40 replies to this topic

[rick80134]

I have a Jackery 300 w/288 wh.  With the my full rig pulling 45- 50 watts, that is potentially a bit light.  Amazon has some killer sales on Jackery 500 and Jackery 240.  Rather than spend $380 on the 500, I'm considering spending $190 on the 240.  I can either run gear separately on the two PS's, or, I think I can connect one to the other, and run the rig from one PS.  For example, the rig is connected ONLY to the Jackery 300.  The charger for the Jackery 300 is plugged into the power output of the Jackery 240.  Any reason NOT to do this, vs spending 2x for the Jackery 500?

 

Thanks!

[archiebald]

Don't buy Lithium Ion - those cheap deals are probably for that reason.

 

Lithium Iron Phosphate LiFe4 is the way to go. 

 

Not sure what you mean about charging one from the other?

[rick80134]

Hmm.. a lot of people seem to be happy with Jackery Products.  Anyway, to stay on topic...   See above description re:charging one from the other.  The rig runs off the Jackery 300.  The charging port of the Jackery 300 is plugged into the power output of the Jackery 240.

 

Don't buy Lithium Ion - those cheap deals are probably for that reason.

 

Lithium Iron Phosphate LiFe4 is the way to go. 

 

Not sure what you mean about charging one from the other?

[archiebald]

Hmm.. a lot of people seem to be happy with Jackery Products.  Anyway, to stay on topic...   See above description re:charging one from the other.  The rig runs off the Jackery 300.  The charging port of the Jackery 300 is plugged into the power output of the Jackery 240.

I didn't say Jackery was an issue, just Lithium Ion.

 

As for your charging question - all you will achieve is wasting energy due to all the losses involved - it makes no sense whatsoever.

[Drothgeb]

The 500 is only $300 on Jackery’s website, not $380.

 

Yes, you should be able to use the 12v input to interconnect them. Although, it should just be a 12v cable from a 12v outlet, not a “charger” plugged into the 120v outlet. Also, make sure the 12v cable can handle the maximum amperage output from the supply outlet. Try to have their charge levels similar when you interconnect them too. If one is fully charged and the other is low, there could be lots of current flowing. 

[rick80134]

You're suggesting bite the bullet and get the single larger size needed to run the rig for a long night.  Correct?

 

I didn't say Jackery was an issue, just Lithium Ion.

 

As for your charging question - all you will achieve is wasting energy due to all the losses involved - it makes no sense whatsoever.

[rick80134]

Yeah, $300 for the US.  I moved to Spain a few months ago.. 

 

The 500 is only $300 on Jackery’s website, not $380.

 

Yes, you should be able to use the 12v input to interconnect them. Although, it should just be a 12v cable from a 12v outlet, not a “charger” plugged into the 120v outlet. Also, make sure the 12v cable can handle the maximum amperage output from the supply outlet. Try to have their charge levels similar when you interconnect them too. If one is fully charged and the other is low, there could be lots of current flowing. 

[TelescopeGreg]

If you can afford the larger one, I'd go for it.  I've never been sorry to have too much capacity, as you will always find other uses for the unit.

 

That said...  There's nothing particularly unique about the Jackery brand these days.  They are good products, but I'd consider the options. 

 

To the battery chemistry sub-topic, I would recommend a power station based on the LiFePO4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) chemistry over the older "Lithium Ion" types.  The Iron Phosphate ones last a lot longer (10x, if you believe the specs) in terms of number of recharging cycles, enough that it's simply a non-issue.    Both Jackery 240 and 500 units appear to the Ion types; their 1000 is phosphate.  I don't know what other brands are available in Spain, but some such as Bluetti are similar in function and use the phosphate battery chemistry cells in the size you're looking at.  Check and compare battery chemistry, as well as number and type of outlets, and features such as the ability to recharge while in use (some allow, some don't), and the various ways to recharge (solar, car adapter, wall plug, etc.).  Always be sure the unit has a pure sine wave inverter; the really cheap brands often don't (or didn't), and that can cause a lot of trouble.

