to appear. If this comes up in your app/on the website, your 12v battery needs to be charged or replaced. 

 

AA + 12v Battery

This option will show you power and charge levels from both a 12v battery and a set of AA batteries. The indicators for the 12v battery and the AA batteries will not show at the same time. This setup is often used when the AA batteries are used to charge the internal battery and the 12v battery is used to keep the camera powered up. It is recommended that you use 12 1.2v - 1.5v AA batteries, but you can use 6 AA batteries in either the top or bottom tray emergencies or testing the camera.

The following types of batteries can be used:

  • High-performance alkaline 
  • Lithium 
  • Rechargeable NiMH*

*Rechargeable batteries may show a lower base voltage when put in the camera. Please be sure your rechargeable batteries are fully charged before putting them in the camera. Keep in mind that rechargeable NiMH batteries will discharge more quickly with frequent use; you may need to monitor older NiMH batteries to gauge how long they will hold a charge.

External Voltage

Icon

Description

>12.5v

 12v_mobile_3x.png

PB 5

Fully Charged (12v battery)

12.3v - 12.5v

 lead_acid_battery_80__light_mode_web_3x.png

PB 4

12.0v - 12.3v

 lead_acid_battery_60__light_mode_web_3x.png

PB 3

11.7v - 12.0v

 lead_acid_battery_40__light_mode_web_3x.png

PB 2

11.4v - 11.7v

 lead_acid_battery_20__light_mode_web_3x.png

PB 1

11.3v - 11.4v

 lead_acid_battery_0__light_mode_web_3x.png

PB 0

10.6v - 11.3v*

 question_64x64.png

Question Mark3

System is unable to identify the type of battery in voltage range.

8.6v - 10.6v

 mobile_3x.png

AA 5

Fully Charged (AA batteries)

8.1v - 8.6v

 battery_80__light_mode__web_3x.png

AA 4

7.6v - 8.1v

 battery_60__light_mode_web_3x.png

AA 3

7.1v - 7.6v

 battery_40__light_mode_web_3x.png

AA 2

6.6v - 7.1v

 battery_20__light_mode_web_3x.png

AA 1

<6.6v

 battery_0__light_mode__web_3x.png

AA 0

The external batteries are dead/are not charging the camera.

*This icon will show up if your AA batteries are over their normal output voltage. This is because a voltage in the upper 10v and the lower 11v range is mistaken for an external 12v battery. If you see this icon, your batteries are fine and are powering the camera.

3A discharged 12v battery (≤11.3v) and/or fresh lithium batteries (≥10.6v) can cause this icon to appear. If this comes up in your app/on the website, your 12v battery needs to be charged or replaced. Your camera should still function as you have full AA batteries in the camera, but keep an eye on the external voltage. 



Solar

When using a direct-connect solar panel, you want to pay attention to the battery information (both symbol and P number on the info strip) at night when the camera is not using solar energy for power or charging. The solar panel only charges the internal lithium battery. It will NOT charge AA batteries, even if the AA batteries are rechargeable batteries.

External Voltage Icon Description
>11.3v solar_2_light_mode_web_3x.png Solar
>3.9 image13.png

The solar panel is not charging the camera or the camera is running on its internal battery. 

Check the external voltage on your status report to confirm.

Internal battery LI5
3.8-3.9 image8.png

Internal battery LI3
3.7-3.8 image3.png

Internal battery LI1
≤3.7 image6.png

Internal battery LI0

 

AA + Solar

If you aren't sure that the solar panel will keep the internal battery charged (e.g., the camera is transmitting a lot of pictures and/or there is inadequate sunlight to keep the internal battery completely charged), you may want to use AA batteries in your camera. During the day, the camera will use its internal battery and/or solar energy but at night, it will switch to the AA batteries. It is recommended that you use 12 1.2v - 1.5v AA batteries, but you can use 6 AA batteries in either the top or bottom tray emergencies or testing the camera.

The following types of batteries can be used:

  • High-performance alkaline 
  • Lithium 
  • Rechargeable NiMH*

*Rechargeable batteries may show a lower base voltage when put in the camera. Please be sure your rechargeable batteries are fully charged before putting them in the camera. Keep in mind that rechargeable NiMH batteries will discharge more quickly with frequent use; you may need to monitor older NiMH batteries to gauge how long they will hold a charge.

External Voltage

Icon

Description

>11.3v

 solar_2_light_mode_web_3x.png

Solar

10.6v - 11.3v*

 question_64x64.png

Question Mark³

System is unable to identify the type of battery in voltage range.

8.6v - 10.6v

 mobile_3x.png

AA 5

Fully Charged (AA batteries)

8.1v - 8.6v

 battery_80__light_mode__web_3x.png

AA 4

7.6v - 8.1v

 battery_60__light_mode_web_3x.png

AA 3

7.1v - 7.6v

 battery_40__light_mode_web_3x.png

AA 2

6.6v - 7.1v

 battery_20__light_mode_web_3x.png

AA 1

<6.6v

 battery_0__light_mode__web_3x.png

AA 0

The external batteries are dead/are not charging the camera.

*This icon will show up if your AA batteries are over their normal output voltage. This is because a voltage in the upper 10v and the lower 11v range is mistaken for an external 12v battery. If you see this icon, your batteries are fine and are powering the camera.

³If your power output is above the average AA battery voltage range but below the output of the solar panel, this icon will show up. During the day, the camera will run off solar power and the internal battery will charge. Once the sun goes down, the camera will switch to the AA batteries and run off those rather than off the internal battery.

If your camera is in a high traffic area or an area that gets inadequate sunlight to keep the internal battery completely charged, your battery indicator may switch back and forth between the solar icon and the question mark icon during the day and then switch to the question mark or AA battery icons at night.

 

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