sam mayo Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 what is the best to use as a power source for a long observing session and how much should i be planning on spending on one,i will be used for laptop for now but soon i will also need it for a neq and usual stuff thanks sam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesM Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 One question will be whether you are observing from home (where there is a convenient energy supply via a suitable regulated transformer) or whether like me, you are regularly going to visit a dark site in which case I would recommend a leisure battery. I have two, one which is small (60 amp (12Kg) paid £60 in camping shop sale), comes with a carrying handle and is good for a very long night's viewing (using NEQ6 mount, dew heater + Dew-Not heating strip and laptop) and a much larger leisure battery (110 Amp £85 (29 Kg) if I am going to participate in a star party or camping over a long weekend. You will need to get the right connectors to transfer the power from the battery to some kind of splitter (Halfords and Maplins sell many types) that will enable you to plug in and connect all your kit. The principle behind the size of battery is that if all your kit is pulling 1 amp out of a 10 amp battery then in principle you will be able to run that equipment for 10 hours. By way of example, my e.g NEQ6 draws around 2 Amps of juice so it would only last for 5 hours using a 10 amp battery. It's approximate as temperature can make a difference especially when using kit when the temperature is below freezing.James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bizibilder Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 For calculating a battery capacity add up all the "Amps" you will be using, double the answer, and then multiply by the number of hours in a session - that is the number of Amp-Hours you will need.eg EQ6 mount = 2A, Laptop = 3.5A, Dew band = 2ASo: 2 + 3.5 + 2 = 7.5 Double it = 15 Amps. For, say, 5 hours = 15 x 5 = 75 AmpHours. So a 75Ah battery (or bigger) will do. Don't forget you will need a decent battery charger/conditioner that will set you back nearly as much as the battery!PS - You double the "Amps" answer as you don't want to run the battery below 50% full. It also leaved a bit in reserve should you need it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam mayo Posted September 23, 2012 Author Share Posted September 23, 2012 ok thanks will have a look with that in mind thanks sam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam mayo Posted September 23, 2012 Author Share Posted September 23, 2012 does it have to be a power tank or can you use a iesure type like a car battery and sure how attach plugs they seem alot cheaper but i dont really now what im talking about Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 Leisure type, like a car battery is fine. I have a 110ah leisure battery which lasts a long time. You will need to sort out a secure way of connecting to it, I just have a double cigarette lighter style socket wired to some heavy duty cable and crocodile clips, works fine.Well worth getting a decent charger aswell, it makes big difference to the battery life.Stu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bizibilder Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 There is a huge difference between a leisure battery and a "car" battery. They are designed and built for quite different purposes. Briefly a "car" battery is designed for one big "oomph!! to start the car and then an immediate recharge, A leisure battery is designed for a slow, continuous discharge - like keeping the lights on in a caravan all evening.It is the Leisure type that you should be considering for astro work. They are more expensive but will last for years if looked after properly (ie use a proper charger/conditioner whenever they are not in use) and are the correct tool for the job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuzzBomb Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 I'm not an automotive expert, but aren't car batteries also designed for slow discharge? My understanding is that all a cars electrics run from the battery - radio, fan, air-con, lights etc - and the battery is constantly re-charged by the alternator . If that is correct (and I'm probably horribly wrong!) would't they be alright if kept topped up?Sent from my GT-I9001 using Tapatalk 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 Thanks for the clarification bizibuilder. Apologies if I was unclear, I was meaning to imply that leisure batteries were the ones to use and that they look like car batteries rather than power packs. Totally agree that car batteries are not suitable.Stu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 I think the issue is that they are not designed to be discharged as deeply as leisure batteries. Because they are topped up immediately after starting the car, and maintained constantly by the alternator they are ok. Leisure batteries can cope with deep discharge, followed by proper recharging with a decent charger. Advice I've seen on here still seems to be not to discharge more than 50% though.Stu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam mayo Posted September 24, 2012 Author Share Posted September 24, 2012 thats some great info thanks muchly will look i t a conditioner?