Hi everybody, my first post. I was wondering about star watchers experience with power tanks, good bad or indifferent. I'm thinking of getting one to power an HEQ5, but have been warned of them by one retailer, who suggested a Golf Cart battery instead Any thoughts out there. Cheers!
Last edited by twaino; 31-03-2019 at 10:35 PM.
Reason: spelling
I find what people call Power Tanks far too heavy and the new LiPo batteries are great
The Tracer I use for my mounts, the Celestron with dual USB power, (two different amperages) powers my mounts and also now powers my Solar tracking mount AND Daystar Ha Chromo filter all in one, in case you don't see it, there are two usb outs on top, 1000 and 2100 mA and a 12v on the side
On rare occasions who needs an expensive power tank, I simply take my old car battery and an inverter away with me
What does the power tank hold?? 40 amps ...and costs $250 approx?
Heck my astronomy battery with 120 amps cost $250.
Talk about expensive packaging.
As wavy says a crook car battery will do it...and even if you spend some money for a new one a cheap kmart special will be amp(le) for just the mount.
Why do I have 120 amps...I run a ZWO cooled camera, and lap top via an inverter...and actually use an old battery out of a golf trolley that was thrown out in a council clean up for the mount the reason is the mount draws so little and even if I flatten the big battery, which is possible given my idea of flat sees me disconnecting when most would keep going..but I can run the mount battery right down not careing much if it gors flatter than I like because it is after all a unit originally destined for the tip (or recycling)...if you can get your hands on any old battery it should work..if not look at how to bring an old battery back to life on youtube..drain the acid rinse with carbsoda and replace the acid with epsom salt solution...apprarently batteries "run" well on epsom salts.
Alex
Get yourself a new battery for your car seeing winter is near and that is often when we find we need a new car battery and use your old car battery for your mount...easy.
Alex
Kevin,
I still have and use a couple of 20Ah gel cell buggy batteries. These are now eleven years old and still give 100%
A triple stage charger is mandatory.
Recommended.
Yes the ' Power tanks ' are sexy and have all the bells and whistles but as said ,,,, they are very pricey .
I have one of these , from ' Supercheap Auto ' and touch wood , its been used and abused for 13 years now and still going strong , it's even cranked a few cars in that time .
It has 2 USB ports , a Ciggy plug , light and of course jump starter cables .
$49 in the day , don't know what they are worth now but I can guarentee they are less than a PT , one thing I do with mine is charge it about every 3 months , good value item . .
I have talked to Jaycar and they sell replacement batteries for these and an easy job to replace ,, but hey 13 years aint to shabby and in that time its run HEQ5's , EQ6's , an Iopron IEQ45 and now a beast of a CI700 .
Get yourself a new battery for your car seeing winter is near and that is often when we find we need a new car battery and use your old car battery for your mount...easy.
Alex
Get yourself a new battery for your car seeing winter is near and that is often when we find we need a new car battery and use your old car battery for your mount...easy.
Alex
Thanks for all the replies! I'm flattered and informed. cheers
I have the celestron powertank torch thing.
Downside is the price per Amp Hour, as well as the relatively small 7AH capacity which simply isn't enough for a larger EQ mount.
It will run my 8se on it's Alt/Az goto all night easily.
The Usb ports, torches and Cig ports are great.
Old car batteries are a great option, but most being acid, cannot be tipped over so keep this in mind. Average car batteries have around 20-30AH at a guess. You can probably get an old one for next to nothing if not free.
Gel and Deep Cycle batteries are expensive and heavy, but can give up to 130AH, so a few nights running a mount, laptop and small camp fridge for the beer.
They also need a good charger otherwise you're wasting the money you invested by shortening the life of the battery.
I borrow my old mans 300AUD battery box which has an inverter, battery monitor, 2xcig and 2xUSB ports. I paid 200 for a 120AH deep cycle that fell off the back of a truck . It ran an EQ-6r and laptop in -4*C for about 10 hours, used 2% of the battery capacity
Getting up towards $300, but much better utility and grunt versus 2 powertank/jumpstarts.
Deep cycle AGMs are designed to handle periods down to 33% full charge and should last many years if recharged properly in timely manner (3-10 years).
SLAs in powertanks/jumpstart are designed to put out high amps for short period, but don't generally last anything like the time of an AGM/deep cycle and are happiest staying near full charge at all times (think back up battery for a house alarm for example - 2-5 years typical lifespan).
Yes the ' Power tanks ' are sexy and have all the bells and whistles but as said ,,,, 
they are very pricey .
13 years aint to shabby and in that time its run HEQ5's , EQ6's , an Iopron IEQ45 and now a beast of a CI700 .
