Powering the mount and camera outside

[Black Knight]

At the moment I use a 17ah power tank to supply power for my NEQ6, but I will shortly be receiving an Atik 314L+ which will need its own power. I know that the camera comes with a cigar lead, so could plug straight into the power tank. However, the additional load on the power tank would probably drastically reduce my imaging time .

So I'm looking for ideas for powering the camera, and possibly the mount as well as inexpensively as I can get away with . At the moment I don't have an obsy, so no permanent setup. But I am hoping to have a powered obsy in the next year or so which would render any investment in something like another power tank or leisure battery a bit redundant.

I know I can get individual power supplies for both the mount and camera from Bern at MA. But is there a safe way of running mains power outside to the mount, perhaps using some kind of enclosure?

[billhinge]

Andy

This is what I use

http://www.maplin.co.uk/30a-13.8v-switching-power-supply-509268

plenty of power it's hardly ticking over and looks good

I have a long orange caravan lead to the bottom of the garden and I attach a double extension to one end and put it in one of those water proof boxes.

PSU goes in water proof box, front of PSU has a cigar lighter for my dew heater controller, back of box has a 13.8v set of binding posts for my mount. If I need anything else then I can use the spare plug socket in the waterproof box or there are some spring lead connectors on the front of the box I don't use

works for me

edit : look for a box like this in the size you need

http://www.amazon.co.uk/DriBox-Weatherproof-Outdoor-Electrical-Connection/dp/B003O2X6T8/ref=sr_1_1?s=outdoors&ie=UTF8&qid=1338303378&sr=1-1

look up IP55

[asteele3]

I just use a £19.99 ciggy adapter from Maplins. Does the job, the mount moves and no flashing red light as yet. Looks good, nice and compact and is really cheap compared to other things people have been buying! Someone told me to buy a battery for it and I thought what's the point in that?

[Spikey]

I use a Maplin 10A PSU in a plastic box with a cigar lead 4 way splitter. This powers the mount, camera and dew straps. Dew straps kill batteries quicker than anything else. USB powers the filter wheel & the QHY5. When I've setup I just close the lid on the box. It usually only rains when it's cloudy, if it's cloudy I can't image

[Black Knight]

Andy

This is what I use

http://www.maplin.co.uk/30a-13.8v-switching-power-supply-509268

plenty of power it's hardly ticking over and looks good

I have a long orange caravan lead to the bottom of the garden and I attach a double extension to one end and put it in one of those water proof boxes.

PSU goes in water proof box, front of PSU has a cigar lighter for my dew heater controller, back of box has a 13.8v set of binding posts for my mount. If I need anything else then I can use the spare plug socket in the waterproof box or there are some spring lead connectors on the front of the box I don't use

works for me

edit : look for a box like this in the size you need

http://www.amazon.co.uk/DriBox-Weatherproof-Outdoor-Electrical-Connection/dp/B003O2X6T8/ref=sr_1_1?s=outdoors&ie=UTF8&qid=1338303378&sr=1-1

look up IP55

That's interesting, I hadn't come across that one when I was looking on Maplins. Could be very handy! . Thanks Bill!

[billhinge]

Thanks Andy

for info I believe it is a clone of one of these

http://www.alinco.com/Products/DM330MVE/

I did my research before I bought

[Black Knight]

I use a Maplin 10A PSU in a plastic box with a cigar lead 4 way splitter. This powers the mount, camera and dew straps. Dew straps kill batteries quicker than anything else. USB powers the filter wheel & the QHY5. When I've setup I just close the lid on the box. It usually only rains when it's cloudy, if it's cloudy I can't image

Is it the 10A version of this: http://www.maplin.co.uk/13.8v-regulated-mains-power-units-231? If so, they don't seem to do it any more . Drat!