RandallK
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/10/06
Posts: 607
Loc: Nanaimo, B. C. Canada
|
|
I just returned my Xantrex 12 amp/hr that I bought last week for 149.00 CDN for a 20 amp/hr for 99.95. Should power my laptop and HEQ5-Pro together for about 2.5 - 3 hours at the dark site.
Here's the link:
link
--------------------
Scopes: Meade SC-8AT w UHTC
SkyWatcher 5" F/5 Reflector
SkyWatcher 127mm MAK
Mount: HEQ5 Pro
Cameras: Orion Starshoot DS Colour Imager V.1
Imaging Source Webcam DMK21AU04.AS
Palm TX PDA w Astromist and Bluetooth wireles control.
Edited by csa/montana (05/09/08 08:47 PM)
|
killerwolf
super member
Reged: 01/10/08
Posts: 193
Loc: British Columbia, Canada
|
|
*BLEEP* i gotta see if i can spare the money and run up to *BLEEP* tire. ill raid the canadian tire money 
--------------------
Skywatcher syncscan HEQ5 200mm 1000mm/f
DSI pro, and Olympus 330
|
dvb
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 06/18/05
Posts: 1652
|
|
The AC function would be useful for those of us needing to run monitors for Mallincam/ videoastronomy.
--------------------
I'll take one of each, please:
Antares 10" f/5 Dob w/SkyCommander
Skywatcher 10" f/4.7 Newt on Matilda
Celestron 8" SCT
Meade 8" SN f/4
Celestron C6 SCT
Skywatcher ED100 f/9
Skywatcher ED80 f/7.5
EQ6 Pro "Matilda"
Skymaster 15x70
Minolta 10x50
Mallincam HyperColor Plus
Speco 9" CRT
|
saveyaris
member
Reged: 12/12/07
Posts: 76
|
|
all sold out at the one near my place... Might try another one a little farther away over the weekend. Any idea how long the sale is on for? When I went in to the store the empty shelve did not show the sale?
--------------------
|
tjay
super member
Reged: 02/03/07
Posts: 147
|
|
I'm pretty sure the sale ended Thursday. I see they are back to $169.99 on Canadian Tire's website now.
--------------------
Clear Skies
Tom
Nexstar 8 GPS with Starizona Feathertouch Microfocuser
GSO 8" Dob
Meade ETX 80
Kendrick Dew Heater
JMI Case
11mm, 20mm Agena Astro UWA (20mm is my favourite by FAR!!!)
40mm, 32mm, 26mm, 20mm and 15mm Meade Series 4000 Super Plossl
25mm and 10mm GSO Plossl, GSO 2x barlow
Surplus Shed 47mm Erfle
GSO 2" Dielectric diagonal
Antares f6.3 focal reducer
Philips SPC900NC
|
tjay
super member
Reged: 02/03/07
Posts: 147
|
|
They've got at 12 Amp Hr (I think, hard to tell from the website) one on sale this week for $69.99 and a 28 Amp Hr (again, I think) for $179.99.
--------------------
Clear Skies
Tom
Nexstar 8 GPS with Starizona Feathertouch Microfocuser
GSO 8" Dob
Meade ETX 80
Kendrick Dew Heater
JMI Case
11mm, 20mm Agena Astro UWA (20mm is my favourite by FAR!!!)
40mm, 32mm, 26mm, 20mm and 15mm Meade Series 4000 Super Plossl
25mm and 10mm GSO Plossl, GSO 2x barlow
Surplus Shed 47mm Erfle
GSO 2" Dielectric diagonal
Antares f6.3 focal reducer
Philips SPC900NC
|
RogerRZ
Whatta you lookin' at?
Reged: 01/09/06
Posts: 1984
Loc: West Collette, NB, Canada
|
|
Quote:
all sold out at the one near my place...
This isn't surprising, and the reason I've refused to go to, let alone buy anything at CT for over a year now...
--------------------
-Roger Pitre-
1 X 7 binocular
6" F/8 achro w/Chromacorr
Skywatcher Equinox 66
EQ6 Pro mount
8X42 Bushnell binos (pretty decent for 25$)
Canon Rebel XT (AKA 350D)
Tolerant Spousal Unit (AKA The Lovely Mrs. RogerRZ)
----------AJP Observatory----------
|
saveyaris
member
Reged: 12/12/07
Posts: 76
|
|
Quote:
They've got at 12 Amp Hr (I think, hard to tell from the website) one on sale this week for $69.99 and a 28 Amp Hr (again, I think) for $179.99.
