Power for heq5 pro synscan

[Ashleyfrog]

I am getting a 200p and a heq5 pro synscan mount this weekend. Woohoo can't wait !! What is best for power supply for the mount. I have a tracer lithium 4ah power pack. Will this be ok or do I need to invest in something else. Fingers crossed for clear sky's.

[Ant]

4ah will not last long with the long winter nights.

I use a maplin regulated power supply which, being mains supplied, goes on for ever.

The PRO mounts are quite fussy with power, and they do some strange things as the voltage drops... Also make sure that the power lead you use is a "good" one.

Cheers

Any

[Ashleyfrog]

A portable power source will be better for me. Any ideas on what should be good to use. Ta

[Owmuchonomy]

As above I use a 4 amp regulated mains power supply that has loose connectors and a cigar lighter socket. The mount takes 1.2 amps at least so your battery won't work for more than 30 minutes before you get a voltage drop. That's before you add in peripherals such as dew bands etc.

[Ashleyfrog]

What about a power tank?

[Ashleyfrog]

http://astronomia.co.uk/index.php/accessories/power-accessories/12v-power-tank-17ah.html

[Owmuchonomy]

A portable power source will be better for me. Any ideas on what should be good to use. Ta

If you check the forum lots of people use deep cycle leisure batteries like the 120Ah one in my caravan. I had one of those Celestron power tank things years ago but it was very poor. It only lasted about an hour.

[Ashleyfrog]

Ah ok. Any links to what is best would be great.

[Tinker1947]

If you go the leisure battery route, they need a good quality charger, add that into the budget as well. I use a Tracer 14ah runs my GoTo Dob for around 16 hours, the one FLO sell come complete, charger, supply lead and car charger.

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/batteries-powerpacks/tracer-12v-14ah-lithium-polymer-battery-pack.html

[Ashleyfrog]

I got a skywatcher 17ah power tank!

[Phil Fargaze]

To supplement a mains charger, I got one of these solar chargers to keep my home made battery box topped up. Especially handy if you are out camping without access to mains power.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/4w-solar-briefcase-n05hn 

I had better add that they are for 12v lead acid batteries.