Date and Time wrong again!

[avalon60]

I changed the battery for the super capcitor the other day and have just used the camera on a 20minute journey.
The recording was good, but the date and time has gone back to 2012 0:0:12 for example, as it did a couple of weeks ago.
I have used mSetup to set the parameters again regarding sync date and time, so I'll try the camera again and see if date and time is still the same.

I can only assume that because I swapped the battery for the super capacitor, the settings were lost.

 

[russ331]

You may have unknowingly touched the power button, which will discharge the capacitor within a couple of seconds & reset the date.

I suggest that you set 'Power On - Auto Record' to 'External Only' in mSetup.

As you know, 'Power-Off Disconnect' must be set to 'Immediate'.

 

[avalon60]

Thanks, I have just changed the Power On - Auto Record from 'Both' to 'External Only'

 

[avalon60]

I have just returned from a 16 mile journey and after connecting the mobius to my PC I see that the date and time is still wrong. It is still showing as 1/1/2012 00:05:01.
The setting in mSetup is still at 'Sync Date/Time' Yes.
I am using the supercapacitor if that makes any difference.

 

[Isoprop]

I have just returned from a 16 mile journey and after connecting the mobius to my PC I see that the date and time is still wrong. It is still showing as 1/1/2012 00:05:01.
The setting in mSetup is still at 'Sync Date/Time' Yes.
I am using the supercapacitor if that makes any difference.

The camera will only lose the date and time when the battery or supercap is flat. If the supercap is fully charged the date and time will keep for +10 days. It takes about a minute to fully charge the supercap.
The supercap will be drained after a few seconds if the camera is turned on without external power connected.
For some reason your supercap is being prematurely drained and you'll have to find the cause. It could also be a defective supecap.
Are you sure the "Power Off Disconnect" is set to immediate as russ331 suggested?
It's quite easy to check the supercap but it needs time.
Connect your camera to your PC and use mSetup to synchronize the date and time. Just click "Set Parameters" after selecting the camera in the large window at the top of the mSetup dialog.
Once the camera disappears from the large window press the power button on the camera (to physically turn it off) and wait at least a minute before disconnecting.
Now wait a few days, about 8 days would be perfect, but one or two should also be OK for testing purposes.
Connect your camera to external power and let the camera start recording for a few seconds. Now turn the camera off by pressing the shutter button and then the power button. When you are sure the camera is off connect it to your PC and check if the recorded file has the correct date. If it does, then your battery is OK and there's most likely something wrong with your external power supply or you're turning on the camera without external power connected.

 

[avalon60]

Thanks for the reply. I'll post back once I have done what you have suggested.

Out if interest, I have Power On - Auto Record' to 'External Only'.
And:
Power-Off Disconnect' set to 'Immediate', although I didn't have it set to that before, but is now.

The external power is from a 2 port usb cigarette light which gives 2.1A, and it does record as I drive etc.

 

[RippleTheRippler]

If you turned your car on and off in short burst, that could kill it...could it not?
ie: turn car on, drive down street and turn off at gas station. turn on to go from gas station to local food joint quickly, turning car off. turn on again to go to mall . . . the capacitor needs time to charge, a short time, but if that time is not met (ie: short burst of turning car on and off...making the capacitor work to save your video) then it would more than likely die and the time is reset. once you start going again, the external power kicks in and the record will work and everything seems fine...until you check the date/time.

just one possibility.

 

[Isoprop]

Thanks for the reply. I'll post back once I have done what you have suggested.

Out if interest, I have Power On - Auto Record' to 'External Only'.
And:
Power-Off Disconnect' set to 'Immediate', although I didn't have it set to that before, but is now.

The external power is from a 2 port usb cigarette light which gives 2.1A, and it does record as I drive etc.

If you didn't have Power-Off Disconnect set to 'Immediate' then that's definitely the reason the capacitor was discharged. The tool tip in mSetup tells you that you MUST set the parameter to 'Immediate' but doesn't mention that the supercap will be discharged if you don't. Let's now hope everything works as expected.
2.1A is perfect. It's always good to have a lot of reserve! Power On - Auto Record set to 'External Only' is also exactly what you want but you can also set it to 'Both' if you prefer - it's your choice.

