Status Update Interpretation
I have a GC-G4Gb with a 15w solar panel.
The status report during the middle of he day shows the internal battery at 4.05v and the external power at 9.33v.
The status report seems to be showing external AA battery voltage instead of solar panel voltage during the middle of the day.
Is this normal?
Thanks
Mike
-
The only panels I see at Spartan are 10 watt and 15 watt.
I have the 15 watt.
The camera is new and has been online less than a month.
I have the camera set for status updates at 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
When I received this mornings update it still showed AA external voltage (8.98 volts). By 8:00 a.m. the solar panel voltage has been 19.00 to 21.00 volts depending on sun.
There was activity in front of the camera midday today and the updated status report after pictures still showed what appeared to be AA voltage rather than solar panel voltage.
Not sure how to determine if there is a camera problem or a solar panel problem.
Thanks
Mike
-
No, I just got back from checking the panel and also checked to make sure something hadn't chewed the wiring.
Last weekend on the 8:00 a.m. status update it showed AA external voltage. I went to the camera and did a walk test. After the walk test the status update report indicated solar panel voltage. It had been reporting fine until today.
Is there any chance that with the internal voltage being so high that the camera would not recognize the solar panel or allow it to charge the internal battery?
The activity in front of this camera has slowed dramatically and the internal voltage has stayed at or above 4.03 for a few days
I'll see how we get along tomorrow.
Thanks
Mike
-
For the last five days external voltage has been AA voltage between 9.00V & 10.00V.
I've checked connections couple of times, pulled them apart, put them back together, still no external voltage above 9.75V.
Camera seems to work fine otherwise.
Other camera and solar panel will give readings of 17+V on foggy mornings, 20+V on a cloudy day and 21+ on a sunny day.
Any suggestions?
Mike
-
I can, but I didn't want to disturb the other area just yet. Have some pretty nice bucks staying close and didn't want to push them.
I tried to order another solar panel and cable off of the Spartan website but did not see an option for just the panel and cable.
If switching cameras or panels is the only option, that's what I'll do.
Mike
-
Being able to swap out parts is often the quickest way of figuring out which part of the system is the culprit. If it seems to be the solar panel, it could be a loose cable connection to the panel or bad cable. Better to find out it’s the cable or panel than the camera, but regardless, knowing where the problem is gets you that much closer to a resolution.
-
Do you have a multimeter? You could check voltage at the plug between the panel and cable and at the plug that goes into the camera. To check the plug that goes into the camera you will need a short piece of wire or paperclip to check inside of the plug. If you use a paperclip use one that doesn't have the plastic coating or scrape it off so it can make contact.
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
14 comments