Power & Cables

[Redscouse]

Evening all.  

I was hoping you could help me understand the cables and power requirements.
Let's say an HEQ5 mount along with a dew heater controller, a few dew straps & guide camera. (and whatever else I've missed for a basic guiding setup)

This is pretty much how I envisage my setup in a few weeks time and was wondering how it would all be powered?
Mainly at home use, however there will be the odd occasion I will venture up to Dartmoor. (or similar)

All photos I have seen, the equipment seem to have cigarette lighter connections on them. 
Would I need one of them four way adaptors you would buy for a car cigarette lighter or does a power bank have multiple sockets? (the ones I looked at only had a single sockets)

Thanks for reading.
Pete. 

[alanjgreen]

Yep, that's how I do it.

i have a 24Ah battery (get three long sessions on one charge ) 

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/batteries-powerpacks/tracer-lifepo4-12v-24ah-battery-pack.html

this is connected to a 4 way cigarette adapter

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Car-Cigarette-Lighter-Socket-Adaptor/dp/B005ERE3W0/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1517611186&sr=8-15&keywords=4+way+cigarette+lighter+adapter

both of the above are housed in a "really useful box" with foam packaging and a hole cut in the side.

i run one cigarette socket to the mount using a lynx Astro lead (from FLO) much better than the crappy standard lead.

i run another cigarette socket to a 2 channel dew controller

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/astronomy-cables-leads-accessories/hitecastro-single-channel-dual-port-dew-controller.html

then I run up to 2 dew straps from that controller.

i also run a single full power dew strap for the sct corrector plate

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/astronomy-cables-leads-accessories/lynx-astro-12v-dew-heater-power-supply-cable.html

- as I only use full power for the tape on the corrector. 

All the cigarette lighter sockets have fuses in so there is plenty of protection if something goes wrong. I have only blown a fuse once, when a dew strap short circuited when it snapped.

i use this Velcro wrap to keep some of the cables together so less chance of tripping over them

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B017XDM2D4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

- attaching Velcro to the mount and scope helps keep cables out of the way

Hth, Alan

[Redscouse]

Thanks for the tips Alan, much appreciated. 
I have to admit, I nearly choked on my coffee when the battery link opened. Caught me off guard a little as the power bank I had my eye on is a third of that price. Perhaps I need to reevaluate my power supply choices! 

[symmetal]

A cheaper alternative to the Tracer although significantly heavier is a lead acid battery either the  sealed lead acid which you can get up to 75Ah or a standard leisure battery which are available from 75Ah to 180Ah.

Alan (another one ) 

[alanjgreen]

7 hours ago, Redscouse said:

Thanks for the tips Alan, much appreciated. 
I have to admit, I nearly choked on my coffee when the battery link opened. Caught me off guard a little as the power bank I had my eye on is a third of that price. Perhaps I need to reevaluate my power supply choices! 

Just make sure you get sufficient battery capacity ( plenty of Ah - amp hours).

Running out of juice is game over.

[Redscouse]

10 hours ago, symmetal said:

A cheaper alternative to the Tracer although significantly heavier.

Just had a look, you weren't kidding either were you!  
That's an astonishing difference to be carting around.
Think I need to speak to the funds accountant (the wife) and tell her, "oh, you know that power pack I wanted. Well I missed a zero off the end" - Then hide for 10 mins!

[david_taurus83]

I bought a 12ah Tracer back in early December. I've only recharged it twice and I've been out almost every night that's been clear for about 3 hours at a time. Only been powering the mount so far but I've added a single 20cm dew strap to the guide scope which runs full power (4w) and been out the last 2 nights and still plenty of charge left in it. They are expensive but worth it. I considered a lead acid alternative at first but as they drop their charge they also drop voltage output which can cause problems before they're  even fully depleted. Lithium banks output full voltage all the way to depletion, or so they are advertised.

[Redscouse]

Yeah I think I'm gonna go with the one Alan linked to at FLO. Spoke to the better half and got the thumbs up so all good.