Astro_Bot
10-09-2014, 09:10 PM
For Sale: AGM deep-cycle, sealed (for life) battery, 52Ah with professional battery box (two outlets).
Details: Newton-Power brand, Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) deep cycle, sealed (for life) lead-acid battery .. actually it's two identical 26Ah batteries in parallel, bought at the same time and charged/maintained together so they function as a single 52Ah battery. They can be re-wired in series (if you desire) to give 24V, which is particularly flexible, but if you do so, I suggest you clearly label the outlets as 24V!*
The battery box and batteries are less than 12-months old. On the rare occasions when the batteries were used, they were re-charged immediately after use and weekly at other times, from a CTEK 8-stage charger. They're in excellent condition - I've managed to do far more at home on AC power than I originally planned, and I've nearly always managed to get AC power at the semi-dark site I usually go to - so they've had a few shallow discharges only. I estimate remaining life at greater than 95% of new. (Deep cycle batteries discharged to no more than 50% should last 600 cycles, but these have not been discharged below 20% and then only a handful of times).
I'm taking a break from astronomy (due to work and a move) and don't want to lug around gear I'm not using.
The batteries/box can power an NEQ6 Pro and a typical range of dew heaters and mount electronics for two consecutive nights - i.e. a weekend away. Or, they can power a modern notebook computer for two consecutive imaging nights (assuming it isn't some monster machine). Or, you can remove one battery and put it in a separate container if that configuration better suits you. The two batteries offer maximum flexibility.
The battery box is in excellent condition. It has a carry handle at the top, and two at the side. I've played it ultra-safe with the addition of two 300kg-rated straps (with strong metal buckles) to secure the lid and carry handle. There are two cigarette-lighter sockets (screwed on solidly): one with an in-line 25A resettable breaker and the other with an in-line 10A fuse. The wiring is rated for 25A or better on the breaker side and 15A or better on the fused side. There are two main, high-amperage lugs on the front - I use these for charging. There's also a built-in battery level tester. Bubble wrap prevents the batteries from moving within the box.
I stuck patches of reflective tape on the battery box to aid visibility ... going a** over t** at a dark site is not fun, I can tell you. :)
Shipping: I've never shipped a battery, but obviously they do get shipped, so there must be some company out there that does it. Australia Post might take it - they say they take some 'hazardous' items for road freight only - you might want to look into that. Assuming it can be done, it'll be at buyer's expense. I can pack it in, say, a double thickness corrugated box (a "crystal carton") and drop it off at a shipping depot. Weight is about 17kg according to my bathroom scales.
Of course, you can pick up in person from Brisbane's bayside area - that part is free and local pick-up is preferred.
Price: Asking $140, plus shipping/postage at cost. (New, all up, this package cost ~$280, so you're getting a bargain!)
* The battery level meter would then also have to be disconnected as it's a 12V meter.
Details: Newton-Power brand, Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) deep cycle, sealed (for life) lead-acid battery .. actually it's two identical 26Ah batteries in parallel, bought at the same time and charged/maintained together so they function as a single 52Ah battery. They can be re-wired in series (if you desire) to give 24V, which is particularly flexible, but if you do so, I suggest you clearly label the outlets as 24V!*
The battery box and batteries are less than 12-months old. On the rare occasions when the batteries were used, they were re-charged immediately after use and weekly at other times, from a CTEK 8-stage charger. They're in excellent condition - I've managed to do far more at home on AC power than I originally planned, and I've nearly always managed to get AC power at the semi-dark site I usually go to - so they've had a few shallow discharges only. I estimate remaining life at greater than 95% of new. (Deep cycle batteries discharged to no more than 50% should last 600 cycles, but these have not been discharged below 20% and then only a handful of times).
I'm taking a break from astronomy (due to work and a move) and don't want to lug around gear I'm not using.
The batteries/box can power an NEQ6 Pro and a typical range of dew heaters and mount electronics for two consecutive nights - i.e. a weekend away. Or, they can power a modern notebook computer for two consecutive imaging nights (assuming it isn't some monster machine). Or, you can remove one battery and put it in a separate container if that configuration better suits you. The two batteries offer maximum flexibility.
The battery box is in excellent condition. It has a carry handle at the top, and two at the side. I've played it ultra-safe with the addition of two 300kg-rated straps (with strong metal buckles) to secure the lid and carry handle. There are two cigarette-lighter sockets (screwed on solidly): one with an in-line 25A resettable breaker and the other with an in-line 10A fuse. The wiring is rated for 25A or better on the breaker side and 15A or better on the fused side. There are two main, high-amperage lugs on the front - I use these for charging. There's also a built-in battery level tester. Bubble wrap prevents the batteries from moving within the box.
I stuck patches of reflective tape on the battery box to aid visibility ... going a** over t** at a dark site is not fun, I can tell you. :)
Shipping: I've never shipped a battery, but obviously they do get shipped, so there must be some company out there that does it. Australia Post might take it - they say they take some 'hazardous' items for road freight only - you might want to look into that. Assuming it can be done, it'll be at buyer's expense. I can pack it in, say, a double thickness corrugated box (a "crystal carton") and drop it off at a shipping depot. Weight is about 17kg according to my bathroom scales.
Of course, you can pick up in person from Brisbane's bayside area - that part is free and local pick-up is preferred.
Price: Asking $140, plus shipping/postage at cost. (New, all up, this package cost ~$280, so you're getting a bargain!)
* The battery level meter would then also have to be disconnected as it's a 12V meter.