[danny1976]

A LiFePo4 battery will last you a lot longer. If your rig pulls 50W (mine only 27W) and you want to image 12h in the long winter nights you will need a capacity of 12x50=600Wh and knowing these LiFePo4 have an efficiency of 80-90% you will need 750Wh. 

 

Anker C1000 or Bluetti AC180 are good options and can be controlled via app. You always want some extra juice when the nights are cold or you want to charge something else.

 

These batteries go on sale often where you can save a lot of money.

Edited by danny1976, 17 July 2024 - 02:08 PM.

[Silent_Light]

Got a Jackery 1500 wh unit a bit back....with eq-6r, OGMA AP26CC, asi220mm, MeLE Quiter 3Q, cheapo Lenovo laptop, all plugged in.....I can het a minimum of 2 full nights ou of it.  Max draw is around 45w full tilt

Got it on an Amazon deal for $600!

Edited by Silent_Light, 17 July 2024 - 02:32 PM.

[archiebald]

You're suggesting bite the bullet and get the single larger size needed to run the rig for a long night.  Correct?

No, no recommendations here.  I'm just saying using one unit to charge another is pointless. No system is 100% efficient so you will lose an awful lot of the energy that you are paying for.

 

Although, if it is recommendations you are looking for, just look in my sig line.

Edited by archiebald, 17 July 2024 - 03:55 PM.

[Tulloch]

What are people's thoughts on a portable generator like this instead of an expensive battery?

https://www.dewalt.c...-2200-watt?tid=

 

Pure sine wave, 12V outputs, overpowered, can run all night, quiet?

 

Andrew

[Vinnyvent84]

What are people's thoughts on a portable generator like this instead of an expensive battery?

https://www.dewalt.c...-2200-watt?tid=

 

Pure sine wave, 12V outputs, overpowered, can run all night, quiet?

 

Andrew

Hey Andrew! Hope all is well! I actually have this - I dont use it for my scope gear but my power tools. I can speak on the volume. For a generator it is definitely quiet, is it “whisper” quiet…eh I wouldn’t say that. It’s essentially like an older window air conditioner; probably a the best description. I dont think it would wake up any neighbors. 

[Drothgeb]

What are people's thoughts on a portable generator like this instead of an expensive battery?

https://www.dewalt.c...-2200-watt?tid=

 

Pure sine wave, 12V outputs, overpowered, can run all night, quiet?

 

Andrew

I have a 2200w Honda I use for camping. Great generator, but I wouldn’t it for astrophotography unless I really had too (noise, smoke, extension cord). I use a 60ah LiFePO4 battery. It will run things for 2 nights depending on dew heaters, and was just over $200 after adding outlets and a battery monitor.

 

[TelescopeGreg]

Yeah, I'd only use a fuel-based generator for charging the Jackery / Bluetti / et al, and then only if I didn't have an alternative.  If you do need to go fuel-based, adapting them for propane instead of gasoline is less maintenance, and will store for longer without the fuel going stale.  And you can share the propane with your BBQ .

[Tulloch]

Yeah, I'd only use a fuel-based generator for charging the Jackery / Bluetti / et al, and then only if I didn't have an alternative.  If you do need to go fuel-based, adapting them for propane instead of gasoline is less maintenance, and will store for longer without the fuel going stale.  And you can share the propane with your BBQ .

But why? Assuming I don’t have a big battery, what’s the real issue? It seems to me to be the best option, especially out in areas away from civilisation. It has heaps of power, gives you a pure ac supply for laptops etc, and can be topped up from a jerry can. 
 

Just struggling to work out the problem with this kind of power supply.

[rick80134]

Depends on your definition of portable.  It's 50lb dry.

What are people's thoughts on a portable generator like this instead of an expensive battery?

https://www.dewalt.c...-2200-watt?tid=

 

Pure sine wave, 12V outputs, overpowered, can run all night, quiet?

