Horrible GoPro Hero 3 battery life - Snowboarding Forum

BigmountainVMD · 02-13-2013, 10:32 AM

So I am lucky to get an hour out of this damn Hero 3 Black battery. It is driving me insane. I'm really disappointed in myself for not heeding the reviews and still picking it up. I figured you are only recording 3 to 5 min clips, so if you could get 1.5 hours out of it (like I said in some reviews) then it wouldn't be too bad. I will record a two runs for maybe 20 min total (10 min recording and 10 min standby) and the thing is pretty much dead by my 3rd run. It has gotten to the point where I just leave the camera at home, cause I don't want to have it in my pocket all day after 30 minutes of use. I want to use it!

Had anyone discovered a better aftermarket battery option? I don't want to buy the Battery backpack because the whole reason I got the 3 was it's smaller/lighter weight, although it would be fine for mountain biking. Fucking around with extra batteries throughout the day does not sound like a better option either. Ideally, I would have some aftermarket battery that lasts twice as long, so I would only have to change the damn thing at lunch and be done with it. Any ideas?

terprider · 02-13-2013, 11:13 AM

I've had the same problem with mine but it was mostly due to it being too cold. Mine would die after three or four runs, but after I got inside for a couple mins, it would turn right back on and have two bars left for the battery. I'm not sure if you're experiencing the same thing but if you are, I would just put it inside my jacket on the lifts and that seemed to help.

BigmountainVMD · 02-13-2013, 12:15 PM

I had it stashed in an inside pocket for that exact reason. We need an update in battery technology!

Lamps · 02-13-2013, 02:50 PM

IF its any consolation Contour 2+ has similarly short life, like 45 mins. Does HD Hero 3 have GPS - I think that eats the battery.

pwol · 02-14-2013, 08:07 AM

I was able to buy extra batteries for cheap ($10), so I got 2 extra ones for my black edition. It sucks but there's gotta be a trade off for that increase in quality and decrease in size. I personally would have loved it if it was still the same size as the hero 2 but had alot better battery system.

With my hero 2 I had one extra battery and it worked out great. I just keep them labeled and in a zip lock bag, not really a hassle changing them when youre taking a break.

It just sucks having to remember to charge all of them lol.

BigmountainVMD · 02-14-2013, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lamps

IF its any consolation Contour 2+ has similarly short life, like 45 mins. Does HD Hero 3 have GPS - I think that eats the battery.

No GPS. It has wifi for the remote, but that reduces battery life even further if you leave wifi on. It is really bullshit. How can a company release any electronic product these days that has less than an hour of battery life? I don't see how GoPro could have released this camera without thinking about this. 1.5 hours is not too much to ask for.

vltsai · 02-14-2013, 12:19 PM

I have the Battery BacPac and if I just leave it on, recording every now and then and maybe switching it to photo mode (read: light usage), I'll get 5-6 hours out of it. I've never tested how long it'll run if I just let it go but I've done days where I've recorded several 15-20 minute videos. WiFi is always on (I love the remote) so I have no idea what's up with your's.

Also, you can leave the WiFi on and turn it on/off with the remote. That's what I will do. Turn on the WiFi while the camera is off, and you'll see the blue light blinking. When you turn your remote on, it'll sync with the camera, and it'll turn the camera on. Turn the remote off, and the camera turns off, but WiFi stays on for you to do it again. Do this and it'll last all day, easy!

What settings are you using, as well? That might have something to do with it.

poutanen · 02-14-2013, 12:29 PM

I hate to rub it in but I have NEVER had the battery die on my Contour. I don't know how close I've come, because it doesn't have a battery life indicator, but again it's never ran out in a full day of boarding.

I'd be bent if I paid $300 plus for a camera and the battery was as useless as tits on a bull!

MarshallV82 · 02-14-2013, 12:59 PM

My Contour+2 has pretty decent battery life. (It is fairly new though, and CO has been warm each time I've used it (25+ degrees F)

I shut it off between each run and it'll stay charged for half the day. I usually charge it with the USB port on my cell phone charger on the way there or if I take a lunch.

I still want to buy some extra batteries though, I don't think it's that much of a hassle to change them out...

The GPS does eat up the battery I think, but it's kinda cool to have your speed with the video - I figured I always hit my top speed in another part of the run.

KIRKRIDER · 02-14-2013, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poutanen

I hate to rub it in but I have NEVER had the battery die on my Contour. I don't know how close I've come, because it doesn't have a battery life indicator, but again it's never ran out in a full day of boarding.

