autonm

I have an old laptop which I use for image acquisition - via USB Hub & Pegasus Power box .. all running fine.

I dont need the power for image processing - I have a MacBook Pro for that, runs PixInsight etc fine.

However I want to replace the laptop with either a NUC type mini PC or a Mini PC Stick - with the aim to run the Mini PC Stick out in the field - and less power requirements than a regular old laptop.

I'm guessing that a Mini PC Stick will be fine - after setup with mouse / keyboard I can just remote desktop into it in the future etc.... or is there any reason I should go for more expensive NUC.. which I dont think I need.

If your running a Mini PC Stick - any advice or links to one that your using would be appreciated.

StarTools - 5 minute overview:

https://youtu.be/4r5WJeQuv78

On 21/08/2021 at 10:19, TheVelourFog said:

Interesting. Thanks for the advice I will check it out later so and see how it goes

StarTools 5 minute overview:
https://youtu.be/4r5WJeQuv78

On 18/08/2021 at 08:25, tomato said:

Sharpcap is great value for money IMHO, the Polar Alignment tool is brilliant and you will make good use of it if setting up each time. The developer has done a lot of work on optimising the best settings for use with CMOS cameras, and new features are always being added.

Other software you may not be familiar with is Astro Pixel Processor, which I primarily use for calibration and stacking, but it  will also do post processing.

Also check out StarTools for processing, an innovative package and a very well thought out workflow, great value for money.

And I should also mention NINA, a recent (and free) integrated image capture package, my current choice of software for this operation.

An awful lot of choice these days, enjoy the research!

Agree on StarTools !! Deffo value for money

https://youtu.be/4r5WJeQuv78

There's a few slight variations on how to use the StarTools color module:
https://youtu.be/wnx_9v3vdeg

7 hours ago, Len1257 said:

I recently bought one of these for use with a NUC :- https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/car-chargers/0417916/ 

Tried it out seems to do the job. Invertors not the most efficient way to go. Losses in converting to 230V then more losses in the 230 to 19V. Best to do it in one operation.

I was put off the cheap buck convertors on Amazon by the various negative reliability reviews.

There are umpteen car 12v DC Cigarette adaptors on Amazon and Ebay. Just need a box to mount them on assuming you are OK with how to wire them up. I found the crimps to be not compatible with my crimper tool so ditched them and used my own.....

Your laptop supply will be 19v / 3.42A not Ah. In which case 19 * 3.42 = 65W .

Yes - NUC is where I want to go with in the future... maybe sooner than later. Have you tried the NUC out in the field - and if so - how did you create a wifi spot for the NUC and tablet? to connect to - so that you could VNC / Remote Desktop into the NUC and check everything was good?

thanks

thanks. Yes - my future plan is to go NUC... and then remote desktop / VNC - from a laptop .. or even ipad - so I can heck every 30 mins or so.

The only issue to overcome in the field with a NUC ... and checking from a laptop - is in the field there is no 'house wifi' for them both to connect to. To overcome this I think I have to buy some £30 router - which creates its own network - that both can connect to. Basically what RPi does.... maybe RPi - could actually do that for me ... thats a future project

But at the minute i'm thinking of - leisure battery, the battery box with the 12V output on - then buying an invertor allowing UK plug to be used ... but just add a double socket / extension. That way I can power my Pegagsus box, which handles everything ... and then the 2nd socket is if I did need to top up the laptop battery. Ive been told that for the invertor though I need a 'Pure Sine wave' to give a 'cleaner' flow.

Looking at your profile... I'm up in Newcastle - not to far from Skipton area. Hope you do get some clear skies and dark skies round there. I'm about 50 minutes driver from Kielder area - one of the identified dark sites - hence my reasoning for wanting to try and be able to go out in the field ! 

