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LiFePO4 Battery Options

Yooster
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Yooster

Yooster

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Looking to get a LiFePO4 power tank set up for my rig and can't really decide which is best. I appreciate compared to VRLA I'm going to be spending a lot more money but don't want to be spending more than about £250

My options are

Celestron 13.2aH Powertank Pro £214

Tracer 24Ah https://www.tracerpower.com/tracer-12v-24ah-lifepo4-battery.html £249

Build my own Powertank

I'd like enough capacity to be able to keep my rig going for at least 6 hours if not more - CEM25P, ASI294MC Pro, ASI120MM (Guide), Asiair Pro. I have a separate dew heater I can power from another battery pack for now. I've worked out that when mount tracking and cooling to say 20deg below ambient etc at most my load is about 2-2.5A @ 12V.

I'm very much favouring LiFePO4 over VRLA for reasons of size, weight, voltage discharge cycle, safety, charge cycles etc. I don't want a big fancy thing with lots of lights and bells and whistles and likewise I don't want to spend £500 on a 60-80Ah model.

I think I'm favouring the Tracer one as quite increased capacity for not much more than the Celestron one, anyone used these?

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Yooster

Yooster

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8 hours ago, johninderby said:

I have a couple of the Tracer LiFeP04 batteries and find them to be top quality. The one you linked to has been discontinued.

https://www.tracerpower.com/lifepo4-12v-24ah-battery-pack.html

Yeah sorry posted the wrong link, that one has been superseded by the below

https://www.tracerpower.com/tracer-12v-24ah-lifepo4-battery-2.html

 

 

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gilesco

gilesco

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When you have a tracer battery, which seems to provide a single 12V socket, how do you break out the power, I seem to need about 5 12V lines for all my equipment (Mount, Dew Heater, USB Hub, Raspberry Pi (via 5V 3A converter), Cooled Camera).

I've used one of these:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tocas-100A-BusBar-Box-Distribution-Black-Silver/dp/B07DN92HVB/ref=sxts_sxwds-bia-wc-p13n1_0

But I'd be interested if others are using fuse boxes and what products, as there is more than just the Battery to consider when remote powering.

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Davey-T

Davey-T

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I had an old car jump start power pack that I tossed the original LA battery, tyre pump jump leads etc and fitted a 40ah Tracer battery in and changed the cig' sockets to XLR type, made a couple of splitters to plug into it to distribute power.

Unfortunately they seem to have discontinued the 40ah batteries.

Dave

Power-pack-1.png.ba5be55d6fc02125aa21a619caf364bd.png

Power-pack-2.png.4b57249bab140d84d4cc1fe476568241.png

 

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Deadlake

Deadlake

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Posted (edited)
2 hours ago, gilesco said:

When you have a tracer battery, which seems to provide a single 12V socket, how do you break out the power, I seem to need about 5 12V lines for all my equipment (Mount, Dew Heater, USB Hub, Raspberry Pi (via 5V 3A converter), Cooled Camera).

I've used one of these:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tocas-100A-BusBar-Box-Distribution-Black-Silver/dp/B07DN92HVB/ref=sxts_sxwds-bia-wc-p13n1_0

But I'd be interested if others are using fuse boxes and what products, as there is more than just the Battery to consider when remote powering.

I'm looking at getting a tracer, I asked RotherValley and they said you can get a splitter for it. Also interested if a fused solution available.

Also what's the difference between the t-bar and bullet connector on the Tracer packs?

Other options are:

 

https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p12444_Bresser-Mobile-Power-Station-100-Watt.html

Of to split power a Pegasus box:

https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p12412_PegasusAstro-Pocket-Powerbox--PPB----Universal-Power-Supply.html

 

 

 

Edited by Deadlake
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Davey-T

Davey-T

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2 hours ago, Carbon Brush said:

BP2570 still available.

https://www.tracerpower.com/12v-40ah-battery-slab.html

I used one in an application where the cost of going back to swap the battery makes the battery purchase price look trivial.
 

Thanks, couldn't find it on their web site the other day, used to be easy to find, wish these people wouldn't mess with their sites just make them pretty.

Dave

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Shimrod

Shimrod

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6 hours ago, Davey-T said:

I had an old car jump start power pack that I tossed the original LA battery, tyre pump jump leads etc and fitted a 40ah Tracer battery in and changed the cig' sockets to XLR type, made a couple of splitters to plug into it to distribute power.

Unfortunately they seem to have discontinued the 40ah batteries.

Dave

Power-pack-1.png.ba5be55d6fc02125aa21a619caf364bd.png

 

 

I have the exact same jumpstarter, and the lead acid battery no longer keeps its charge. Its good to know a tracer battery will fit inside it, although I think the 40ah battery is a bit out of my price range!

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Davey-T

Davey-T

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1 hour ago, Shimrod said:

I have the exact same jumpstarter, and the lead acid battery no longer keeps its charge. Its good to know a tracer battery will fit inside it, although I think the 40ah battery is a bit out of my price range!

You could use the 24ah one, I squeezed in the biggest one that I could.

Dave

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Waldemar

Waldemar

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Posted
8 hours ago, Davey-T said:

I had an old car jump start power pack that I tossed the original LA battery, tyre pump jump leads etc and fitted a 40ah Tracer battery in and changed the cig' sockets to XLR type, made a couple of splitters to plug into it to distribute power.

Unfortunately they seem to have discontinued the 40ah batteries.

Dave

Power-pack-1.png.ba5be55d6fc02125aa21a619caf364bd.png

Power-pack-2.png.4b57249bab140d84d4cc1fe476568241.png

 

Vey nice and solid upgrade those XLR sockets, Davey! 👍

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