I am getting more confused as I read reviews and forums, therefore I thought it'll be best to just ask the experts here:
How do I power my goto mount with portability in mind?
Portability is a key requirement
I'd want to be able to bring the entire dso imaging kit with me when I travel by land or air. Therefore those bulky gel deep cycle battery won't work.
Power- The battery only needs to power the ioptron cem mount. I haven't bought the mount yet but am thinking hard about the new cem26.
- If it can power dew heater then it's a nice to have.
- It needs to be able to survive a minimum 4 hours imaging session, ideally 6.
Form factor & safety- As compact as possible, ideally approx the size of a mobile power bank
- Not weighing more than 800g
- Safe for air travel, therefore maximum 100Wh
Here are 3 options that I evaluated:
Option 1: Celestron powertank lithium LT
https://www.celestron.com/products/powertank-lithium-lt
Pros:
+ Claim to be designed specifically for telescope mounts
+ Claim to have stable 12v output
+ 73.3Wh so this is OK for air travel
Cons:
- Expensive
- Mixed reviews
- 12V output is only 3A, whereas ioptron mount specs says it needs 5A, so not sure if this will work
- Bit bulkier than the other 2 options
- Practically impossible to find stock anywhere right now
Option 2: Talentcell
YB1208300-USB:
https://talentcell.com/lithium-ion-b...11000-usb.html
Pros:
+ Seem to have good reviews known for powering telescope mounts
+ Just under 100Wh, which is perfect for air travel
Cons:
- There's a mixed review saying that voltage isn't stable and tend to drop below 12v
- Specs says output is a range: 9V-12.6V and maximum of 6A
- Not many sellers in Australia and they can jack up price. Last I checked this is around $190 mark
Option 3: Jump starter like this one
https://www.amazon.com.au/GOOLOO-180.../dp/B0748D8KT6
Pros:
+ Cheaper compared to the other two options
+ Plenty in stock
+ Covers wide range of function, including jump starting a car and as a flashlight
Cons:
- Hard to find detailed information on 12v stability and drain
- No information on mAh, therefore can't work out how long a full charge would last
- I don't know how to calculate the wattage so not sure if this is allowed in airplanes
Keen to know what your thoughts on this are.