Ive read a few topics on these forums - however each seems to be specific to a setup. Closest I found was from this post here

I am looking at this battery: Hankook Leisure XV27 90Ah here

To be carried in this Battery Box 0 LED Meter, Breaker, USB Socket, 12v Cigarette Socket (output) here

I am powering the following equipment:

Pegasus Power Box 0.1Ah (nothing connected)

2 small dew bands 1.4Ah each (2.8Ah total)

Canon DSLR via a Battery Coupler (0.5 Ah - probably lower)

HEQ5-PRO mount when slewing max (2Ah)

Laptop mains power supply on this is rated INPUT 100v-240v 1.5Ah ... and OUTPUT 19v / 3.42 Ah

NOTES

The Pegasus Power Box - is currently powered from the mains, however I have a 12v DC Cigarette adapter.

Questions

How do I power the laptop from the Battery box? do I need a convertor such as this  .... how do I know if I need 300w or 500w?

As the Battery Box only has 1 x 12v output, can I split this - using one of these ... one would have the convertor (above) running out of it - and the other the Pegasus Power Box 12v DC adapter.

My future hope is to drop the laptop and replace it with a 'windows on a stick' type of setup. 

... am I missing anything? or is there a UK based Battery Box - with 2 x 12v DC sockets? 

Running I think the 90Ah battery - am I right I could run the above for 10 hours everything being perfect.. but at least for several hours. 

Thanks

After producing several Star Tool based videos - its time to get my feet wet with PixInsight. 

Workflow and guide can be found here

Very powerful, lots of features - I even heard it will make your coffee for you in the morning! 

However - after spending several hours with it, I wanted to understand and create a basic workflow which I can use again in the future and build upon.

Follow my Pixinsight journey and first video which covers:

• Rotating
• Cropping
• Gradient and Background Balancing (Dynamic Background Extraction)
• Colour Calibration (Photometric Colour Calibration)
• Green Chromatic Removal
• Noise Reduction (x2 methods)
• Detail and Contrast (of the Galaxies Core)
• Star Reduction
• Contrast Adjustment

Enjoy - feel free to comment, ask questions - any advice is also welcome.

****Image Processed****
M31 - Stacked in Astro Pixel Processor
Skywatcher 80ED, Canon 800d DSLR, Guide scope
ISO400,  15 x 180s exposures / lights + Calibration Frames

Yes that was me on Facebook. Ive kept going with Star Tool videos. 
Currently working on M45 and then NGC 869 (double cluster) - subscribe would be appreciated.  

I made a new video - which walks through the downloading, installing and setup of AstroBerry (astronomy software running on Raspberry Pi) - and then I connect to an HEQ5 and DSLR camera. Nothing to complicated - but its the basics covered.

There are a lot of videos out there on using AstroBerry, but not too may walkthroughs on the actual setup. Although Rp and Ab should be simple theres a lot of questions out there just on the setup.

Hopefully the video gives people confidence on the first steps and is enough to get them going.

https://youtu.be/Bgn3KioAAJ0

Many Thanks - clear skies & if the video is helpful please subscribe.

Please check out my video on Astro Pixel Processor and StarTools combination on M31 - Andromeda.

You can use DSS instead of Astro Pixel Processor too..

https://youtu.be/xxkDDLspaiM

If you like the video and find it helpful, appreciate a subscribe to the channel

Hi,

I'm late to to the post .. but Ive created a video with APP for the stacking and then processing in Star Tools for M31 with the exact same camera that you have.

Please let me know if the video was helpful, I'm already working on further objects and workflows via You Tube. So please subscribe to be notified as they appear !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxkDDLspaiM

The thread was really interesting, highlighting progress and help from others.... 

I know I am late to to the post .. but Ive created a video with APP for the stacking and then processing in Star Tools for M31, which may help you with your processing.

Please let me know if the video was helpful, I'm already working on further objects and workflows via You Tube. So please subscribe to be notified as they appear !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxkDDLspaiM

Late to to the post .. but Ive created a video with APP for the stacking and then processing in Star Tools for M31 with the exact same camera that you have.

Please let me know if the video was helpful, I'm already working on further objects and workflows via You Tube. So please subscribe to be notified as they appear !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxkDDLspaiM

I also have the same setup as the OP .. However I have an xox webcam.

Ive posted my manual tracking results on my website www.mauton.co.uk

Give or take I have been using the same methods as int the PDF document.. Just wanted to show what is also possible.