Solar
Solar power solves the single biggest headache with trail cameras and feeders: dead batteries you didn’t catch in time. A solar panel or solar battery pack keeps your gear topped off in the field for months at a stretch, so you’re not making unnecessary trips to check power levels. It also shows up on GPS handhelds, where a solar-assisted charge can meaningfully extend a multi-day backcountry trip. Whether you’re running a feeder, a trail camera, or a GPS unit, matching the right solar setup to your device makes a real difference in how much you have to think about power in the field.
Read our full Solar Chargers & Panels Buying Guide ↓
Why Add Solar Power to Your Trail Camera or Feeder Setup
Trail cameras and feeders often sit in remote spots for weeks or months without a check-in. A solar panel wired into the battery compartment keeps a trickle charge going continuously, which means you show up to swap an SD card instead of swapping dead batteries. For feeder timers especially, a dead battery at the wrong moment means a missed feeding cycle — solar power removes that risk almost entirely once it’s dialed in.
Solar Panel vs. Solar Battery Pack: What’s the Difference
A solar panel (like the American Hunter or Wildgame Innovations panels) mounts externally and wires directly into your camera or feeder’s existing battery compartment, topping off whatever batteries are already installed. A solar battery pack (like the Wildgame Innovations Solar Battery Pack or AGM Global Vision Solar Power Bank) is a self-contained rechargeable unit that replaces your batteries outright and recharges itself via its own built-in panel. Panels are the simpler retrofit for gear you already own; battery packs are the cleaner option when you’re setting up new gear from scratch.
Matching a Solar Panel to Your Trail Camera or GPS Device
Voltage and connector type matter more than wattage for most trail camera and feeder setups — check what your specific camera or feeder model calls for before buying. American Hunter’s panels are built to fit their own feeder line directly, while more universal panels like the Wildgame Innovations Edrenaline work across a broader range of devices. For GPS units, solar charging is typically built into the device itself rather than added on — see the Garmin eTrex Solar below.
Solar-Charged GPS: The Garmin eTrex Solar Advantage
The Garmin eTrex Solar GPS uses its transflective display panel to supplement battery power with ambient light, extending runtime on long backcountry trips without adding any external hardware. It won’t fully replace battery changes on extended trips, but it meaningfully stretches the interval between them — a real advantage for multi-day hunts or hikes where every ounce of gear matters.
Frequently Asked Questions: Solar Chargers & Panels
Do solar panels work on any trail camera or feeder?
Most panels are designed for a specific voltage and connector type, so check your camera or feeder’s specs before buying. Brand-matched panels (like American Hunter panels on American Hunter feeders) are the safest fit; more universal panels work across a wider range of devices but should still be voltage-matched.
What’s the difference between a solar panel and a solar battery pack?
A solar panel tops off the batteries already in your device. A solar battery pack is a self-contained rechargeable unit that replaces your existing batteries and recharges itself.
Can a solar panel fully replace battery changes?
In most cases, no — solar power supplements your existing batteries and extends the time between changes rather than eliminating battery changes entirely, especially in low-sunlight conditions or winter months.
Does the Garmin eTrex Solar need direct sunlight to charge?
It charges most effectively in direct sunlight but still gains some benefit from ambient daylight. It’s designed to extend runtime, not to run indefinitely off light alone.
See Also: Electronics • Batteries • GPS