WildSpot IRX-20B-850 Flash Booster Instruction Manual
- June 16, 2024
- WildSpot
Table of Contents
WildSpot IRX-20B-850 Flash Booster
Product Description
Thank you for purchasing the WildSpot Flash product. This WildSpot Flash IRX-20 infrared flash booster can help to improve the quality of trail camera photos and videos by increasing the flash illumination at night. It is ideal for working together with any brands of general IR game camera as it’s default setting and come with a gooseneck IR sensor. An attached cable is used for connection directly between the booster and the Ext-Booster port (IR-OUT) equipped on the scouting camera is compatible for all WildSpy Night Vision Camera series. With a same cable, there are up to 4 sets of boosters to be extended in a chain connection for getting up to 4 times of illumination as you need. It will stand by all night and only consumes a very little power. Therefore, a group of good quality Alkaline batteries will remain the booster to work for more than three months in the field for taking more than a few thousand images under normal conditions.
Kit List
This package kit includes the accessory parts as below:
- Main Unit x1 set
- Gooseneck IR Sensor with Cable x1 pc
- Cable x1 pc (Reserved for WildSpy IR Camera or become a slave extender)
- Belt x1 pc
- Instruction sheet x1 pc
Preparation
Main Unit
This model will be compatible with all night vision cameras. It is ideal for users who would like to enhance their existing visible RED Glow IR camera to take much better high-quality pictures and videos at night. The power requires 4 pcs good quality D cell Alkaline batteries for the best result of working performance. After installing the batteries into the compartment according to the polarity indication on the cabinet, push the BAT-Check button once and see if the Bat-Test LED works to verify the batteries are in good condition. (Fig. 2) Then plug the sensor cable into the IR-IN port. With the factory default, the option pin of the TRIGGER source is selected for IR-Sensor (PIN 1-2) which it is located at the UPPER position). The gooseneck sensor is snapped on the place near the IR light of the camera to detect a moment of camera capturing at night. It always works synchronously with your camera whether taking pictures or videos. If you will use it for indoor security applications, it is also available to be upside-down mounted on the ceiling with a general mounting accessory. But this upside-down installation method will not be applied for OUT-DOOR usage. The booster is mounted on a tree with the attached belt as the installation method shown in Fig.3. Always to slide the PW-SW to OFF (at Center) if it is not in used.
Connection Methods for Difference Devices
Work with General Brand IR Camera
Since above installation is done, no more adjusting will be required. With the
default setting, the snap stand of the gooseneck IR sensor must be required
snapping on the camera and the IR sensor head always faces and be very close
to the IR light source of camera. See the Fig.3 for a connection. It will
always work with your scouting camera synchronously at night time.
Work with WildSpy IR Camera
If you are using any WildSpy Cam Night Vision models, an easy way is for you
you just use the attached cable to connect the camera and booster directly. In
this case, the gooseneck sensor will not be required for installation. One
plug is required to insert to the IR-IN port in booster and the other plug is
inserted into the IR-EXT port on the camera. Also, change the TRIGGER source
pin on the booster for the CABLE connection (in which the jumper is move to
the LOWER position Pin 2-3). In this application, this booster will work as a
slave of the camera.
Work with more Wildspot IR Boosters
In many cases, you might already have one Wildspot Black IR booster and would
like to add more boosters to be a slave to increase more illumination. You can
use the attached cable to connect the Master booster and the Slave directly as
a chain connection by plugging one end to the IR-OUT port on the Master
booster and the other end to the IR-IN port on the Slave booster. Set the
TRIGGER source pin on all other slave boosters to CABLE (The option pin is
placed to lower position) except the 1st booster if it will be connected with
a gooseneck IR sensor. The same connection will be allowed to add up to 4 sets
of boosters in a chain.
Self-Test before Working
It is recommended that you to finish the setup and proceed the Self-Test in
the evening. Place the booster near to camera and complete the installation.
Set the PW Switch on the Booster to TEST mode, then press the BAT-CHECK / TEST
button on the adaptor. You will see the Self-Test Light in front will be ON
this time. If the Self-TEST indicator does not light, it means this booster
may be staying at ON or OFF mode. To prove the booster is working well before
you will leave, try to trigger your camera to take a shot in dark environment
(Be sure a scene must be really dark when you try to make a real capturing
test. Otherwise, the booster will never be triggered at the daytime). During
the gooseneck sensor or cable is getting triggered from camera, the Self-Test
Light will stay ON depending as long as how long the IR light in the camera is
turned ON. After done above installation procedures, slide the PW switch to
OFF. Also, do not forget to check if the Front cabinet is closed completely
and the other rest port in the booster is still remains corked by a stopper
before leaving.
Operation On Duty
Since the above installation and testing are done, no more adjustments will be
required. Slide the PW SW of Booster to ON. In this mode, the Self-LED will
never light when the IR LED Array does work during the camera is capturing.
Now, the booster will always work only at night time synchronized with your
scouting camera and only consumes a very low power. So that it will stay in
the field for a long time and an estimated life under good quality battery
will be able to take more than a few thousand images under normal conditions.
Conditions affecting battery life include usage of the booster in video mode
or using the product in a cold climate.
Power Status / Battery Replacement
If you notice the Bat-RED light becomes very dark or even NOT light up while
you push the Bat-Check button, that means the status of the battery is in poor
condition. You need to replace a new full set of batteries soonest. It is also
recommended to fill with new batteries at the beginning of the hunting game in
winter. This booster is required with 4 pcs of good quality Alkaline D cell
battery installed on the main unit. Do not try to mix up old and new batteries
a time to be used.
Troubleshooting
- There is no Light up from the BAT-CHECK LED by pushing the Bat-Check button when PW is either at ON or TEST mode, but it lights at OFF only: It is telling you that the battery is going down when a loading is activated, those batteries might not be last for a long time. You must be ready new battery for replacement soonest.
- I can see the Self-Test Indicator does ON during pressing BAT-LOW test under TEST mode, but I find the camera always takes dark images or videos and the Self-Test Light does not turn ON: Check if the gooseneck sensor is already away from the IR light source on camera. In most cases, the IR sensor did not snap properly or fell from the camera causing the IR sensor to be shifted after you left. Therefore, you have to find a way to make it snap firmly. Another reason might be the current environment still bright and the camera does not need to switch ON the internal IR lights in the transition time to evening from daytime.
- Seems not too much help even if this booster is used: Investigate a possible issue if the current angle of the booster might not be the same as the camera lens. In another case, you try to move the booster near to camera to make them in the same target zone. You have to test in different angles and locations for the best result. Of course, you need to prove the batteries are not poor before you try to do further testing. In case a zone is very large and a target will be always far away you may consider adding one or more black IR boosters to get greater illumination
- During Self-Test mode with a cable connection to the camera directly, I noticed the Self-Test Light is always ON while a plug is inserted to the IR-IN port: It indicates that the trigger PIN option is NOT correct. You need to choose the trigger option for “CABLE”.
- All procedures are fully done and the status of Self-Test mode is OK when using a sensor probe, but it seems the sensor does not sense: Check the Mode Option must be selected for SENSOR when the sensor probe is used.