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Originally Posted by loc46south
The communications problem will solve itself in time, 2 years ago my cellphone coverage was almost non existant, now it is 5 bars inside the observatory - commercial pressures in the smartphone market make it an obvious choice for communication.
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Geof, I added an inexpensive external antenna and went from 1-2 bars on a good day to a solid 5 at all times. They work.
You'll discover the problem is that over longer periods (days, weeks) the cellular links randomly drop out on the provider side, and there is no provision within the remote client application to automatically reconnect. This is for obvious reasons, but extremely inconvenient for those few of us who actually need the option.
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Computers are the biggest user of electricity - your normal netbook/laptop is rated 120 to 200 watts. If you run that 24/7 then a 600amp hour @ 24volt system and 4 x 200 watt panels will just about support it, but there is no power over to run the rest of the systems. Plus all the newer computers are USB2.0 and USB3.0 - a lot of the astronomical gear still runs Serial/Comm connections. Real problems that need to be solved if progress is to be made. Hence the rebuild, I expect to be spending quite a few hours there over the next couple of years as things are sorted out so comfort is one prime consideration and storage another.
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Intel Atom mini-ITX systems have been the backbone of my remote observatory computer systems for a few years. Right now I run the Intel D525MW. (1.8 GHz, 4 GB, and everything else you'll likely ever need in the way of ports and options.) They draw 10W or less when idle, and peak at below 30W when flat out. It's the way to go. Did you ever look into those American custom builders I told you about? They will make any mini-ITX setup you like. Want 12 com ports? Not a problem. 4,000 USB ports? Easy. (So, okay, I'm exaggerating about the USB ports...)
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My current project is sorting out the computer problem, most commercial boards are useless as they are directed at the mainstream market, but there are a number of industrial boards available and I have one arriving from USA in the next few days, it uses 12 VoltDC, has 6 USB2.0 Ports and 6 Serial/Comm ports - 1.8 GZ 2800 chip and 4 GB ram - it draws 20 watts
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Ah, okay, you did. I should have kept reading...
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If we can get that working than power problems start to go away.
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You should have no problems. They work well.