I have a SW SA GTI, and an in-the-mail ASIAIR, and will eventually add an ASI533MC Pro. With the laptop and Canon 700D setup I an using at the moment, I run off mains power in the backyard. In the future however, I would like to take my rig to nearby dark sites so I've been looking at portable power solutions and came across this from Jaycar.
Based on my experience, I'd be wary of the Jaycar brand power stations.
I bought their 500W one, about a year ago and had to return it. When fully charged it put out 12v, but as the battery discharged, so did the output voltage. When it was ~80% full the output was 10.8V.
I just checked the Jaycar website, and interestingly enough, they no longer sell them.
I've heard good things about Bluetti (and eventually bought one of their 700W models) - but haven't had a chance to use mine "in anger".
Sorry, I'm with Peter on this, I've bought a UPS (and lots of other stuff) from them and the cheapest batteries and electronics.
Jaycar WAS good back in the day, I was offered a job in their Hurstville store when studying electronics engineering, they only employed people with knowledge of electronics. Now they can't answer my simple questions and I AVOID them like the plague, I'll but anywhere in preference (mainly RS components)
Now they buy in a range of cheap Chinese crap mostly and inflate it significantly.
Many a member buy the vehicle jump starters for this purpose, more capacity than the item you've listed, heavier because they have a quality battery but highly regarded as good kit for the money.
Agreed on Jaycar. I still go there, and still occasionally buy something, but they're increasingly just a cheap box-slinger. They're going the same way Dick Smith Electronics did (for those who remember).
I emphasise quality and reliability in power supplies. They can be the source of many problems. EcoFlow and Bluetti are the two most reliable brands I've come across.
With the cooled camera, mount, AA, and eventual dew straps, you'll probably be needing a bit of capacity.
I've found that my setup uses ~40Ah from my camping battery for a full night of imaging in just on 0c lows in the middle of winter (15hour uptime, 2600MM, dew straps, Mele3C, AM5)
I've attached a photo of the conditions (frosty!) and my little power meter reading just before turning it off in the morning.
Thanks guys. I'll avoid Jaycar and look into Bluetti and Ecoflow. To be honest I only considered Jaycar because I have a store locally, and that would have avoided shipping. Still, I'd rather pay shipping for a quality product than get shafted down the line and have to buy a quality power station anyways.
Thanks guys. I'll avoid Jaycar and look into Bluetti and Ecoflow. To be honest I only considered Jaycar because I have a store locally, and that would have avoided shipping. Still, I'd rather pay shipping for a quality product than get shafted down the line and have to buy a quality power station anyways.
Bluetti AC2A is what I use, to power Asiair mini, AN5N, AsI 533MC Pro.
Runs for 6 hours or more with camera at -10, and all night uncooled..And Its small, lightweight, charges really quickly. More than happy with it...In the box on the right, for size comparison..
Shawn it may be a silly question but approximately how long would your small supply power a regular mount like a HEQ5?
Second silly question, does it have the capacity to run a standard laptop which is 19 volts?
I believe I have a few buck converters laying around to boost the 12 volts up to 19 volts for a laptop and should have a commercially made unit somwhere in my car which powered my sons HP Pro laptop when we were travelling.
I'm not sure of the power draw of my under-powered laptop but I'm interested in saving up for the Bluetti device after hearing too many good things about them.
I've been looking at the larger Bluetti BE70 but it will be a while before I have the funds, a smaller, cheaper unit could be the go.
I guess I'd have to add a small camera into the mix (Player One Neptune with MX178 sensor).
They are certainly more compact and portable than my old jump starter which died (second battery and a replacement battery was near the cost of a new jump starter). I bought a much more compact jump starter to start my old Falcon if needed but I wouldn't count on it running my mount for long.
Shawn it may be a silly question but approximately how long would your small supply power a regular mount like a HEQ5?
Second silly question, does it have the capacity to run a standard laptop which is 19 volts?
I believe I have a few buck converters laying around to boost the 12 volts up to 19 volts for a laptop and should have a commercially made unit somwhere in my car which powered my sons HP Pro laptop when we were travelling.
I'm not sure of the power draw of my under-powered laptop but I'm interested in saving up for the Bluetti device after hearing too many good things about them.
I've been looking at the larger Bluetti BE70 but it will be a while before I have the funds, a smaller, cheaper unit could be the go.
I guess I'd have to add a small camera into the mix (Player One Neptune with MX178 sensor).
They are certainly more compact and portable than my old jump starter which died (second battery and a replacement battery was near the cost of a new jump starter). I bought a much more compact jump starter to start my old Falcon if needed but I wouldn't count on it running my mount for long.
Hi Leo, I,m not certain what the current draw of your mount would be , but I assume it would be similar to what I have, and not really the item that makes a significant demand on the supply, as for your laptop I dont have anything that uses 19v, mines all USB charged, as to whether a buck converter or a 240v stepdown is more efficient I would guess them to be much of a muchness too. I have used 240 out on the bluetti a couple of times its only 300w but adequate for 240v charging if the need arises. But it will run the wifes blow dryer for only about 15 minutes though.... The most significant draw on mine is the camera , I,m in the tropics and its running close to flat out to get down to -10. so I dont try to go past that because then it becomes a bit variable.I know another bloke that uses one of those Kings units, a kinda ruggedised outdoorsy type Power supply on his setup, reckons it does the job, and quite a lot cheaper, but takes a long time to charge, I charge my bluetti during the day with 200w solar blanket, and when its fully charged it acts like a pass through 12v regulated uninterruptible with usb charging and 240v @ 300w. I guess if your lappy battery can do a whole session on one charge it wouldnt count as draw for the session hey ?...One thing about bluetti though, they dont make extravagant claims about output and charge times, pretty much you get what the say you get, if not slightly better... I read somewhere that lithium batteries are not all created equally either, different chemistry etc, but thats a whole other can of worms. what I,m citing here is real world experience with the unit I got for the purposes I need it...
Thanks Shawn!
I would likely be looking at a larger unit but it will take a long to to save up.
There's really no great hurry I use my stuff (rarely, sadly) mainly at home where I can run an extension lead to an external outlet I stick in the ground under my mount. Where I would be interested is I have some friends and acquaintances with farms within 15 minute drive and extremely dark skies, no street lights like I have.
The Bluetti do use good quality batteries compared to some equipment.
. The most significant draw on mine is the camera , I,m in the tropics and its running close to flat out to get down to -10. so I dont try to go past that because then it becomes a bit variable.I know another bloke that uses one of those Kings units, a kinda ruggedised outdoorsy type Power supply on his setup, reckons it does the job, and quite a lot cheaper, but takes a long time to charge, I charge my bluetti during the day with 200w solar blanket, and when its fully charged it acts like a pass through 12v regulated uninterruptible with usb charging and 240v @ 300w. I guess if your lappy battery can do a whole session on one charge it wouldnt count as draw for the session hey ?...One thing about bluetti though, they dont make extravagant claims about output and charge times, pretty much you get what the say you get, if not slightly better... I read somewhere that lithium batteries are not all created equally either, different chemistry etc, but thats a whole other can of worms. what I,m citing here is real world experience with the unit I got for the purposes I need it...