Decided to give the $69 dollar one a test drive. Went to the first cnd tire and they only had out of box ones.. skipped those. The second one had a whole bunch of them so I picked one up. Thanks for the heads up everyone... 
--------------------
|
tjay
super member
Reged: 02/03/07
Posts: 147
|
|
They've got the 20 Amp Hour one on sale for $99.99 again this week. I just picked up the last one in a box from the Canadian Tire nearest to my home.
Here's the link to the website:
20 Amp hour Power Pack
--------------------
Clear Skies
Tom
Nexstar 8 GPS with Starizona Feathertouch Microfocuser
GSO 8" Dob
Meade ETX 80
Kendrick Dew Heater
JMI Case
11mm, 20mm Agena Astro UWA (20mm is my favourite by FAR!!!)
40mm, 32mm, 26mm, 20mm and 15mm Meade Series 4000 Super Plossl
25mm and 10mm GSO Plossl, GSO 2x barlow
Surplus Shed 47mm Erfle
GSO 2" Dielectric diagonal
Antares f6.3 focal reducer
Philips SPC900NC
|
cocobolo
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/27/07
Posts: 1550
Loc: british columbia, canada
|
|
I think CT must know they are on to a good thing here.
Late last fall [I think] I got a Motomaster Nautilus Marine/RV power pack. That's what they call it.
It is 33AH and comes with all the useless stuff an astronomer doesn't need. You know, things like navigation lights, a brilliant white emergency light, and the ever-popular 260 psi compressor.
You might try checking with CT to see if they still have this little guy, it is after all a CT brand.
I believe the price was $89.99 on sale, and they had several in the store at the time.
Like I said, they are onto a good thing here. 13 less AH and $10 extra.
Keith
|
tjay
super member
Reged: 02/03/07
Posts: 147
|
|
Quote:
I think CT must know they are on to a good thing here.
Late last fall [I think] I got a Motomaster Nautilus Marine/RV power pack. That's what they call it.
It is 33AH and comes with all the useless stuff an astronomer doesn't need. You know, things like navigation lights, a brilliant white emergency light, and the ever-popular 260 psi compressor.
You might try checking with CT to see if they still have this little guy, it is after all a CT brand.
I believe the price was $89.99 on sale, and they had several in the store at the time.
Like I said, they are onto a good thing here. 13 less AH and $10 extra.
Keith
Keith, I saw that one too, but it's not on sale, and the regular price is $169.99. It's the same regular price as the 20AH one that's one sale this week for $99.99.
--------------------
Clear Skies
Tom
Nexstar 8 GPS with Starizona Feathertouch Microfocuser
GSO 8" Dob
Meade ETX 80
Kendrick Dew Heater
JMI Case
11mm, 20mm Agena Astro UWA (20mm is my favourite by FAR!!!)
40mm, 32mm, 26mm, 20mm and 15mm Meade Series 4000 Super Plossl
25mm and 10mm GSO Plossl, GSO 2x barlow
Surplus Shed 47mm Erfle
GSO 2" Dielectric diagonal
Antares f6.3 focal reducer
Philips SPC900NC
|
killerwolf
super member
Reged: 01/10/08
Posts: 193
Loc: British Columbia, Canada
|
|
i picked the one smaller that that on sale for 39 bucks and i can go all night with it
--------------------
Skywatcher syncscan HEQ5 200mm 1000mm/f
DSI pro, and Olympus 330
|
Fred1
professor emeritus
Reged: 09/19/07
Posts: 724
Loc: Garnet Valley, Pennsylvania
|
|
What you guys are talking about really got me searching. I found this Xantrex Power Pack in the Home Depot site, but it seems only available on line and it's out of stock. Are what you guys referring to similar? I like the 28 Ah rating but the weight has me confused, assembled it's 29 lbs., but further down it says "Weight: 58 lbs." (Perhaps that's the shipping weight?) Can anyone offer any enlightenment? What do your units, if similar, weigh?
