"Battery Low" indicator with fresh batteries

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leigh ann flowers

• October 01, 2020 18:55

camera: GC-Z4Gb/GoCam (Verizon 4G) Blackout

 

Camera stopped working last week.  Batteries weren't very old, but when we turn it to setup, it starts up for a few seconds and then the "battery low" indicator comes on and the unit turns off and restarts.  We put in a fresh set of batteries (that we tested) - same issue.  Tried a third set from a different pack - same issue.  The camera won't stay on long enough to get into any menus (format, firmware, etc).

We have had this camera for a while and it has been working fine.  We have 5 other camera - all working fine.

Any suggestions?  Could it be the sim card?  

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  John Lockburner

  • October 01, 2020 19:10

  It could be SD card, try it without and see if the camera stays on and gives you the no SD card error on the screen.

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  leigh ann flowers

  • October 01, 2020 19:25

  took out the SD card.  The no SD card indicator came on but it was followed shortly by the "battery low" indicator and it turned off (but it shows full batteries in the bottom right corner).

  Tried it without the sim card and it said "no sim" but then the "battery low" came on again and it shut off.

  I took the SD card out and formatted it on my computer - put it back in the camera and it is still turning off.

   

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  John Lockburner

  • October 01, 2020 19:31

  I would try a  firmware update, even if it's up to date. You will have to do it manually, have you done a manual update before?

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  John Lockburner

  • October 01, 2020 19:31

  No external power source plugged in is there?

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  leigh ann flowers

  • October 01, 2020 19:39

  no, I have never done a manual update - not sure if the camera will stay on long enough to do one?  It only stays on 5-6 seconds.  It starts searching for network then the "battery low" comes up on the screen and it turns off.

  And no external power, just 12 AA batteries.

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  John Lockburner

  • October 01, 2020 19:51

  The manual update should happen in the first second or two that you have the camera turned to setup. How do the battery contacts look? Are they clean or possibly dirty or rusted/corroded? 

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  John Lockburner

  • October 01, 2020 19:54
  • Edited

  You will follow the instructions for cameras that do not have firmware update in the menu. The updates are listed first and the the instructions below. Make sure that you use a clean formatted SD card and the firmware for your exact camera model.

  https://my.spartancamera.com/download

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  leigh ann flowers

  • October 01, 2020 20:10

  It doesn't seem to be doing anything.  The file I downloaded is a .OTA (over the air?), and the instructions say to put the ".BIN" file on the SD card.  Should I change the file extension?  or will it use a .OTA?

   

  I reformatted the card and put the FW96650.OTA on the card (not in a folder).  But the camera still started up the same.

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  John Lockburner

  • October 01, 2020 20:12

  OTA will be fine, there's no number in parenthisis on the SD card after the file name is there? Are there any other folders on the SD card showing? You're holding down the playback button when turning the camera to setup?

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  leigh ann flowers

  • October 01, 2020 20:22

  no parenthesis, only other thing on the disk is a hidden folder for system volume information.

  When I hold down the play button, "no image" comes up for a second, but then the "battery low" shows and it turns off.  I tried holding the play button until the no image comes up, then releasing and pressing the play button again but it does the same thing.

   

  Inside of the camera looks brand new, battery terminals are shiny and clean.

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  John Lockburner

  • October 01, 2020 20:23

  No chance you have an external set up to see if it reacts differently with external power?

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  leigh ann flowers

  • October 01, 2020 20:25

  This is weird, so I turn the camera to "on" and I can hear it clicking.  It is taking pics & videos on the SD card but not sending them to the portal or app.

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  John Lockburner

  • October 01, 2020 20:37

  You may have a switch issue, try turning the camera off and on really fast a whole bunch of times. The switch contacts may have gotten a little bit oxidized and sometimes running the switch cleans the contacts off.

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  leigh ann flowers

  • October 01, 2020 20:48

  It might be the switch, but that didn't work for me.  I will try and find an external plug that will fit it and see if that does anything.

  I will probably go get a new sim card tomorrow, we have had 3 go bad in 2 years.

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  John Lockburner

  • October 01, 2020 20:50

  OK, please keep us posted on what you find out.

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  leigh ann flowers

  • October 01, 2020 20:52

  I will, thank you so much for all your suggestions!  

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