plug Posted October 18, 2010 Share Posted October 18, 2010 I can get my hands on 700a transit van battery, its 12 volts and I plan on using it for my Skywatcher 130 synscan goto telescope. Is it ok or will it fry things? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BinocularSky Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 The thing about vehicle batteries is that they are not intended to be heavily discharged (they start the vehicle, then get recharged by the alternator). For this reason, the lead plates are thinner. For the sort of thing we use batteries for, you really need what is called a "deep cycle" battery; it has thicker plates and is designed to tolerate heavy discharging. They are often sold as "marine" batteries.That said, your transit van battery will not fry your kit (as long as you connect it correctly!); it may, however, not survive a winter or two of deep discharges. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plug Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 Cheers for that, ah you see the battery is free anyway so it will be grand. Where could i get a deep cycle battery do you know? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BinocularSky Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 A free battery is generally a "good thing". Use it till it goes belly-up....then get your deep cycle one from any decent chandler or alternative energy supplier (they are also used with PV arrays). Google is your friend.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobTheSaxon Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 Good tip. I'm chargedThanks,Bob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thabo Posted April 1, 2011 Share Posted April 1, 2011 Thanks for the reminder James. This is something that I keep forgetting, especially with the very wet and cloudy weather at the moment.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abettertomorrow Posted April 7, 2011 Share Posted April 7, 2011 where's me blumming charger! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scosmico Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Thanks for the reminder! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Sailor Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 The last weekend I converted my power tank and now in a flight case I have a solar panel trickle charging all the time, looks good at the moment Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaze Away Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Hi All im new. Thanks for the advice on the thread. I have just had to deep charge my tank and luckily all seems well. This is something I will not forget to do again but to be honest it was bought on ebay and I didnt actually know that I should be doing this.great site, regards,andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moriniboy Posted July 3, 2011 Share Posted July 3, 2011 Optimates the one for me.I have used them for years and they extend the battery life Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faulksy Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 just to add i would reccomend the optimate as well. can leave it on for months and will just top it up as it needs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt2011 Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 I think my skywatcher 7ah power tank is having issues as it seems to be taking longer to charge it and at the moment its still charging with the RED charging light on but also the GREEN fully charged light seem to be coming on and even though its not bright green now it seem to be getting brighter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonathan Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 (edited) I think my Maplins 5-in-1 starter tank has bit the dust, might try the Optimates charger on it but am trying to get hold of a deep cycle AGM battery to replace the one inside (along with a suitable deep cycle charger). It just happens that when I enquired about it this week the supplier were just in the process of bringing out a new range of batteries which were not available yet, hopefully it won't be too long before I can buy one off the shelf at my local auto-parts trade counter. Should be no more than about £60 for the battery and charger, but definitely worth it over the cheap car batteries.If anyone tries to recommend you a 'Leisure' battery, these are very large and typically used in caravans to run TVs and such, about 60Ah and above. Heavy and bulky, and probably far more Ah than could be used on one telescope in a typical night's observing. Gel batteries were also mentioned during my enquiries, but not recommended by the battery supplier / manufacturer for a 12v 2A deep cycle application such as a telescope mount. I am going to trust their advice on an AGM battery as the most suitable type, about 20Ah should be well within budget and more than enough to cover the mount, dew heaters, etc. Edited October 21, 2011 by jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwc Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 Timely reminder! Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
x6gas Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 Oh dear, think I must have over-charged one of my Maplin 3-in-1's... Anything be done to reverse this. Will hook it up to my deep-cycle charger tonight... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeSkywatcher Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 Cold also has a big effect on the battery. If the battery is fully charged and then kept indoors in the warm it can be stored for a year before it needs charging again. The worst thing you can do is to store the battery on a concrete floor in an unheated shed or garage, as even a fully charged battery can loose enough charge to permanently damage it in just a month or two.JohnGood to know. Thanks for that. Thats exactly how and where i planned on storing mine. I know better now and will bring it inside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fwm891 Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 Thinking about getting one of these while they're on offer - 5in1 Jumpstarter with Digital Air Compressor : InCar Battery Chargers and Compressors : MaplinMaybe useful for people with dead powertanks I bought one of these it wouldn't even charge properly from new - never more than the 'low charge' light showing (sadly I lost the receipt so they wouldn't change it ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lifeonmars Posted August 5, 2012 Share Posted August 5, 2012 I`m just wondering whether to ditch the powertank for home observing and buy a regulated power supply.I recall reading somewhere the mains power supplies are not as stable in delivering a constant supply to your mount can anyone eloborate on that cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Sailor Posted August 5, 2012 Share Posted August 5, 2012 I have used home supply for my observatory for the last few years without a problem, the power runs overhead to it. Once a month I give my 12v power supply a run down on the observatory then recharge by solar.Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirkster501 Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 I have two Maplin Jump Starter Batteries for over two years now and they are both going brilliantly still. I have had zero problems with both of them. I charge after EVERY use religiously. If I don't use for a week - often the case in our bad weather - I charge them anyway.May I suggest you consign the piece of junk called a charger supplied with these Jump Starters to the bin and buy one of these instead?http://www.amazon.co.uk/OptiMate-4-Battery-charger-conditioner/dp/B000R5936U/ref=sr_1_23?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1350589944&sr=1-23Absolutely superb investment and worth every penny. Will keep batteries in top notch condition and I have used it to resurrect friends batteries as well.Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeSkywatcher Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 (edited) I have both my Celestron 7Ah packs on charge as we speak. I think its about 6 weeks since i charged them without using them. Edited October 18, 2012 by LukeSkywatcher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grotemobile Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 Hi,iv gone totally over to mains supply for my scope.The Due Heater really knocks the charge out of thebattery.When your out most of the night,the last thingyou want is a misted up scope.Mine is the C11,whichreally seems to be a dew magnet.I have got theCelestron 7amp Power Pack , which i use on the4" refractor .Great, grab & go scope. Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Sailor Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 Solar charger for my pack, easy and convenient, overcast and raining yet still charging Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philhas Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 Jump Starter retrieved from the garage and now on charge....thanks for the reminder I completely forgot about it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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