How do You power Your mount ?
#1
Posted 08 April 2009 - 10:58 AM
I have switched to the larger PentaFlex 12V PowerTank 7AH which has 2 interfaces to put the power stick (usable in a car) into... Which one to use, the - Minus (Left) or the + Plus (Right) ?
In the photo above I've connected it to the - Minus (Left)
#2
Posted 08 April 2009 - 11:32 AM
It's light, quiet and cheap. I picked one up at Harbor Freight for $150.
#3
Posted 08 April 2009 - 11:38 AM
habor freight and I have a love/hate relationship lol
Greg
#4
Posted 08 April 2009 - 11:50 AM
#5
Posted 08 April 2009 - 12:06 PM
#6
Posted 08 April 2009 - 12:25 PM
#7
Posted 08 April 2009 - 12:25 PM
Which one to use, the - Minus (Left) or the + Plus (Right) ?
What makes you think they are different? Seems like that would be really unlikely.
Mike
#8
Posted 08 April 2009 - 02:16 PM
#9
Posted 08 April 2009 - 02:24 PM
Which one to use, the - Minus (Left) or the + Plus (Right) ?
What makes you think they are different? Seems like that would be really unlikely.
Well Mike, because these are labeled - and + underneath each socket...
So which one to use...
#10
Posted 08 April 2009 - 02:31 PM
#11
Posted 08 April 2009 - 02:37 PM
#12
Posted 08 April 2009 - 02:42 PM
#13
Posted 08 April 2009 - 02:58 PM
Those - & + charge indications might ONLY be valid when charging the PowerTank from a car battery ?
I believe you are misreading the info there, it's indicating which polarity the outer ring is and which the center contact is and applies to both sockets. You can see a similar graphic on the single smaller output jack to the left.
They could have done a little better job with their depiction, certainly, since there's obviously a potential for confusion.
Mike
#14
Posted 08 April 2009 - 03:00 PM
And of course two mount could be powered in this way
#15
Posted 08 April 2009 - 03:01 PM
Those - & + charge indications might ONLY be valid when charging the PowerTank from a car battery ?
The -/+ indications isn't talking about which port is positive/negative. It is talking about how each of the ports are setup. In this case, the tip is expected to be positive, and the shell negative, with a potential of 12V. So if you are building your own power connector, you have to build it such that the tip is positive, the shell is negative, and that you are assuming 12V as the potential between the two terminals in your plug.
#16
Posted 08 April 2009 - 03:02 PM
Totally agree, both left and right plugs are hooked up the same way. The picture is telling you that the Male part of the cigarete lighter adapter is positive and the 2 sides contacts are negative.
#17
Posted 08 April 2009 - 03:07 PM
At home I use two 12v 5amp power supplies with a 3 to 1 outlet splitter on one supply ... so I have 4 12v outlets available (mount, dew controller, camera, spare). When I'm in the field I simply replace the two AC/DC power supplies with two 12v 17a/hour batteries, all the cabling is the same.
#18
Posted 08 April 2009 - 08:15 PM
(Celestron offered to replace the unit but the shipping was around $15 ...the scooter battery was free ...and has a nice carry handle)
#19
Posted 08 April 2009 - 09:56 PM
Blueman
#20
Posted 08 April 2009 - 11:14 PM
85A/hr deep cycle marine battery running a 400W inverter with AC adapter for an Atlas an AC adapter for a Dell laptop and 2 (USB) DSI's - all through the inverter.
Didn't seem to last an evening much less 8 hours - inverter shut down at 11.?V. Is the inverter an issue?
P.S. WiFi is active but does it make *that* much difference?
#21
Posted 09 April 2009 - 01:45 AM
I use one for my laptop that makes 18v and one for my mount that makes 18v and one for my camera that is also 18v and they do not use as much power as a 400watt inverted that I tried to use.
You can find dc to dc converters pretty cheap on line, usually made to run laptops or other things. If needed, you replace the plug to match the device you are using.
Blueman
#22
Posted 09 April 2009 - 04:56 AM
#23
Posted 09 April 2009 - 05:15 AM
Patricio
#24
Posted 09 April 2009 - 09:37 AM
#25
Posted 09 April 2009 - 04:39 PM
I'm guessing about 10-15 pounds. The handle makes it manageableNice upgrade Don, but what does the new combination weigh ?