Power mode (switch position) | ON (left) | AUTO (right) |
Generally powered from | External connection | Internal batteries |
Internal power selector | Away from red dot | Towards red dot |
Normal powered state | Always on | Mostly off |
Trigger and schedule modes? | Yes | Yes |
Notification available? | Yes | Yes |
Continuous mode available? | Yes | No |
Will respond to cell phone commands? | Yes | No |
Note that the table illustrates the most likely use of the two available power modes. The power modes are actually independent of whether the camera is powered via the internal batteries or the external AC adapter. If desired, the power mode switch can be set to AUTO and the camera powered externally. In this case the camera will turn on and off automatically, depending on the trigger and schedule conditions, presenting an intermittent load to the external power supply. This may be desirable if the external supply is a solar panel/battery combination and the load presented to the solar panel needs to be kept at a minimum. Continuous broadcast mode would not be available in this situation.
Alternately, the power mode switch may be set to ON and the camera powered via the internal battery pack. In this situation the camera will present an ongoing drain to the internal batteries and operational time may only be a few days, before they discharge. If the application only requires a short period of operation this may be a desirable way to configure the camera. In this situation the camera may be commanded into and out of continuous mode via text messaging, without requiring external power connection.
For most applications the power switch setting is determined by the availability of external power. If AC power is available, simply set the power mode switch ON and use an approved AC adapter. If operation from the internal batteries is required set the switch to AUTO.
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