/recharger aswell i need quite a few things quickly for party so trying to prioritise but everything is needed so doesnt work lol thanks againsam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam mayo Posted September 24, 2012 Author Share Posted September 24, 2012 i have found this battery do you think it thers its okay for neq 6 and laptop dew heater like yours seems great for the prce thanks for the time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam mayo Posted September 24, 2012 Author Share Posted September 24, 2012 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Leisure-Battery-100Ah-Numax-LV26MF/dp/B003XU3T66/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1348517518&sr=8-2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bizibilder Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 Looks right to me - and the price is good too! - Don't forget the charger/conditioner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam mayo Posted September 24, 2012 Author Share Posted September 24, 2012 im looking at them now will any one do or is there a specific type to amp if that makes sense thank sam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bizibilder Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 This is the sort of thing BUT it is limited to 75Ah batteries: http://www.tayna.co....3600-P4111.html The one for 100Ah batteries is nearly £100!! Ouch! (This is the one I use with my 75Ah battery which has worked with an HEQ5, Lappy (3.5A) for at least 6-7 hours with capacity to spare). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuzzBomb Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 I think the issue is that they are not designed to be discharged as deeply as leisure batteries. Because they are topped up immediately after starting the car, and maintained constantly by the alternator they are ok. Leisure batteries can cope with deep discharge, followed by proper recharging with a decent charger. Advice I've seen on here still seems to be not to discharge more than 50% though.StuThanks Stu, that makes sense.Sent from my GT-I9001 using Tapatalk 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam mayo Posted September 25, 2012 Author Share Posted September 25, 2012 i have found a charger at 120 ah from motor world for 65 quid seems to cheap what you plp think honestly this will be the last time i sk you a question(maybe)thanks sam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixueto Posted September 26, 2012 Share Posted September 26, 2012 Sorry about my complete ignorance but after reading the thread I'm still confused about what I need. I want to run an HEQ5 Pro with a laptop for about 5 hours. What would I need? Any economic alternatives out there? I was also wondering about the sockets. Will they come with a normal one like the ones at home as well as the cigarette socket?Thanks for your help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam mayo Posted September 26, 2012 Author Share Posted September 26, 2012 d/w i find it just as confusing so im going for the 110 am from amazon 65quid and that will be more than a enough andif you ever get anything else that needs powering it will do it i also found a recharger conditioner from motot world its a 120ah and thats also 65 quid which looks really cheap compared to everything else iv seen in the same output.i think you would need somthin o connect you devices that uses power like mount to the battery and as above halfords etc do them and that woud give you the abbillity to use plug/car lighter adapter would be worth popping in and see what they say hope this help and hope im right thnks sam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave79 Posted September 26, 2012 Share Posted September 26, 2012 I have just got meself a 110 a/h leisure batt off eBay for £70. I also got a Ctek CTE-MXS5.0 5a 12v charger for £56. From Amazon I got a Ctek CTE-56382 Indicator and CTE-56573 ciggy socket. Halfords supplied terminal clamps and a triple ciggy socket adaptor.The charger is an 8 stage jobby and you can leave the battery on charge for months coz the charger only sends out a pulse when the voltage of the batt drops.Hope this helps Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glowjet Posted September 27, 2012 Share Posted September 27, 2012 If it is of any help, I used up till a short while ago, an 85 Ah leisure battery for our electric outboard, a days fishing would just about discharge it. I bought an SIP electronic 12A charger which charges acid batteries in the range 45Ah to 180Ah and this has served us very well over the years. They are available on ebay from various outlets, the cheapest is just under £47 with free delivery John. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulus17 Posted September 27, 2012 Share Posted September 27, 2012 I was given a battery with my latest set up,but i am not sure if it is a leisure or car battery.It is a 12v 50 AH.If it is a car battery is it safe to use.The seller said he used it.There is an in line ciggy lighter,and croc clips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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