Generator etiquette

[lacad01]

I raised this question on the ATM thread but perhaps think it better to post here:
For fear of being shot down, I'll ask anyway...
What's the etiquette of taking a generator to a dark-sky meet? (assuming one can assure of "quiet" operation in a suitably sound-proofed box), not talking about continuous operation either but enough to provide some charging, or even running it in the daytime after a night's observing/imaging session when I guess the observing fields should be void of ppl (that last statement is also an assumption as I've never attended a SP or dark sky meet...)
The following link is for an example of sound-proofing a mobile gen set:
http://www.campertrailers.org/soundproof_box.htm
cheers

[Omaroo]

I'd take one only if it were a very quiet, 4-stroke high-quality model, like a Honda, Yamaha or similar... and it were spefically allowed by the organisers. Otherwise I don't think I'd consider it. They are still noisy on a pristine night where people are doing their observicg or imaging. It's usually pretty quiet - especially later in the night.

From this years SPSP invitation:

[lacad01]

Thanks Chris, I might err on the side of caution for fear of making enemies rather than friends :(
Besides my gen box is still work in progress and probably wouldn't finish it in time for SPSP, I'd more planned it for isolated camping trips anyhow but just wondered...:)

[kinetic]

Adam,

have you thought of the obvious alternative to a genny?
Most remote imagers here use a powerpack and or inverter of the
type that Supercheap sell....some of the higher end types
have the inverter built in as well.

Quiet, last for a few hours, charge it during the day from the
clubhouse mains?

Steve

[lacad01]

Thanks Steve, I actually have a 75AH deep-cycle so was thinking more along the lines of re-charge during the day. I'm not familiar with the facilities at Wiruna and was assuming there's only limited solar facilities.
cheers

[White Rabbit]

I bought a solar panel from super cheap, I think it cost me about 200/250 it's quite small around 40 watts. I took it camping from 3 weeks along with 2 jumpstart pack. It recharged everything amazingly well. I never ran out of power once in the whole three weeks. I would fully recharge my 1900 amp hour jumpstarter in close to half a day. My 1900 amp hour jump starter pack will power the scope for way more than 2 nights without being recharged. I'll be using the other one to power the Laptop for imaging. Harvey normah have a 120watt inverter for I think it was around 80 bucks. That would do the job just fine.

Sandy

[Omaroo]

1900 amp hour battery? I imagine that it would weigh nearly a tonne!

[xstream]

Adam, Recharging your battery won't be a problem.
The SPSP committee supply more than enough power for people to charge any batteries or portable goods they have day or night. You just need to bring your own charger.

[lacad01]

No worries John, without going into too much detail looks like I'll only be doing visual over the weekend :ashamed: but good to know for another time.
1900AH battery, hmm, sounds like a nuclear core :lol:

[bmitchell82]

hehehe more like 1900 mA :) sneaky beggers.!

[Paul Hatchman]

You got me wondering about this after having bought some large deep cycle batteries last year.

A 12V, 250Ah, deep cycle, lead acid weighs about 75kg. So, if we round up to 2000Ah, we'd need 8 batteries or 600kg.

Not a bad guess Omaroo. I'll go put on my propeller hat now :nerd: