Low Battery Problem

[Gatekeeper]

I have Moultrie 2007 model MFH-CDC, 6 volt, digital game camera and I am getting a “Low Battery” message on the front display screen. I would like to know if anyone else has encountered this problem and I would like to know what you did to fix it.

Now before you tell me to replace the battery…I did that. I will list the symptoms and the course of action I have taken thus far.

Symptom:

“Low Battery” reading does not appear until the camera is in its activated stage. Meaning I can setup the camera’s time, date, number of pictures, picture size etc. without any problems. Then the camera has a delay period before it will begin to take pictures, allowing the operator exit the area. As soon as the camera goes into the activated mode it displays the “Low Battery” reading.

Actions I have taken:

1.   I bought new 6 volt batteries. (Did not fix the problem.)
2.   I have called Moultrie three times to discuss this problem and I have spent approximately 1:20 total time on hold waiting to talk to someone.
3.   First person at Moultrie said it’s the small watch battery in the camera. I was skeptical of this but I took them for their word and replaced the battery. (Wrong answer.)
4.   Second person at Moultrie told me it was the capacitor connected to the flash and that it would be expensive to replace since this camera is now obsolete. Their suggestion was to turn the flash off and use the camera as a daytime camera only. (Sure enough, I did not get the “Low Battery” display and the camera will take pictures when the flash is turned off but I’m stubborn and I want the flash to work.)
5.   I emailed technical services at Moultrie to discuss this issue. (That was three weeks ago and I have yet to hear from them.)
6.   The third person at Moultrie transferred me to a technician so I could talk to someone about capacitors. (I left a voice mail…that was two weeks ago.)
7.   I’ve found, ordered and replaced the capacitor in the camera with one that is similar to the original capacitor. The original photo flash capacitor was 330V 410 micro farads and I replaced it with a 330V 400 micro farads photo flash capacitor. (I am still getting the “Low Battery” display.)

[BMOELLER]

Tom, does it still work even though you get the light?  Could it be moisture causing a short circuit?

[Gatekeeper]

Hi Brian

Yes the camera will work if I turn the flash off. Which means at night (the time when most animals are moving around) I will only get black pictures. The circuitry and the inside of the camera are completely dry and there is on evidence of any moisture being inside the camera’s housing.

This camera has worked great for 1.5 years and then all of a sudden this problem started. Strange…

[Snakeeater]

Does the flash still work? Does your camera shut down because it runs out of power? It might just be the error message appearing by mistake, due to a short or some other cause, when in reality their isn't any problem with the camera.

Just a thought.

[Gatekeeper]

Originally posted by Snakeeater:
Does the flash still work? Does your camera shut down because it runs out of power? It might just be the error message appearing by mistake, due to a short or some other cause, when in reality their isn't any problem with the camera.

As far as I know the flash works but I can’t confirm this because I can’t get past the low battery reading. I know the battery is good because I took it out of the problem camera and put it into a working camera and had good results. I didn’t see any indication of a short on the board and I didn’t see any indication of anything getting into the camera’s housing.

[fido dog]

My cameras get in some nasty conditions. Drag races, horse barns.......etc. I've run into the same problem. Take a pencil eraser and cut it to fit the contacts. Rub and you'll see what comes off. Most times, it's the contacts.

Hope this helps.    

[MYSTIKBOW]

Tom,  Fido dog makes a very good point. I don't have one of those cameras myself but I do work with a lot of printed circuit brds. Contacts and small soldiered connections get dirty by oxidation quite easily. Besides the eraser idea you can also try a soft brass bristle brush on all connections.

[Gatekeeper]

Originally posted by fido dog:
My cameras get in some nasty conditions. Drag races, horse barns.......etc. I've run into the same problem. Take a pencil eraser and cut it to fit the contacts. Rub and you'll see what comes off. Most times, it's the contacts.

Hope this helps.      

Thank you I will give this a try.