--------------------
Fred
Celestron 8" SCT w/Starizona Feathertouch Microfocuser and Orion 9x50 RACI FinderScope;
Stellarvue Nighthawk Aplanat w/Orion 6x30 RACI Finderscope
Vixen Sphinx SXD/Hal 130
Celestron CG5-ASGT
Stellarvue M1/Surveyor Tripod
|
tjay
super member
Reged: 02/03/07
Posts: 147
|
|
Quote:
What you guys are talking about really got me searching. I found this Xantrex Power Pack in the Home Depot site, but it seems only available on line and it's out of stock. Are what you guys referring to similar? I like the 28 Ah rating but the weight has me confused, assembled it's 29 lbs., but further down it says "Weight: 58 lbs." (Perhaps that's the shipping weight?) Can anyone offer any enlightenment? What do your units, if similar, weigh?
Fred, it looks like the same one as this one at Canadian Tire: link
I looked at that one, but rejected it as it was more than I wanted to spend. I did lift it up though, and it was pretty heavy. Much more than 20 AH one I bought.
BTW, does anybody know what happens if you don't charge these things for the recommended time before using them for the first time? I'm kinda of hoping to use mine tomorrow night, but it will have only been about 36 hours versus the 48 they recommend before the first use.
Tom
--------------------
Clear Skies
Tom
Nexstar 8 GPS with Starizona Feathertouch Microfocuser
GSO 8" Dob
Meade ETX 80
Kendrick Dew Heater
JMI Case
11mm, 20mm Agena Astro UWA (20mm is my favourite by FAR!!!)
40mm, 32mm, 26mm, 20mm and 15mm Meade Series 4000 Super Plossl
25mm and 10mm GSO Plossl, GSO 2x barlow
Surplus Shed 47mm Erfle
GSO 2" Dielectric diagonal
Antares f6.3 focal reducer
Philips SPC900NC
Edited by tjay (05/09/08 02:25 PM)
|
Fred1
professor emeritus
Reged: 09/19/07
Posts: 724
Loc: Garnet Valley, Pennsylvania
|
|
It's amazing what a search will produce. Now I found these. Prices look better, too.
Xantrex on Amazon
--------------------
Fred
Celestron 8" SCT w/Starizona Feathertouch Microfocuser and Orion 9x50 RACI FinderScope;
Stellarvue Nighthawk Aplanat w/Orion 6x30 RACI Finderscope
Vixen Sphinx SXD/Hal 130
Celestron CG5-ASGT
Stellarvue M1/Surveyor Tripod
|
cocobolo
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/27/07
Posts: 1550
Loc: british columbia, canada
|
|
Tom: You don't have to worry about a 48 hour charge, if you have 36 hours in you will be fine. The units are actually charged before they hit the store, and they just want you to make sure they are topped up first. After all, who knows how long ago they got out of the factory.
tjay: If you ask CT when a particular item will be going on sale, they will usually tell you. So it may well be worth it to wait for the big guy to go on sale again. It's a great unit.
Keith
|
cocobolo
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/27/07
Posts: 1550
Loc: british columbia, canada
|
|
Fellas, the Xantrex unit you are talking about is a whole new ballgame. Xantrex, formerly Trace, is in the business of making inverters and related items. The unit you are looking at will give you 120v a.c. as well as DC. I have lived on Trace power for over 10 years and give them the highest possible rating. Trace, now Xantrex, has an excellent reputation for building quality products, so if you need 120v ac at your dark site, and don't want to lug a generator, that's one answer. The other is to install a small inverter on your vehicle. In the smaller sizes, say up to 700watts or so, they are very inexpensive.
Keith
|
tjay
super member
Reged: 02/03/07
Posts: 147
|
|
Quote:
Tom: You don't have to worry about a 48 hour charge, if you have 36 hours in you will be fine. The units are actually charged before they hit the store, and they just want you to make sure they are topped up first. After all, who knows how long ago they got out of the factory.
tjay: If you ask CT when a particular item will be going on sale, they will usually tell you. So it may well be worth it to wait for the big guy to go on sale again. It's a great unit.
Keith
Keith, thanks for the answer on the initial charge question.
I may go back to ask when the Nautilus is going on sale. Any idea how much it weighs? I didn't see any when I went into to pick up the 20 AH one this morning. I may keep the one I've got already, because I've got no other way of powering my dew heater and it's reasonably lightweight.
--------------------
Clear Skies
Tom
Nexstar 8 GPS with Starizona Feathertouch Microfocuser
GSO 8" Dob
Meade ETX 80
Kendrick Dew Heater
JMI Case
11mm, 20mm Agena Astro UWA (20mm is my favourite by FAR!!!)
