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: 598
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: 598
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: 508
Loc: Nanaimo, B. C. Canada
|
|
Yep, the CDN Tire version is the same animal all right.
--------------------
Scopes: SkyWatcher 127mm Mak & 5" Newtonian
Mount: HEQ5 Pro
Cameras: Orion Starshoot DSI Colour CCD V.1
Imaging Source DMK21AU04.AS
Orion Filter Wheel Set
Palm TX with Astromist 2.4 w Bluetooth Wireless mount control.
Amateur Radio Call: VE7AIV
|
tjay
super member
Reged: 02/03/07
Posts: 140
|
|
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: 140
|
|
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: 598
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: 598
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: 140
|
|
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
|
|
Indeed that is an excellent point Tom.
In our club observatory, we had several cables in general disarray, and the warm room which has the computer etc required cables from the scope to the p.c. Unfortunately, we have put the door in the worst possible place and the cables were an invitation for tripping. I made up a double tapered piece of 2x4 with a dado on the flat side. Put the wood on top of the cables and screwed it to the floor. I suppose it might be a little difficult to do that on the grass!
Keith
|
tjay
super member
Reged: 02/03/07
Posts: 140
|
|
Quote:
Indeed that is an excellent point Tom.
In our club observatory, we had several cables in general disarray, and the warm room which has the computer etc required cables from the scope to the p.c. Unfortunately, we have put the door in the worst possible place and the cables were an invitation for tripping. I made up a double tapered piece of 2x4 with a dado on the flat side. Put the wood on top of the cables and screwed it to the floor. I suppose it might be a little difficult to do that on the grass!
Keith
Sounds like a great setup.
A solution to this would be to do as my wife suggests, and move to somewhere with a bit of land, and build a permanent observatory, but that's not quite in the cards yet.
--------------------
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
|
|
LISTEN to your wife Tom. LISTEN!!!
Keith
|
tjay
super member
Reged: 02/03/07
Posts: 140
|
|
Quote:
LISTEN to your wife Tom. LISTEN!!!
Keith
It's the whole paying for it part that's stopping me  . That, plus the reason she's suggested it: she wants to keep horses, which I think is even more expensive a hobby than astronomy.
--------------------
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
|
|
Oh dear, so you mean to say she's not the one who actually pays the bills then?
Well, that does throw a different light onto it doesn't it?
Does she have any wealthy relatives perhaps?
|
tjay
super member
Reged: 02/03/07
Posts: 140
|
|
Quote:
Oh dear, so you mean to say she's not the one who actually pays the bills then?
Well, that does throw a different light onto it doesn't it?
Does she have any wealthy relatives perhaps?
Unfortunately, no wealthy relatives in the pictures  I keep hoping for that lottery win, but it hasn't happened yet.
--------------------
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: 140
|
|
If anybody is looking, Canadian Tire has the 28 AH model on sale for $20 off this week. Here is the link: link
No a great deal, but a bit of break if you were looking for one.
--------------------
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
|
Starman1
Postmaster
Reged: 06/24/03
Posts: 10381
Loc: Los Angeles
|
|
Y'all will like this:
Black&Decker 19amp-hr rechargeable battery with electric tire inflator, jumper cables, AC outlets, DC outlets, and built-in recharger (uses a simple extension cord to charge).
Price is right.
Or this version:
http://www.directdepot.net/product_info.php?products_id=1724
--------------------
Don Pensack
12.5" Truss Dob, 5" Maksutov
Sustaining Lifetime IDA member, TeleVue junkie
Edited by Starman1 (05/18/08 09:58 PM)
|
tjay
super member
Reged: 02/03/07
Posts: 140
|
|
If you don't need much power, they've got a 12 Amp Hr one on sale for $74.99 this week here: link
--------------------
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: 140
|
|
The 33 Amp Hr one is on sale this week for $119.99. Here is a link: link
--------------------
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 (06/14/08 04:28 PM)
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
[Re: 
Edit
Reply
Quote
