battery life

[susanloudon]

I have 4 cameras.. all outside. I usually get 3-4 months use out of the batteries. But last month I put fresh ones in one of the cameras,  and within 4 weeks they were 100% used up  - but I did not have one alert at all during that month!  What could be the problem?  I've read some of the postings  and heard the phrase 'bad batch of batteries' but can't believe that could be a recurring problem out there . Since the batteries  are $40.00 plus to replace, I don't want to do that if there is a disclosed problem that could occur with the cameras that cause the batteries to fail so quickly. (don't tell me it's the settings, because that isn't the issue)....Does anyone know? 

[manfredz]

the first think that would come to mind is that they aren't seated properly.  Have you tried taking batteries out and put them back in (properly), not pushing them down, but letting closing the door properly seating them?

[TomMac]

Since the batteries  are $40.00 plus to replace,

Could be a glitch... hard to tell what the cause might have been after the fact... I usu check my cell reading a couple days after install to make sure all ok..

But on the above note, if your paying $10 each, your getting ripped off... My last batch of 12 cells cost (OEM ) about $1.45 each

I buy the OEM cells thru Battery Junction online... ( just a user / no company involvement )

[mgoulais]

I have had good battery life until recently. Now cameras burn batteries quickly going from 50% to 2% within a day. Three cameras this week. Something wrong all of a sudden. Extremely dissatisfied!

[manfredz]

Has the number of recordings made each day gone uo?

Are you using rechargeable or non rechargeable batteries?

Are you doing periods of live viewing

[mgoulais]

Nothing has changed from a usage standpoint. The batteries are not rechargeable. They are Panasonic. Live viewing is occasional and just for moments at a time just as had been done over the past year. Cameras previously would fade linearly but now just drop off abruptly.

[manfredz]

Another thing to check out/ eliminate as cause for battery drain is to bring a cam or all cams close to the base station and observe the battery drain then.  If battery drain goes to normal then there is a problem with the contact between base station and cams talking, draining batteries as they try to maintain contact

[mgoulais]

Cameras have not changed location. They operate like normal then the battery life just plummets. Can these batteries be a bad batch? Can Lithium batteries have a typical linear reduction in charge then just fall to 2% suddenly?

[jguerdat]

Could be a bad batch but there can also be a difference in the 2.4GHz signals floating around your house.  Has any new device been added or an existing one been moved?