By now you are saying, “Huh?” Read on please.
I know what you’re thinking bowhunter. Does that 1.5 volt rangefinder battery have 1.1 or 1.63 volts? Well, you’ve got to ask yourself, “Do I feel lucky?” Well, do you? The same thing applies to your headlamp, your game camera or point-and-shoot camera for that once-in-a-lifetime trophy photo. Do you feel lucky enough to hit the field with a piece of equipment without knowing it’ll support you during the adventure? Is it your piece of gear malfunctioning or are the batteries you’re putting in it bad? Want to build a DIY solar panel and auxiliary battery for your game camera or feeder? Is the internal plug portion positive or negative?
With a five dollar multimeter a bowhunter can test his or her batteries before hitting the field and can trace wires out too. Now, just to be clear, I’m no electrician or electronics dude. If I need to mix a multimeter with household electricity I call my step-father. However, with just one setting I do test my batteries out before putting them in my gear. That way I’ll know what to expect. An inexpensive multimeter can be purchased from your local Harbor Freight for between three and five dollars.
Testing a battery for juice.
To test batteries place the selector knob in the DC range on 20, hold the red probe on the positive (+) end of the battery and the black probe on the negative (-) end of the battery. The digital read-out should indicate at least 1.45 volts. Anything less and I won’t use that battery in the field. Sometimes they’ll read as high as 1.63 volts. I’ve never encountered a problem with that.
Testing a game camera battery pack plug to see which is positive and which is negative.
To trace a wire on a game camera system make sure battery power is going to the system. Place the red probe in the internal portion of the plug and place the black probe on the external portion of the plug. If the reading you receive on the readout is positive then you know internal is positive and external is negative. If the reading you receive is negative then you know internal is negative and external is positive. That’ll tell you how to connect or solder wires for your DIY solar panel or auxiliary battery.
If you liked this blog you may like the following:
- Overhauling A Hunting Bow
- Camp Fire Tips
- Rangefinder Carry Tip
- How To – Prepare A European Skull Mount
- DIY $25 Bow Press
- How To – Make Your Own Turkey Friction Call
- How To – Make Your Own Turkey Friction Call – Part 2
- How To – Make Your Own Turkey Friction Call – Part 3
- DIY – Light Weight Camera Tri-Pod Alternative
- DIY Deer Drag
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Copyright © Jerry E Long, 2009-2011
