Telescope Reviews: Am I overthinking power tanks?

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RTLR 12
Post Laureate

Reged: 12/04/08

Loc: Capistrano Beach, Ca

Re: Am I overthinking power tanks? new

[Re: EdTheEdge]
#5608574 - 01/06/13 02:50 PM

Battery Tender JR only charges at a rate of .75 amps. Slow to charge, but easy on the battery.

Stan

Post Extras:

Smittty692k4
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 07/05/11

Loc: East Bernard, TX

Re: Am I overthinking power tanks? new

[Re: EdTheEdge]
#5609973 - 01/07/13 11:12 AM

Hiya Michael,

Instead of a bettery tender, I would recommend the Schumacher XP2260 power tank. ou can buy it at walart in the automotive section.

I also use the 102 SLT and a Nexstar 8SE (with dew strips)

Just wanted to throw this out there. And if you have a problem, its only Walmart, exchange it right. HAHA

Digital battery display
Non-overcharging (If you forget, it wont ruin the battery)
2 AC ports
2 Cig lighter ports
USB port

Plus extras. Been using my 2 for a year and half. No issues.

Post Extras:

zippeee
sage

Reged: 12/27/10

Loc: Alberta, Canada

Re: Am I overthinking power tanks? new

[Re: Smittty692k4]
#5610248 - 01/07/13 01:27 PM

I read somewhere that the Battery Tender Jr. gets really hot (hotter than you'd feel comfortable with leaving it plugged in and unattended), can anyone confirm this? I'd like to replace my 12v charger (a very nice, standard auto/RV one) with a low power BT of some sort.

Post Extras:

Paul G
Post Laureate

Reged: 05/08/03

Loc: Freedonia

Re: Am I overthinking power tanks? new

[Re: zippeee]
#5610339 - 01/07/13 02:32 PM

Quote:

I read somewhere that the Battery Tender Jr. gets really hot (hotter than you'd feel comfortable with leaving it plugged in and unattended), can anyone confirm this? I'd like to replace my 12v charger (a very nice, standard auto/RV one) with a low power BT of some sort.

Mine hasn't after years of use. I use Optima blue top dual purpose marine batteries and Optima tech support recommended Battery Tender, Jr. It has worked very well for me.

Post Extras:

EdTheEdge
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 04/10/09

Loc: Lomita, CA

Re: Am I overthinking power tanks? new

[Re: Paul G]
#5611805 - 01/08/13 11:46 AM

I leave mine plugged in almost 24/7 charging my cars and/or my power tank. It does not get hot.

Post Extras:

ponz
super member

Reged: 07/18/12

Loc: Kansas City, MO

Re: Am I overthinking power tanks? new

[Re: zippeee]
#5611959 - 01/08/13 01:31 PM

Quote:

I read somewhere that the Battery Tender Jr. gets really hot (hotter than you'd feel comfortable with leaving it plugged in and unattended), can anyone confirm this? I'd like to replace my 12v charger (a very nice, standard auto/RV one) with a low power BT of some sort.

I've been using the (same) Battery Tender Jr for several YEARS on my motorcycle batteries and haven't had on problem.

Ponz

Post Extras:

Doug Culbertson
Post Laureate

Reged: 01/06/05

Re: Am I overthinking power tanks? new

[Re: ponz]
#5611973 - 01/08/13 01:41 PM

Quote:

Quote:

I read somewhere that the Battery Tender Jr. gets really hot (hotter than you'd feel comfortable with leaving it plugged in and unattended), can anyone confirm this? I'd like to replace my 12v charger (a very nice, standard auto/RV one) with a low power BT of some sort.

I've been using the (same) Battery Tender Jr for several YEARS on my motorcycle batteries and haven't had on problem.

Ponz

+1 I also use it for my 7AH gel cells that I use on my Starmaster, and often forget to disconnect them for days at a time. No problems at all.

Post Extras:

CJK
professor emeritus

Reged: 12/05/12

Loc: Scenic SE TN

Re: Am I overthinking power tanks? [Re: ponz]
#5612004 - 01/08/13 02:00 PM

Quote:

I've been using the (same) Battery Tender Jr for several YEARS on my motorcycle batteries and haven't had on problem.

Ponz

Doh! Meant to do that back in December when it got too cold to ride!

-- Chris

Post Extras:

bobmarleyou812
sage

Reged: 01/18/08

Loc: CA

Re: Am I overthinking power tanks? new

[Re: CJK]
#5616294 - 01/10/13 09:24 PM

Am I overthinking power tanks?

YES

I have the PSX thing that Costco sells. I can run my scope all night and still have enough juice to put 40 psi in my tire and jump my truck in the morning.

Post Extras:

jrbarnett
Eyepiece Hooligan

Reged: 02/28/06

Loc: Petaluma, CA

Re: Am I overthinking power tanks? new

[Re: skybsd]
#5617635 - 01/11/13 05:35 PM

I think the pricing is way, way too high per AH on the KAIs.

You can get a 66AH Optima Blue deep cycle battery for a couple hundred bucks, a DC plug socket splitter for $10, and a battery Tender Jr. for $17, and have greater capacity in a smaller size than the $950 KAI Titan.

I have a small 7AH KAI pack. Overpriced. It uses a cheap, 7.5AH gel cell like you can buy off eBay for $17. I view the KAI solutions as being for those who are afraid of batteries and clamps. You're paying *a lot* to hide the battery inside of something.

- Jim

Edited by jrbarnett (01/11/13 05:52 PM)

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RealSorin
member

Reged: 10/22/12

Loc: Seattle, WA

Re: Am I overthinking power tanks? new

[Re: jrbarnett]
#5630248 - 01/18/13 04:50 PM

I've been trying to understand the battery options and this is a helpful thread. One question I've been pondering in particular: why aren't there many light/compact and plug and play options? I'm looking at this from a consumer electronics perspective where the battery technologies are clearly available, but there don't seem to be many options suitable for driving a telescope.

The PowerTank is heavy and has the issue that the battery really isn't designed for a low draw, or plug and forget charging (without a different charger).

I can across the Goal Zero Sherpa 120, which while expensive, seems like it would work great for a night of observing, and weighs about 4 lbs (lithium iron phosphate cells).

I guess I'm just wondering if there are better solutions I'm not seeing, if this is a gap in the market that people are content to engineer their own personal solutions for, or if nobody else really sees this as a gap?

Post Extras:

Steve Daniel
super member

Reged: 06/03/12

Loc: Austin, TX

Re: Am I overthinking power tanks? new

[Re: RealSorin]
#5630283 - 01/18/13 05:23 PM

I'm loving this one: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002CG001E/ref=wms_ohs_product

It will power my Celestron CPC800 all night. I leave it plugged in all the time. Looks like it's no longer available, but there's a 1800 mAh model, which would be about the same as the Celestron pack, I think.

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Ricky
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 09/09/03

Loc: Nor Cal

Re: Am I overthinking power tanks? new

[Re: Steve Daniel]
#5630464 - 01/18/13 07:29 PM

I'm using a bioenno 12v 12ah lifepo4 battery. It is relatively expensive but its a very safe lithium battery, can be deep cycled well below 50% capacity without damage, is extremely compact in size and weight, and if properly cared for is capable of 2000+ recharge cycles. I've been using it for a couple of weeks now and so far so good...time will tell.

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RTLR 12
Post Laureate

Reged: 12/04/08

Loc: Capistrano Beach, Ca

Re: Am I overthinking power tanks? new