 

Andrew

[archiebald]

But why? Assuming I don’t have a big battery, what’s the real issue? It seems to me to be the best option, especially out in areas away from civilisation. It has heaps of power, gives you a pure ac supply for laptops etc, and can be topped up from a jerry can. 
 

Just struggling to work out the problem with this kind of power supply.

It's overpowered, it burns fossil fuels, flammable liquids to carry, it's heavy, it will be very inefficient running all night for just 30-50 watts of power (or less), the output may not be fully stable, it may stall.  Need more reasons?

 

A battery and, if you wish, a solar panel to recharge (or even your car if needs be) makes you completely self sufficient with far greater reliability and stability.

[Zambiadarkskies]

But why? Assuming I don’t have a big battery, what’s the real issue? It seems to me to be the best option, especially out in areas away from civilisation. It has heaps of power, gives you a pure ac supply for laptops etc, and can be topped up from a jerry can. 
 

Just struggling to work out the problem with this kind of power supply.

It is precisely in areas away from civilization where generators should especially not be used.   Noise carries a long long way on a still night.  It drives me absolutely insane when people are overland camping in remote places such as National Parks and fire up a generator.  Even the super quiet Honda inverter generator (EU2200i) that we have is still relatively loud compared to nature.  

[rjryerson]

I bought this and have been happy with it from a astrophotography standpoint.

 

https://www.amazon.c...e?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

It will power my rig for many hours into the night and have charge left over. I don't run it all night, but I think it code handle it. 

[rick80134]

Interesting they call it the "521", as it has 256 wh, NOT 521.

I bought this and have been happy with it from a astrophotography standpoint.

 

https://www.amazon.c...e?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

It will power my rig for many hours into the night and have charge left over. I don't run it all night, but I think it code handle it. 

[pj_thomas]

I have a BLUETTI EB3A, 268Wh LiFePO4, that I extend with DeWalt 20v batteries plugged into the solar charger port.

[TelescopeGreg]

It's overpowered, it burns fossil fuels, flammable liquids to carry, it's heavy, it will be very inefficient running all night for just 30-50 watts of power (or less), the output may not be fully stable, it may stall.  Need more reasons?

 

A battery and, if you wish, a solar panel to recharge (or even your car if needs be) makes you completely self sufficient with far greater reliability and stability.

What Archiebald said.  I would add, don't forget the maintenance angle of a gas (or even propane) powered motor.  Oil changes, spark plugs, general cleaning, and so forth.  Batteries, even the old AGMs, just work.  The only maintenance is recharging them, and that's accomplished while you are doing something else (presumably more productive).

[Tulloch]

OK, so from the responses I can see, the only real issues with a petrol powered generator are maintenance (which really only amounts to that of a lawnmower), annoying other people with the noise (which I get, but it's not really my problem if I'm in a secluded area), and it's a bit inefficient to supply a small amount of power.

 

How do people power their laptops with a 12V battery?

Edited by Tulloch, 19 July 2024 - 12:44 AM.

[archiebald]

OK, so from the responses I can see, the only real issues with a petrol powered generator are maintenance (which really only amounts to that of a lawnmower), annoying other people with the noise (which I get, but it's not really my problem if I'm in a secluded area), and it's a bit inefficient to supply a small amount of power.

 

How do people power their laptops with a 12V battery?

An 180-100W inverter would be more than sufficient, they are available for cars as well from about US$20-30 or less - https://www.amazon.c...800&sr=8-5&th=1

 

But most of the portable power stations people here are quoting include high power inverters built in.

 

I see a lot of people here insisting on building their own DIY kludge power "solutions" where you need batteries, a charger, an inverter, cables and connectors and a box to put it all in.  Much simpler and hardly more expensive to buy a ready made solution such as Ecoflow / Bluetti / Jackery etc.

 

In my case, I can use it at home as an emergency power supply or UPS too.
 

Edited by archiebald, 19 July 2024 - 01:03 AM.