- Joined
- Jun 4, 2010
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- 2,176
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- Wisconsin, United States
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Of sorts...
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Congratulations! But don’t the neighbors get suspicious when you have it out in daylight?
Meh, they already think I'm weird...Congratulations! But don’t the neighbors get suspicious when you have it out in daylight?
Oh thaaats what my problem was... hahaNice glass. But it'll work better if you take the lens cap off.
Don't rely too much on that Power Tank. Mine only lasted a year, and you can't change the battery in it without destroying it first.
....Good to know about the power tank. Did you replace yours with another or try a different solution? .........
Well you certainly went the engineers route on that! When it comes to mechanical systems I'm a wiz, but electrical is not something I excel at, so I doubt I would tackle making my own. I noticed Celestron now makes a Lithium Poly battery pack system that claims better performance and it is smaller and lighter. Properly managed li-po batteries should last quite a while. I'll see how this one does over time and if it craps out I guess I'll cross that bridge when I come to it......Good to know about the power tank. Did you replace yours with another or try a different solution? .........
I took the hard route. I bought a metal tool box, a couple of golf cart batteries, some 12v power outlets, a fuse holder and an on/off switch. I then soldered a bunch wiring to make it all work. It's heavier than the Power Tank, but it lasts soooo much longer.
The plastic tray still fit above all this, so I use it to carry USB adapters & cords, some LED lights, power adapters for 9, 6, 3 and 1.5 volt plugs, etc. Even a 100w AC inverter. Enough room in the bottom for the batteries, the wiring and such, as well as the plug-in charger. However, no radio or jumper cables like the PT. But I have a dedicated car starter as well as a pocket radio.
Heavy bugger to be sure, but I think it's a better use of a c-note than the Power Tank ever was. I tried to disassemble it to replace the battery, but it was glued shut. I could only smash it apart to access the battery. Sadly, I think it's built that way on purpose.
I've had it for about 10 years now. I use it for a 12v supply when on vacation and camping as well as running the 'scope. Even on a two-week vacation and recharging my phone, running the laptop to download a couple cards of images to a portable drive every night, charging the camera batteries constantly.... it's never died on me*.
*Except for the one time this past fall I left it turned on for about 3 months.
NICE
I thought the computerized mounts used AZ/EL mounts rather than equatorial mounts.
Or is there still an advantage to using an equatorial mount?
Good advise. I'm sure I'll muck something up along the way but hopefully I can avoid damaging anything.NICE
I thought the computerized mounts used AZ/EL mounts rather than equatorial mounts.
Or is there still an advantage to using an equatorial mount?
Astrophotography, mainly. Prevents field rotation.
crimbfighter: On other thing to watch.... don't keep turning the scope one direction: You'll end up yanking the power cord and damage something.
Like Sparky said, the only advantage that I'm aware of is for imaging. Long exposures will eventually start to stretch due to field rotation.NICE
I thought the computerized mounts used AZ/EL mounts rather than equatorial mounts.
Or is there still an advantage to using an equatorial mount?
I, too, am very much a novice in this realm. I spent some time researching a good setup for what I wanted to do and decided that I would put together a list and buy it all at once so I would have everything I needed. I know HOW to use everything I got, but I am far from practiced or proficient at using it. It's going to be a long road of learning and practice.I'm still an astro novice.
Actually even lower, pre-school level.
My wife got interested in astronomy, then lost interest, so I've been thinking about using the reflector kit that I pieced together for her . . . one day.
I, too, am very much a novice in this realm. I spent some time researching a good setup for what I wanted to do and decided that I would put together a list and buy it all at once so I would have everything I needed. I know HOW to use everything I got, but I am far from practiced or proficient at using it. It's going to be a long road of learning and practice.I'm still an astro novice.
Actually even lower, pre-school level.
My wife got interested in astronomy, then lost interest, so I've been thinking about using the reflector kit that I pieced together for her . . . one day.