Power Tanks in Aldi

However, I have seen some folks get about 3 hours use from it running a camera, dew heater, CG10 mount and scope, and a laptop. Now, that's good going!

The battery will supply power well beyond the 20% limit, its how its going to work the next day is what I'd be concerned about, it goes from been a rechargeable battery to a disposable battery, and I'd want more then 3 hours from the pack, atleast 6 hours for me.

I remember my battery setup used to run my LX200 all night, by the end of its life I'd be lucky to get 30 mins.

I think they were on special offer at the time. I was planning to run my laptop off it

Michael, I know for a fact that the one you can get in Halfords with a built in mains power inverter goes into overload auto-protection when used with a laptop, so keep the receipt if you're gonna try this, this was with Franks laptop so I guess we were lucky the thing didn't spontaneously explode. :lol:

Side stepping slightly off topic for a moment, you can get rehcrageable batteries specifically for the laptop (16 and 19V).

This might be the way to go for a laptop.

Another alternative is to run your machine from your car cigarette lighter directly, but you're limited by cable length.
Seanie.

with the car engine on?? otherwise its not much better then using the powerpack above and you could end up marooned (incase I caused any confusion, normal car batteries are also the SLI type)..

Hi Darragh,

I got one of them myself for €30. I think they were on special offer at the time. I was planning to run my laptop off it but reading Dave's post I'm wondering if that will damage it.

Michael.

Michael,

According to some of the electronic engineers I work with, for digital electronics like laptops, you need a very clean filtered source to run them.
A unit like this will probably not have the required filters, but then again I have used an inverter to power a laptop off a car cigarette plug and it charged up the laptop battery.

Darragh

Interesting,

When I bought a previous laptop I got a gaget which allows be to charge/run the laptop off a 12V supply. I have successfully used this with my Celestron power tank. My concern was with the slow drain from the laptop killing the maplin battery.

I suppose I could always charge the laptop from the car battery and then if I drain that use the Maplin battery to start the car. Possibly a bit convoluted for 2AM on a winter morning after an observing session

You wanna power system!, look at what this guy built :shock:
www.scopereviews.com/dobmod.html
I used to think that this was over the top, not anymore :lol:
I'd like to know where he got the stackable boxes.

RESISTANCE IS FUTILE!!!!

More machine than telescope there.

You wanna power system!, look at what this guy built :shock:
www.scopereviews.com/dobmod.html

I like the built-in Borg accessory indicator to tell you it's on!