im thinking about getting the moultrie m-80 camera with a moultrie power panel to save some money on battery sence my old camera couldnt stay on for more than two days and im tired of buying batterys every other day so tell me what you think

coyote61hunter: may I suggest using rechargeable batteries. AA rechargeables (Pure Energy) sold at most WalMarts are not that expensive, around $5.00 for a package of 4 in Canada before tax. These come fully charged. In colder weather Lithium batteries are highly recommended. These test out as follows: Lithium Ultimate 1.69 volt, Lithium 7X 1.79 volt and Lithium 8X 1.83 to 1.85 volt. These sell for approximately $15.00 for a pack of 4 before tax in Canada.
Solar panels have to be mounted in the open facing the sun to function. Solar panels require a diode which prevents the panel from discharging the camera battery or a battery coupled to the camera by remote. Some panels have this feature built in. If you have lots of cloudy days like what happened in my area in the spring of 2011, the panel is useless. Lots of farmers complained here. They were using solar panels to power remote water wells etc.
If you did purchase the solar panel and were not satisfied with it, the panel would be harder to sell due to its small size. Being the solar panel has to be mounted in the open, it would be more suseptable to theft: (panel, camera etc.). Moultrie has given me good customer service when emailing for information etc.
From my personal experience, I won't be purchasing any more trail cameras that use "C" batteries: 1)the cost of the "C" batteries compared to "AA", 2)the extra size of the camera, 3)putting the large camera in a bear safe or security box makes it that much larger and harder to conceal. I started out using top grade alkaline batteries and soon switched over. I even used the external 12 volt batteries for cameras that had the 12 volt external port but again once one has accumulated several cameras, this gets very costly.
If you do decide to use batteries, do not let them get below 1.0 to 1.2 volt as the camera will not function properly, or not at all. My batteries are randomly checked with a digital meter when I swap out my SD cards. New batteries, fresh out of the package are also checked. I have found a low or faulty one, once in a while. For cameras I am using 7ea. of the 2009 model Bushnell Trophy Trail camera, 2 ea. of the Moultrie M100. Excellent service from these cameras. Also using 3 Moultrie D55-IR and 2 SpyPoint IRB which use "C" batteries. All the cameras are set for video and have good battery life.
Good luck in your choice. All the best in the New Year.

Thank you your input is greatly appricated littlearrow

for the solar panel we have no theifs in my area (family lives around my property) ive watched where the sun rises and where the sun sets and the location where im wanting to put my panel is located where it would catch the rising sun, the mid day sun and the setting sun as for the recharge able batteries i cant find a place that sells the charger that charges in bulks (8 batteries) at the same time

coyote61hunter:for the Pure Energy rechargeable batteries I mentioned, I purchased a Pure Energy charger at WalMart. These cost approximately $28.00 Canadian before tax. This charger can charge 4ea. AAA or 4ea. AA or 4 ea. C or 4 ea. D batteries and it also has two ports for charging 9 volt. This is a large white charger measuring 2.5 inch high x 4.25 inch wide x 9.5 inch long. The charger is divided into two sections which would charge two battteries each not counting the nine volt ports. One could charge say 2 AAA in one section and 2 AA in the second section or all the same kind as long as the batteries in any one section are the same size. Each section has a green LED light that flashes while charging. When charged the light comes on solid green. This solid green light comes on when the first battery of that section reaches full charge. This is why I again refer to the digital meter for testing. If both batteries were around the same voltage when put in the charger, then they should be pretty close when charged. I try to match my batteries up when putting them in these sections or if one cannot, then check when removing them. As some rechargeables get older from use, they may not obtain full charge. I have emailed a company for information concerning this, but being holiday season, I have not had a response. The earlier version of camcoder batteries would develop a memory over time. One had to run them dead with a light turned on to break this memory so they would recharge properly next time. Trail camera battery manufactures do not recommend the rechargeable batteries being run low, but instead try to keep them topped up. I have not come across a charger larger than this one.
As you mentioned about the location etc. where you could set up the solar panel, this sounds okay. All one would need though is some trespasser to remove your equipment. This is a chance one has to take no matter what equipment or property one has. Good luck.

I've got a m80 with a solar panel on it. Had it out since Sept, batteries read 92%. Great setup. I have another setup on its way. If you're going to buy the panel, Walmart.com has them for $54.

car: thanks for the information. I have a few questions for you. What brand of batteries are you using? At 92%, have you checked the batteries with a digital meter to see what actual voltage you have? I have the M100 which is just a higher version than the M80. No M80 in stock at the dealer when I bought the M100. I tried rechargeable Energizer, tested 1.2 to 1.28 volt fresh out of the package. I can bump them up to 1.38 to 1.44 volt with the charger. At this reading the M100 only showed 64%. Using the Pure Energy rechargeables 1.55 volt out of the package, these showed 96% in the camera.
*Just checking the website you gave, that is a nice solar panel, larger than the ones that another dealer was selling here. This one has the 12 volt battery in the unit. It then should have the diode already installed in the system so it will not drain the battery at night.
The batteries I mention testing would be the batteries that you would have in the camera. You wouldn't need them with your system. Thanks.