Many helmet cams use inexpensive AA or 9V batteries to power the recording unit and camera. This is a feature that, quite frankly, is a burden.
You need to get the most recording time from the batteries as possible.
Unfortunately, due to the consuming power these cameras require, AA batteries just don’t have the shelf life.
The best alternative is called a lithium-ion polymer battery (sometimes abbreviated Li-Poly, Li-Pol).
The lithium polymer battery has technologically evolved from the lithium-ion battery. The lithium salt electrolyte is held in an organic solvent in the lithium-ion design but in the lithium polymer design, in a solid polymer, which means lower cost manufacturing and being more robust to physical damage.
These batteries are rechargeable and work by moving lithium ions between the anode and cathode. They are currently one of the most popular types of batteries for portable electronics, with one of the best energy-to-weight ratios, no memory effect, and a slow loss of charge when not in use.
In addition to uses for consumer electronics, lithium-ion batteries are growing in popularity for defense, automotive, and aerospace applications due to their high energy density.
Current generation cells can be fully charged in 45 minutes or less; some Lithium-Ion variants can reach 90% in as little as 10 minutes!
Ideally, a recording unit with a lithium-ion battery should have at least 2-3 hours recording time as it pertains to battery life and should also be equipped with a battery level indicator that includes an audio Low Battery Alert.
Consumers should also be on the lookout for an auxiliary power port that provides power to not only the recording device but the helmet camera as well.
Extra Tip: The Power Saver Feature
A “power saver” feature will, of course, help save battery power thus prolonging its life. This feature should function automatically when the unit is on but not in use. In this phase, the system will idle and the LCD will be turned off until the user begins operation again. This will dramatically increase the recording time between charges and help you spend more time in your sport and less time waiting on your cam system to charge up.
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