What are the batteries to get and from where for Netgear Arlo cameras?

[ant]

So, brand new non-rechargable batteries or not? Also, which brands and models from where (any good ones from local retail stores in Southern CA(lifornia) like in Costco, Walmart, Fry's Electronics, Best Buy, etc.?

Thank you in advance. 🙂

[JPC]

I ordered mine here .. A good savings if you order in bulk with free shipping & no-tax in certain states.. Am here in CA and it sure helps a bit on 9%-tax and shipping.. I bought the Panasonic brand non-rechargeable.. so far so good..it's been almost 2-months now and cams are still full bars with an average of 6-10min. a day.. at 25-30sec. recording time... I will be updating my record keeping time here soon..  I'm actually doing both Energizer and Panasonic right now.. and both are holding up pretty good so far.. 

[StuBee]

This seemed to be the cheapest original Energizer batteries...still in the OEM packaging

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003FBDC1A?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage

[ant]

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StuBee wrote:

This seemed to be the cheapest original Energizer batteries...still in the OEM packaging

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003FBDC1A?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage

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That bundled is cheaper than the recharger and rechargeable batteries, but are they any good?

[StuBee]

Yes..these are the same batteries that were bundled with your arlo.   They will be cheaper than rechargables of course, since they are one time use.

[RobertRosal]

So far I have tested the OEM Energizers, SureFire, and StreamLight.  

From longest lasting to least

 1. StreamLight

 2. SureFire

 3. Energizers

Next up for testing are the Titanium Innovations, which I already have and ready to pop in once the StreamLights die.

[sonicradish]

How did the Titanium Innovations rank against the other batteries?  They're certainly on the cheaper side.

Thanks!

[RobertRosal]

I have a set of the Titaniums and plan on using them on the next run.  I'll check back here in a few months and let you know how they held up.

[JTP1]

What kind of time did you get out of the Streamlights? 

I am on my first set of the OEM Panasonic 123A Industrial Lithiums. Based on my particular use I am estimating that I might get a 6 to 8 weeks of use (hoefully).

I found two sets of 10 of these same exact OEM batties on eBay for $14.95 for each set of 10 with free shipping and no tax. I ordered both sets ($29.90 for 20 batteries) to replace the originals when they wear out. 

I think that I got a pretty smoking deal on these as I could only find that exact same battery one other place, Amazon, and they were $8.49 each. OUCH!

I considered the rechargeables but went ahead and got the OEM Panasonic batteries for now.  I will continue to watch this to see what rechargables are working and lasting the lonest so that on the next round of buying batties I can get the best possible option. 

The best price that I have found so far for the Streamlights was again on eBay for $24.35 for 12 of them with free shipping and no tax. 

[mccoady]

I didn't see this thread until after I had already ordered some Shurfines from Amazon which I haven't got yet. Apparently so far the Streamlines appear to be the longest lasting (according to Robert) but maybe the juries still out on some other brands like the Panasonic. Anyway unless something changes it looks like I should order the Streamlines next time.

I'm still waiting to see how everything shakes out with the rechargables.

Do I understand correctly that anytime you watch a live feed or when the camera records it draws on the battery... but when watching a recorded video it does not?

I look forward to any battery updates in this thread!

[Schorschi]

You're right on the last part. Since the videos that get recorded go straight to the cloud, viewing them does not involve the cameras and hence not draw any power from the batteries.

[TomMac]

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mccoady wrote:  snip

Do I understand correctly that anytime you watch a live feed or when the camera records it draws on the battery... but when watching a recorded video it does not?

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Yes... viewing LIVE or RECORDING will cause the highest drain (same) on the batteries... VIEWING a previously recorded video drains nothing.

The first is using the camera, the second is just from the server to you.

As to life of the different OEM 123 batteries, they should all last about the same with normal use as their ratings ( in storage ) fall into the 1400-1500maHr range.

In the real world , you prob shouldn't notice.

The OEM will last 4 months with spec use as most of mine do ( spec is =< 4 min per day )and I run on best video... a couple of low use cameras fall into the 6-7month range due to usage of maybe 3- 4 min per week ( mostly just on detect mode when out ).