40mm, 32mm, 26mm, 20mm and 15mm Meade Series 4000 Super Plossl
25mm and 10mm GSO Plossl, GSO 2x barlow
Surplus Shed 47mm Erfle
GSO 2" Dielectric diagonal
Antares f6.3 focal reducer
Philips SPC900NC
|
Fred1
professor emeritus
Reged: 09/19/07
Posts: 724
Loc: Garnet Valley, Pennsylvania
|
|
Does anyone know the lifespan(?) of the batteries inside the Xantrex units? Can they be replaced when they die?
--------------------
Fred
Celestron 8" SCT w/Starizona Feathertouch Microfocuser and Orion 9x50 RACI FinderScope;
Stellarvue Nighthawk Aplanat w/Orion 6x30 RACI Finderscope
Vixen Sphinx SXD/Hal 130
Celestron CG5-ASGT
Stellarvue M1/Surveyor Tripod
|
tjay
super member
Reged: 02/03/07
Posts: 147
|
|
The 20 AH Canadian Tire model, which I'm 99 percent sure is made by Xantrex (it looks identical to this one: Xantrex 20 AH Unit), has instructions for replacing the battery in the manual.
--------------------
Clear Skies
Tom
Nexstar 8 GPS with Starizona Feathertouch Microfocuser
GSO 8" Dob
Meade ETX 80
Kendrick Dew Heater
JMI Case
11mm, 20mm Agena Astro UWA (20mm is my favourite by FAR!!!)
40mm, 32mm, 26mm, 20mm and 15mm Meade Series 4000 Super Plossl
25mm and 10mm GSO Plossl, GSO 2x barlow
Surplus Shed 47mm Erfle
GSO 2" Dielectric diagonal
Antares f6.3 focal reducer
Philips SPC900NC
|
cocobolo
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/27/07
Posts: 1550
Loc: british columbia, canada
|
|
tjay: on my blindingly high tech scale, which I think a chap named Noah may have used, it looks to be about 28 lbs.
|
Fred1
professor emeritus
Reged: 09/19/07
Posts: 724
Loc: Garnet Valley, Pennsylvania
|
|
Tom, thanks for that info. I was mainly interested in the 28Ah version, but according to the Xantrex owner's manual it seems that model, the 600D, does not have a replacement battery and must be disposed of when it dies. Perhaps I should consider the 20Ah version instead. Thanks again for the link.
--------------------
Fred
Celestron 8" SCT w/Starizona Feathertouch Microfocuser and Orion 9x50 RACI FinderScope;
Stellarvue Nighthawk Aplanat w/Orion 6x30 RACI Finderscope
Vixen Sphinx SXD/Hal 130
Celestron CG5-ASGT
Stellarvue M1/Surveyor Tripod
|
Fred1
professor emeritus
Reged: 09/19/07
Posts: 724
Loc: Garnet Valley, Pennsylvania
|
|
I just did a quick price check on 20Ah and 28 Ah batteries, they are about $80 and $96, respectively. So having to dispose of the entire 600D unit is not such a big loss when the battery dies.
--------------------
Fred
Celestron 8" SCT w/Starizona Feathertouch Microfocuser and Orion 9x50 RACI FinderScope;
Stellarvue Nighthawk Aplanat w/Orion 6x30 RACI Finderscope
Vixen Sphinx SXD/Hal 130
Celestron CG5-ASGT
Stellarvue M1/Surveyor Tripod
|
RandallK
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/10/06
Posts: 607
Loc: Nanaimo, B. C. Canada
|
|
Yep, the CDN Tire version is the same animal all right.
--------------------
Scopes: Meade SC-8AT w UHTC
SkyWatcher 5" F/5 Reflector
SkyWatcher 127mm MAK
Mount: HEQ5 Pro
Cameras: Orion Starshoot DS Colour Imager V.1
Imaging Source Webcam DMK21AU04.AS
Palm TX PDA w Astromist and Bluetooth wireles control.
|
tjay
super member
Reged: 02/03/07
Posts: 147
|
|
Quote:
tjay: on my blindingly high tech scale, which I think a chap named Noah may have used, it looks to be about 28 lbs.
Thanks. I'll weigh the 20 AH one, and see if I think it's worth the extra weight and if I'm willing to wait until the bigger one goes on sale.
--------------------
Clear Skies
Tom
Nexstar 8 GPS with Starizona Feathertouch Microfocuser
GSO 8" Dob
Meade ETX 80
Kendrick Dew Heater
JMI Case
11mm, 20mm Agena Astro UWA (20mm is my favourite by FAR!!!)
