Didn't really have time to search for this yet being at a construction job with my cell phone..
Does anyone have any recommendations for a portable battery source to keep a go-to mount and a laptop powered for quite a long time? Trying to find one for my astro photography set up, between a Orion Sirius mount and a laptop. Just wondering if anyone had one that they use that works really well.
Really depends on how much your laptop and mount draws and how many nights you want it to last. Also take in account dew heaters and other accessories.
I know my 35Ah AGM battery can do 3 nights without discharging it too much. Im planning to get another 35Ah battery just to run my netbook.
Yeah the mount won't draw much once its on target, it probably pulls 2 amps when slewing at high rate (based on NEQ6). The problem will be the laptop and any dew heaters you need to run. To reduce power required consider getting a small netbook type pc. I use a netbook, and it draws very little. I use it to run my guide app (Metaguide) and that's all as I use a DSLR camera and don't need a bigger pc for image capture. The bigger the computer the more power it will need and usually via an inverter in the field unless you have a generator.
It shocks some purists, but I've been using a car battery [not the same one, of course] for almost 40 yrs, and never had a problem. People will
probably exhort you to buy all sorts of expensive deep cycle batteries,
or power packs, and smart chargers, but I use a 2.5 amp cheapie charger with my car battery, and all is good.
raymo
What about large LiPo batts. I have 6S22v 40Ah
You can get these OS for $80 ea
But you will need a LiPo charger
You can get 11.7V batts
These run high powered model planes and helicopters
The other consideration is that, at the site I go to so far, I'm walking away from where I park my car quite a ways. Something that is stand alone, can be heavy, but not ridiculously heavy, that I can carry along.
The mount, ota, accessories, laptop all fit in my hiking bag that I carry. I just want a portable power source I can carry in my hand while I'm wearing that pack and walking.
The Waeco power pack has a handle on top I believe and its over 30 AH.
Your in Sydney right? Come up to Bretti next time we go, you can setup next to your car.
YES the Waeco is 36 Amp/Hour.
It is easy to carry.
It has one cigarette lighter type socket and one hella style socket
as well as digital volts display, empty and full LED lights.
Mine cost $333 several years ago and still going strong.
I sometimes see them as low as $250 now (eg ebay).
100 AH AGM - way overkill for a scope but I also use it when caravaning / camping. 120 watt portable solar panel keeps it charged. If I had my time over I would go for two smaller batteries. I thought seriously about an ordinary car battery but some of my travel destinations are very rough and didn't want to risk battery acid spilling.
If looking for to combine your purchase with a power supply for a camping fridge then the engel battery box is a good but of gear, though it is not cheap.
I was looking for a 35ah for my tinny for the fishfinder/plotter, lights and radio and best price so far is eBay. That said wiring up several of the 7ah sla which cost about $20ea is tempting as my power requirements are less than 1ah.
If you can, work out what your hourly consumption will be and buy something that means your usage overnight will but take you below 60% or so.
My experience is with a 75Ah AGM. About 10h of imaging, realistically. Laptop + cooled CCD + Gemini/G11 and Guider. I can't see a 35Ah lasting one whole night. It will also take you over one day for a full charge.