It's been show in high usage runs that the rechargeables will outdo the OEM (with the added feature of being re-used) while in spec or less the OEM last longer.

It's just the nature of the cells.

So pick batteries based on usage and the ability to change on a 2 month period ( as long as all high quality )

[mccoady]

Well this is my 86 year old's mother Arlo we got her for Xmas and apparently we fall into the high usage range. She lives on a farm by hersef but her place is the base for all the farming operation which means my brother & nephews are coming and going all the time. Now they do not always stop at the house and trigger the camera but it can happen up to 3 or 4 times a day... but sometimes none. Plus my mother is very active and is always going in and out of the house to clean up the yard, take out trash, walking, etc. so she does trip the camera several times a day.

I'm not sure if my mother checks the live feed often but I'm thinking not I think she just watches the recordings when she gets an alert.Now myself, my wife, & possibly my sister (all linked to her account) do check the live feed occasionally when notified of an alert. We are probably the gulity parties.(Lol)

Bottom line it appears my mother's usage is probably well above what's recommended for average battery life. I wasn't prepared for the batteries to only last 5 weeks so I got caught without any backups but that won't happen again. The several days of waiting for new batteries just told us all how much we had become to rely on the Arlo. I do know my mother misses the camera alerting and recordings. I also like the idea that I can in a round about way check her activity... for instance if she's home or not. We mounted the Arlo high above and in the corner of her front porch so it shoot accross her porch and a little bit of her drive which works perfectly with no false triggers.

Since our first round of batteries was set at the default "Optimised" I'm going to try this second batch at "Best Battery Life" to see if it helps lengthen the battery life. If the lesser video quality is really noticeable guess I'l go back to "Optimised" and live with it.

I'm hoping there will a consensus on a rechargeable battery that works the best and then maybe I'll look in that direction... but it may or may not be for me.

[TomMac]

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mccoady wrote:
snip

Bottom line it appears my mother's usage is probably well above what's recommended for average battery life. I wasn't prepared for the batteries to only last 5 weeks

snip

Since our first round of batteries was set at the default "Optimised" I'm going to try this second batch at "Best Battery Life" to see if it helps lengthen the battery life. If the lesser video quality is really noticeable guess I'l go back to "Optimised" and live with it.

I'm hoping there will a consensus on a rechargeable battery that works the best and then maybe I'll look in that direction... but it may or may not be for me.

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First... with such a high usage to last 5 weeks, If possible, you may want to ad one or two Q cams which are plugged in...solves many battery problems tho they are inside cams ( will work thru windows without IR illumination and will sense as it's pixel based motion detect )

Second, going to the lower video settings prob would NOT add much due time to the high usage

So, you may want to try the couple of well known brands of rechargeables... you may only get 30 days on the high use, but they don't cost more after the original  outlay. Most get over 200 recharge cycles

The Nitecore and Eagletac brands came in at the top of the list to name two( there are a couple others)... and nitecore has a chargers that do 4 cells at once

You should be looking for 3.7v 16340/123 format  Mahr rating should be in the 700+/- mahr range as this is about the max you'll find.... any thing that says it's over 800mahr is prob BS.  ( use the ones mentioned on the site, there are about 8 as manf's allowable variance can make the cells hard to fit )

good luck

Tom

[mccoady]

Thanks for the response Tom! I don't think we want to get into adding any Q cams we will have to make do with what we have.

I want to try this second set of batteries and see how long they last but I also don't think having to change the batteries out with rechargeables every 3 to 4 weeks is an ideal situation either.

Could you or anyone provide links to the recommended rechargeables & charger in case I end up going in that direction... wouldn't want to get the wrong ones?

[Laguna]

Hey RobertRosal, how'd those Titanium Innovations non-rechargeables do?  Their price is so good in bulk I'm tempted to use them instead of going the rechargeable route.

(just realized this is my first post. Hi everybody. I have four new Arlo wire-free cams, all outside, with black skins, on black mounts, watching over my porch, driveway, back door, and basement window.  Now we ain't strangers no more)

[RobertRosal]

Hi Laguna,

Titanium performance was very similar in performance to the Energizers, no true winner between the two.  Can't go wrong with either of them.

So far I like the streamlights and they are very affordable.