 

[avalon60]

If you turned your car on and off in short burst, that could kill it...could it not?
ie: turn car on, drive down street and turn off at gas station. turn on to go from gas station to local food joint quickly, turning car off. turn on again to go to mall . . . the capacitor needs time to charge, a short time, but if that time is not met (ie: short burst of turning car on and off...making the capacitor work to save your video) then it would more than likely die and the time is reset. once you start going again, the external power kicks in and the record will work and everything seems fine...until you check the date/time.

just one possibility.

I see what you are saying, and would agree, but I only use the camera when I am going on journeys of 4 miles or more without turning off the engine

 

[avalon60]

Out of interest, if I have the camera connected up in my car say on a 6 mile journey, would that be enough to charge the capacitor up.
Also, as the only other external power supply is my desktop PC, would or is that enough to charge the capacitor.

As per one of your replies, I am leaving it disconnected for a couple of days, then I will connect it back up to my pc.
Thanks

 

[Isoprop]

Out of interest, if I have the camera connected up in my car say on a 6 mile journey, would that be enough to charge the capacitor up.
Also, as the only other external power supply is my desktop PC, would or is that enough to charge the capacitor.

As per one of your replies, I am leaving it disconnected for a couple of days, then I will connect it back up to my pc.
Thanks

I haven't tested how long it takes to charge the capacitor while it's recording but I expect your 6 mile journey is plenty. You can charge your camera with your PC but make sure you turn your camera off once it's connected and don't leave it connected when the PC is off (doesn't apply to all PC's / USB ports).

 

[russ331]

If you turned your car on and off in short burst, that could kill it...could it not?

I updated one of my Mobius cams to v2.18 today. As I have it to hand I thought I'd put your theory to the test. I attached it to my Anker power bank & recorded a clip. Then switched the Anker off. Then turned it back on & recorded another clip. Then repeated the process several more times.

No problems. Date & time is accurate. I think that the capacitor is fully charged within seconds(?) of receiving external power.

 

[avalon60]

I couldn't wait any longer and had to connect the camera to my pc and view the settings in mSetup.
Power On Auto is set to 'Both'
Power Off Disconnect is set 'Immediate'.
I left it like that for a while , and then got the USB 2 port usb cigarette lighter thingy and plugged that into a USB socket adapter, which gives 1A output, plugged into the house mains electric. The camera was plugged into that and left as it went into recording mode. After about 10 minutes , I swapped the camera from the USB socket adapter to the pc usb cable.
I am pleased to say that now the date and time and the recorded video is now correct.

Now, just one other thing I have since noticed is that when the camera is plugged into the pc, the red led is on, but no other ones are.
When disconnected from the pc and I press the ON button, nothing happens and no leds light up, but when it is connected to the pc , switching ON does light up leds.
I am not too concerned about that just now, as long as the Date and Time are correct.

 

[Isoprop]

[QUOTE="avalon60, post: 100651, member: 9953"]I couldn't wait any longer and had to connect the camera to my pc and view the settings in mSetup.
Power On Auto is set to 'Both'
Power Off Disconnect is set 'Immediate'.
I left it like that for a while , and then got the USB 2 port usb cigarette lighter thingy and plugged that into a USB socket adapter, which gives 1A output, plugged into the house mains electric. The camera was plugged into that and left as it went into recording mode. After about 10 minutes , I swapped the camera from the USB socket adapter to the pc usb cable.
I am pleased to say that now the date and time and the recorded video is now correct.

Now, just one other thing I have since noticed is that when the camera is plugged into the pc, the red led is on, but no other ones are.
When disconnected from the pc and I press the ON button, nothing happens and no leds light up, but when it is connected to the pc , switching ON does light up leds.
I am not too concerned about that just now, as long as the Date and Time are correct.[/QUOTE]
If you press the power button when your camera is disconnected you most likely won't see any LEDs because the supercap is already flat! NEVER press the power button if a supercap is installed when the camera is not connected to external power - you'll reset the time stamp in no time!
When connected to a PC the LEDs turned on will vary depending on the FW version and on how many files are on the card. In other words, when connected to a PC as an external drive the LEDs have no meaning.

 

[avalon60]

Ok, thanks for the clarification.
I won't touch the buttons now, unless it is connected to an external power source. To be honest tho' I shouldn't need to. All I want to do is put it in my car , connect via usb cable to USB socket, and let it record until I stop the car engine.