9 replies to this topic

[RodShea]

I just got a motorized Rowan AZ100.  Roughly how how big a battery do I want to use for, say, 6 to 8 hours of use, with the mount tracking the whole time?  I have a 10 AH lithium one that I will use as soon as we get any sky, but a smaller one would be nice, especially if I mount it on one saddle with a scope on the other saddle.

 

Thanks very much,

 

Rod

 

 

[Safetyman]

I’ve bummed this setup from another CN member but I don’t recall who it was so I can’t give him credit. I’ve been using the SmallRig VB99 mini V-mount battery and it works great. Had a session last around 6 hours and it wasn’t even down to 50% by the end of it. There are some tapped holes on the mount the can be used to mount the battery in a convenient place like in the picture below.

Attached Thumbnails

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[swsantos]

https://www.cloudyni...n/?fromsearch=1

[Safetyman]

It was swsantos!

[RodShea]

Thanks very much!  Looks like swsantos really sorted it all out, that is a very nice setup.  Thanks again

[swsantos]

I would say for anyone who, like me, does not use the AZ100’s tablet attachment point that attaching a battery there is a perfect alternative use for it. I much prefer holding a tablet in my hand while interacting with it because I am either sitting down in my Stardust chair or moving around the observing area between objects and I sometimes carry it around.

Edited by swsantos, 15 March 2025 - 06:10 PM.

[RodShea]

I would say for anyone who, like me, does not use the AZ100’s tablet attachment point that attaching a battery there is a perfect alternative use for it. I much prefer holding a tablet in my hand while interacting with it because I am either sitting down in my Stardust chair or moving around the observing area between objects and I sometimes carry it around.

That would work, too.  I'm just starting to use a tablet, and I'm not sure what works best for me yet.  I really like the SmallRig battery because it will also allow me to power a PiFinder from the same battery, all in one small unit, without having to build a one off unit to run both the mount and the PiFinder.

 

Thanks again,

 

Rod

[davidgmd]

If you want to use the mount attachment point for an articulated arm and tablet holder, a small Talent Cell can be affixed atop the altitude motor housing with Velco, or even better magnetic tape (which was also Steve’s idea).

  

 
An ~80 Wh battery will go all night and then some. 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YRZYLKV

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KCB11Z3

I don’t do a lot of slewing with the motors. The beauty of the AZ100 is that I can manually push it to get close and let the motors do the final few degrees and tracking.

 

  
 

 

[RodShea]

If you want to use the mount attachment point for an articulated arm and tablet holder, a small Talent Cell can be affixed atop the altitude motor housing with Velco, or even better magnetic tape (which was also Steve’s idea).

  
20231025_122032.jpeg

 
An ~80 Wh battery will go all night and then some. 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YRZYLKV

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KCB11Z3

I don’t do a lot of slewing with the motors. The beauty of the AZ100 is that I can manually push it to get close and let the motors do the final few degrees and tracking.

 

  
 

That looks like a very nice battery!  I will be pushing the scope(s), mostly, I think, and mostly using the mount for tracking.

 

Thanks,

 

Rod

[rhaskins]

I do this. Ram Mount connections and 3d printed box.

 

Rick