Batteries or 12V Supply

Dave - how much would a PC power supply with six cigarette lighter sockets cost? And would it work and power all six? And how much would shipping cost from Limerick

As ever, nothing is easy in the game...

Cheer!
Dave

Dave,
A PC powersupply (PSU) is a great powersource, because its power limitations are well defined and the voltage is rock solid, it has to be as its supposed to run a PC.
As for 6 sockets, you can have as many as you like so long as you dont exceed the max power. I'm currently using a PSU about 8 years old, its able to give 4 amps maximim at 12 volts. It runs my dew belt (2.6 amps) +fans + lights (very low power) so its well able to cope. Many modern PSUs can give alot more then that.
Can you list exactly what you want to run at 12 volts stating what the amps requirement of each device is? That would be a good start.

Woah there...! Amps? What are they?

OK - I just read the Kendrick manual and the dewheater controller actually has two 12VDC outputs. So presumably, I can connect one of them to the mount and I have a spare output too. Unfortunately, the mount cable is a plug at one end and a cigarette lighter connector at the other... Can I buy a cable with two plugs on it?

As for amps, kendrick recommend a 12VDC supply and with the 8" dewheater, I can expect a draw of 1.5 amps. But with a 16" heater, that goes up to 4.1 to 4.5 amps (I hope to get a larger OTA soon...). But the controller is limited to a total of 5amps oputput so I might only be able to use one of the outputs and not use the second for e.g a CCD imager....

The AP1200 needs a minimum of 11.5 VDC at 5 amps (it'll take 18VDC in very cold weather).

Other future kit will probably include a CCD, focuser, filter wheel (though that may run off the CCD) - all 12VDC, and cloud sensor (requires 220VAC).

Does that help?

Cheers

From what I see there, the kendrick controller will drive the 16" dew belt and not much if anything else with it.

I can imaging that the AP would work better with a higher voltage, but, if you wanted to run everything all off the one 12V supply, then you'll need a PSU that can give out at least 5+5 and more for other pieces of equipment.
PC power supplies can easily supply this amount of power.

Too late Dave...

I ordered the Kendrick 12v/33AH battery with four outputs. I figured that I didn't want to run the risk of frying any expensive electronics and so went with the safe bet. I'm sure this beast will keep things ticking over...

Cheer for the advice though

Dave

At 300$ it would want to be good, the way I was suggesting would have cost you less then 100.
All the same Kendrick have a good rep.

Dave - I agonised over this. I knew I could a save a bundle by going your recommended route but since I'd be running the AP and the Kendrick dewheater off the home-built contraption, if I fried them, I'd be seriously out of pocket. Either in shipping costs for repair or both shipping costs and repair costs 'cos its unlikely AP/Kendrick would honour the warranty if it was my fault.

Given my total lack of knowledge of electronics, chances are good that I would've screwed up somehow. I can just about change a fuse and that's it - the rest is black magic...

So for piece of mind, no chance of voiding my warranties and no chance of having to send electronics back and forth to the US, its cost me an extra couple of hundred. Whilst I hate spending money I don't have to, at least this cost will allow me to sleep at night!

And there's no doubt, its a really nice power supply with plenty of room for most equipment I could need (famous last words...).

I appreciate your advice and perhaps others on the board with less to lose or better electronic skills would do well to take note

Cheers

Dave