40mm, 32mm, 26mm, 20mm and 15mm Meade Series 4000 Super Plossl
25mm and 10mm GSO Plossl, GSO 2x barlow
Surplus Shed 47mm Erfle
GSO 2" Dielectric diagonal
Antares f6.3 focal reducer
Philips SPC900NC
|
tjay
super member
Reged: 02/03/07
Posts: 147
|
|
Quote:
Tom, thanks for that info. I was mainly interested in the 28Ah version, but according to the Xantrex owner's manual it seems that model, the 600D, does not have a replacement battery and must be disposed of when it dies. Perhaps I should consider the 20Ah version instead. Thanks again for the link.
No problem Fred. Thanks for checking into the price of replacement batteries. I kind of like the size of the 20 AH one, but I'd hate to be wishing for more power once my webcam shows up and I've got a laptop running off it too. Decisions, decisions...
--------------------
Clear Skies
Tom
Nexstar 8 GPS with Starizona Feathertouch Microfocuser
GSO 8" Dob
Meade ETX 80
Kendrick Dew Heater
JMI Case
11mm, 20mm Agena Astro UWA (20mm is my favourite by FAR!!!)
40mm, 32mm, 26mm, 20mm and 15mm Meade Series 4000 Super Plossl
25mm and 10mm GSO Plossl, GSO 2x barlow
Surplus Shed 47mm Erfle
GSO 2" Dielectric diagonal
Antares f6.3 focal reducer
Philips SPC900NC
|
Fred1
professor emeritus
Reged: 09/19/07
Posts: 724
Loc: Garnet Valley, Pennsylvania
|
|
I feel your pain, Tom. I was just gettng use to the idea that I'd need another smaller power source for my DewBuster/heaters, when I decided that a larger one would be better so I could run my 2nd mount, and now I might want an even bigger one as I'm getting interested in video astronomy. 
--------------------
Fred
Celestron 8" SCT w/Starizona Feathertouch Microfocuser and Orion 9x50 RACI FinderScope;
Stellarvue Nighthawk Aplanat w/Orion 6x30 RACI Finderscope
Vixen Sphinx SXD/Hal 130
Celestron CG5-ASGT
Stellarvue M1/Surveyor Tripod
|
cocobolo
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/27/07
Posts: 1550
Loc: british columbia, canada
|
|
tjay, you could always get two batteries, that way the whole load wouldn't have to be dumped on one unit.
Keith
|
Fred1
professor emeritus
Reged: 09/19/07
Posts: 724
Loc: Garnet Valley, Pennsylvania
|
|
That's what I did. I bought a Sears 1150 Power Pack 22Ah today before the sale ends tomorrow. The 1150 along with my Power Tank 17Ah should give me what I need. Hopefully, I'll have enough power to sustain my usual 5-6 hour long sessions for my two mounts and dew controll, even when I expand to video astronomy.
--------------------
Fred
Celestron 8" SCT w/Starizona Feathertouch Microfocuser and Orion 9x50 RACI FinderScope;
Stellarvue Nighthawk Aplanat w/Orion 6x30 RACI Finderscope
Vixen Sphinx SXD/Hal 130
Celestron CG5-ASGT
Stellarvue M1/Surveyor Tripod
|
tjay
super member
Reged: 02/03/07
Posts: 147
|
|
I'll probably end up going with the 20 AH one for now, and if it does become a problem, add either anothe one or another battery later. My wife pointed out a very important thing tonight as we got a few looks as Saturn with the kids before the haze and clouds rolled in. Having everything plugged in to a battery directly underneath the tripod means no cords running away from the scope for people to trip on. That's enough to me to at least keep the one I've got now rather than waiting.
--------------------
Clear Skies
Tom
Nexstar 8 GPS with Starizona Feathertouch Microfocuser
GSO 8" Dob
Meade ETX 80
Kendrick Dew Heater
JMI Case
11mm, 20mm Agena Astro UWA (20mm is my favourite by FAR!!!)
40mm, 32mm, 26mm, 20mm and 15mm Meade Series 4000 Super Plossl
25mm and 10mm GSO Plossl, GSO 2x barlow
Surplus Shed 47mm Erfle
GSO 2" Dielectric diagonal
Antares f6.3 focal reducer
Philips SPC900NC
Edited by tjay (05/10/08 10:52 PM)
|
cocobolo
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/27/07
Posts: 1550
Loc: british columbia, canada
|
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
[Re: