We have been feeding "some" animal up at our pond for some time. We would like to know what it is. I had various stuff lying around so, I thought I would rig something up. There is no power so I have to bring a car battery up there. I am using a small single channel motion activated recorder, 12 volts, about the size of a pack of cigarettes. Nice thing is, it keeps it's time.
I used some junk camera that was ripped out of somewhere. Anyway, no night vision, food gone and no image.
Then I used a illuminated camera. One trip, I forgot the recorder, and two other trips, food has not been touched. That's a first! And the LEDs use more power so I have to keep bringing the battery back for charging.
Last night, food gone, and for whatever reason, no image. There was a snowstorm so maybe the camera was covered. If that had been for a customer, I would have been hard pressed to explain.
I think I have made a dozen trips, for this quick and simple project. And since there is no more money in camera systems, like there used to be, it's the reason I do such jobs very selectively. You can waste a pile of time.