This appears to be the same panel as the Primos, but it's a few dollars cheaper, the metal-clad cable is painted black, and it's IN STOCK. Additionally, the cable terminates in a 12v barrel plug, but also comes with as 6" pigtail with alligator clips, so you get a choice. I figured I'd have to cut off the barrel connector and solder my own alligator clips on, so this was a nice surprise.
See my photo, showing how I hooked it up in series with a Primos 6v battery and Primos camera. Mounting is unclear from the packaging, as it's got an angled bracket that gets attached to the panel. This apparently is to keep a good angle to the sun. Since I didn't want to screw it to my tree, I screwed it to a scrap (pictured, I'll paint it camo prior to next hunting season), so I could just strap it to the tree along with the camera and battery.
I don't have any data points for performance yet. It's the dead of winter here, and I've got it out in the snow. The 6v battery showed 85% on the first day, and has held steady after 5 days, "so far, so good". I will update my review with performance info, as I get more data. My plan is to have this camera up year-round.
Note that without performance data, I am comfortable with 5-star rating based on reviews of the similar Primos unit, which based on photographs, has the same panel.
Update 2/09/2012: It's been up more than 3 weeks, and the camera has taken over 150 photos, mostly at night. The battery is still showing 85% at night, 99% during bright sun. Essentially no change since when I hung it up. It's the dead of winter here, I'm very pleased with the performance.\
Update 2/18/2012: Up more than a month, nearly 400 photos, still fully charged.
Update 4/14/2012: Despite my advice posted in this review, I mistakenly bought the Primos unit when I needed another one. I have painted it black, should have sanded it first, and now the paint is flaking off! GET THIS UNIT (Hunten), it's got a good paint job, and it's a couple bucks cheaper!!
Update 12/7/2012: Nearly a year later, thousands of photos (sometimes 50/day) taken, battery still full. And it spent all summer in deep hardwoods. I had pointed the panel to the sun when I put it there in the spring, and thought I'd have to move it out of there when the foliage came. Nope. No problems. We put an 8 GB memory card in it last week, so it would click away all winter for us. Awesome buy.
The quality is great. The price is right. Wiring is shielded with black metal flexible conduit type material, aluminum I think, no need to paint or camo. Plugged right into my Wildgame Innovations camera. Now I just pull the memory card and slip in another, never have to open the battery compartment or haul or charge batteries. Streamlined my run around the woods and continues to save time each trip. Did have to supply two washers for the mount screws, no biggie.
Buy Hunten Outdoors Small 6-Volt Mono Crystalline Solar Panel Now
I received this panel quickly and as others have noted, it comes with mounting hardware and the alligator clip adapter for the cable.
Before I go any farther, let me suggest something people should do if they want this to last many years. Contrary to another review, the panel is not truly sealed. The plastic case that holds the panel has holes in it that I assume will let any water drain. However, that also will let water get in. But instead of trying to seal the case, I suggest you remove the 6 screws that hold the case together and use something to seal up all of the soldered connections on the back of the actual panel. I used some 5 minute epoxy on all of the connections, diode, etc., including sealing where the wires go into the cable shield. I'm confident there will never be any corrosion issues. I then put the case back together without using any other sealer on the case.
The mounting bracket is nice, but it can be tricky to find a way to mount it on something like a deer feeder that has tripod legs. But you can bend the bracket if necessary to get the right angle. Just don't put any undue pressure on the panel or you might break it.
A quick test shows it will output about 60ma in full sunlight. That should be more than adequate to keep a feeder or camera battery charged.
Also as noted by others, the cable is shielded which should keep any critters from eating through it.
The bottom line this is a good panel for the price. I would recommend it.
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I used and tested this solar panel on 6 volt fence chargers. It proformed better than the factory replacements through a number of different conditions including Hurricane Isaac this year. Including the shipping cost these panels are cheaper in cost than those from the fence charger's manufactor. The panels are sealed at the factory and do not require addition sealing or gaskets for water tightening as the manufactor's panels. If you decide to use these panels on your fence charger, using heat shrink or liquid sealant to ensure water tight connections.
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Works great to keep battery up, slow to charge one but will maintain as long as the sun is out.