I'd be bent if I paid $300 plus for a camera and the battery was as useless as tits on a bull!

Same here? I paid mine (ROAM) $163

02-13-2013, 10:32 AM	#1 (permalink)
BigmountainVMD Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 689	Horrible GoPro Hero 3 battery life So I am lucky to get an hour out of this damn Hero 3 Black battery. It is driving me insane. I'm really disappointed in myself for not heeding the reviews and still picking it up. I figured you are only recording 3 to 5 min clips, so if you could get 1.5 hours out of it (like I said in some reviews) then it wouldn't be too bad. I will record a two runs for maybe 20 min total (10 min recording and 10 min standby) and the thing is pretty much dead by my 3rd run. It has gotten to the point where I just leave the camera at home, cause I don't want to have it in my pocket all day after 30 minutes of use. I want to use it! Had anyone discovered a better aftermarket battery option? I don't want to buy the Battery backpack because the whole reason I got the 3 was it's smaller/lighter weight, although it would be fine for mountain biking. Fucking around with extra batteries throughout the day does not sound like a better option either. Ideally, I would have some aftermarket battery that lasts twice as long, so I would only have to change the damn thing at lunch and be done with it. Any ideas? Last edited by BigmountainVMD; 02-13-2013 at 10:35 AM.

02-14-2013, 08:07 AM	#5 (permalink)
pwol Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 46	I was able to buy extra batteries for cheap ($10), so I got 2 extra ones for my black edition. It sucks but there's gotta be a trade off for that increase in quality and decrease in size. I personally would have loved it if it was still the same size as the hero 2 but had alot better battery system. With my hero 2 I had one extra battery and it worked out great. I just keep them labeled and in a zip lock bag, not really a hassle changing them when youre taking a break. It just sucks having to remember to charge all of them lol. Last edited by pwol; 02-14-2013 at 08:21 AM.

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02-13-2013, 11:13 AM	#2 (permalink)
terprider Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Maryland Posts: 9	I've had the same problem with mine but it was mostly due to it being too cold. Mine would die after three or four runs, but after I got inside for a couple mins, it would turn right back on and have two bars left for the battery. I'm not sure if you're experiencing the same thing but if you are, I would just put it inside my jacket on the lifts and that seemed to help.

02-13-2013, 12:15 PM	#3 (permalink)
BigmountainVMD Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 689	I had it stashed in an inside pocket for that exact reason. We need an update in battery technology!

02-13-2013, 02:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
Lamps Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 633 Blog Entries: 5	IF its any consolation Contour 2+ has similarly short life, like 45 mins. Does HD Hero 3 have GPS - I think that eats the battery.

02-14-2013, 12:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
vltsai Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 39	I have the Battery BacPac and if I just leave it on, recording every now and then and maybe switching it to photo mode (read: light usage), I'll get 5-6 hours out of it. I've never tested how long it'll run if I just let it go but I've done days where I've recorded several 15-20 minute videos. WiFi is always on (I love the remote) so I have no idea what's up with your's. Also, you can leave the WiFi on and turn it on/off with the remote. That's what I will do. Turn on the WiFi while the camera is off, and you'll see the blue light blinking. When you turn your remote on, it'll sync with the camera, and it'll turn the camera on. Turn the remote off, and the camera turns off, but WiFi stays on for you to do it again. Do this and it'll last all day, easy! What settings are you using, as well? That might have something to do with it.

02-14-2013, 12:29 PM	#8 (permalink)
poutanen Resident Creep-o-saurus Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 3,491	I hate to rub it in but I have NEVER had the battery die on my Contour. I don't know how close I've come, because it doesn't have a battery life indicator, but again it's never ran out in a full day of boarding. I'd be bent if I paid $300 plus for a camera and the battery was as useless as tits on a bull!

02-14-2013, 12:59 PM	#9 (permalink)
MarshallV82 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Golden, CO Posts: 416	My Contour+2 has pretty decent battery life. (It is fairly new though, and CO has been warm each time I've used it (25+ degrees F) I shut it off between each run and it'll stay charged for half the day. I usually charge it with the USB port on my cell phone charger on the way there or if I take a lunch. I still want to buy some extra batteries though, I don't think it's that much of a hassle to change them out... The GPS does eat up the battery I think, but it's kinda cool to have your speed with the video - I figured I always hit my top speed in another part of the run.