Power needs

[beren]

Went out today to price gel batteries ......Holy C$£% they are expensive . When suppling power to a LX200 its recommended to use a seperate source for accessories . My dew heater makes a quick meal of a 17amp powertank {3hrs} so to save myself from dew invasion and have the laptop out in the feild i need another power source. Quickly changed my mind about a gel battery {350 for a 55amp} and got a sealed 35 amp sealed lead acid one {95}, the kind used for golf buggies etc . Hopefully this gives me some more time out under the stars , got a maintence free charger that monitors the rechargeing . At supercheap they have Battery boxes with wires and plug outlets but i was thinking of building one with a space for a inverter and the charger , anyone have experiance hooking up something similar ?:)

[gbeal]

Aragorn,
I have an old motorbike 12 volter that has been with me for years.
With the advent of dew heaters I have supplimented it with a couple of sealed lead acids connected together. It lasts a good while, but to be fair I am not running a laptop as well. I think your concept is sound, and if all else fails try a "normal" car battery.
Post a piccie of the new setup, once you decide, and get it running.
Regards,
Gary
P.S, we lost the Netball, heck it hurts.

[iceman]

haha I heard about that, good stuff go aussies! :)

I used to play basketball about 5 years ago, and also played in a mixed netball comp at the time.. due to my basketball skills, I was able to transfer them over to netball fairly well.

Haven't played in 5 years, but started up at a corporate mixed netball comp on thursdays at lunchtime at work, heaps of good fun! The skills are slowly starting to come back! :)

I play it like basketball though, lots of layups and finger-rolls.. i can't just stand still and shoot - they never go in that way :)

[rumples riot]

To be honest, I have a Waeco 24amp hour battery, it charges in the car and can run a fridge for two days without recharging. It handles all my needs with the scope and laptop, maybe you could get one of them. They cost $440.00 Au. Great batteries!

Paul

[gbeal]

Cool setup. Perhaps take up the slack with pieces of foam around the sides, squeezed in.
I would be looking to sit it within the three legs as well, to add some weight to the overall tripod/mount.
Nice,
Gary

[iceman]

1-1 gary! :)

[gbeal]

1-1??
Did we win then second one?
Not only that but the pre match slanging has started with the cricket. When I see this I can't be blowed watching it, which is a shame.
"Better to shut up and be thought a fool, rather than open your mouth and remove all doubt". Shane Warne may be the best bowler around, but he certainly loses any credibility with his most recent comments.
OK, back to astronomy.
Gary

[beren]

Gary followed your advice and picked up a round thickish piece of pine that fits well within the space of the tripod , attached it to the central disk that holds the vanes and carries the weight nicely . just going to giv e it a coat of dark blue and she"ll be set.

[gbeal]

Aragorn,
good for you. The extra weight can only help.
Gary

[iceman]

Nice work! Don't forget to post pictures! :)