Your Guide to Astrophotography Power | Best Options Explained

Not sure what the options are to power your astrophotography gear? In this video I break down several options, including showing how I power my gear at home.
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Extension Lead
Jackery Power Station: amzn.to/3xXTQGC
Extension Lead: amzn.to/3bioClQ
Car Jump Starter: bit.ly/3u5ezax
12V to mains adapter: amzn.to/3OuVsP9
*The equipment I use*
Sky-Watcher Evostar 72ED: bit.ly/3gBOKVO
Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer: bit.ly/2QvQZ2f
HEQ5 Mount: bit.ly/31zmW08
Field flattener for 72ED: bit.ly/32wiP48
Canon camera adapter: bit.ly/3joCh9P
Dew strap & controller: bit.ly/2QwHuAb
US based viewers. Buy your gear at HighPoint Scientific here: bit.ly/3JdnPOI
US based viewers. Buy your gear at OPT here: bit.ly/3gAcee8
Disclosures: All opinions are my own. Some links in the description are affiliate links that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

[@DLMVegas]

I've had the Jackery portable 1000 for a couple years now. Works just great. Running the tracker and charging camera batteries only uses about 2% of the battery for 4-5 hours of shooting.

[@AstroExploring]

Perfect!

[@hapestr]

Great info there! Personally I opted for a 50Ah Li-Fe-Po4 12V in a water tight box with "electronics". Made my astroimaging life quite a bit easier. Reliable, even in the cold depths of Norwegian winter, as you can have them with heating circuitry. I prefer it to the mains, as it fits all my 12V gear without adapters (running through a Pegasus box) and is more portable even around in the garden.

[@AstroExploring]

Fantastic 😃

[@crm114.]

Nice review. I used to use two Celestron Lithium Powertank Pros. One to power the mount and the other for everthing else including a cooled ZWO camera. I used to get at least 5 hours imaging time and still use them when away from home. I recommend them highly. I’ve switched to mains power now at home.

[@carolsantulis1990]

Do you "condition" your mains power to protect your rig from surges, undervoltage or power outages? (I don't think I can trust my home power...very rural)

[@sneakerset]

I wound up with a metered dual-channel regulated PS for home use. Stable and reliable. A garden tractor batt powers the mobile rig - lightweight and cheap. Thanks for covering this topic.

[@richardspence5316]

Great advice as always. Not sure if it’s just my own experience, but having used the SW AZ EQ6 Pro along with the Power Oak 500W power tank, if I attempt to plug in another device, the mount auto guiding goes bananas! If I’m just running the mount it is perfect. I therefore run all my other bits off my Jackery 250W. Just a note on the Jackery, I attempted to run the mount off this power tank and once again the EQ6 started doing odd 360 rotations! I’m assuming the EQ6 models are power hungry beasts?

[@dovber90]

Great video Nick. An important topic. I use a ‘Portable Power Technology’ Powepack 450+. It’s great and lasts 3 or 4 nights of imaging. Has lots of ports too. Usb and dew heater.

[@AstroExploring]

Another good brand! They look like solid bits of kit

[@jpastroguy]

I just wanted to add one comment that is worth pointing out. Only buy a battery that lists a constant voltage. Some batteries may say 12 to 18 V, which works fine for some household appliances but may be an issue for Astro photography equipment that requires exactly 12 V. For instance, I naively bought one of these and it would not turn on my ASIAIR pro. I have subsequently learned that these batteries start at the higher listed voltage and as they drain they reach a 12 V minimum which is then maintained throughout the remainder of the charge. I guess I’m lucky I did not burn out my ASIAIR pro!

[@kevinashley478]

Also, i saw a video for another astrophotography youtuber, he loves biscuits, and he met with a guy that works on mounts...um, i think his name was Dave from Dark-something or other. Anyways, Dave said that one mount in particular, i think it was the HEQ5, was more accurate if you ran it on more than the listed power requirements. How would someone go about doing that?

[@carolsantulis1990]

I've been using Main house power but recently we have been having many short power outages (1-2 sec) and I don't trust that we don't have power undervoltages. Do you use or recommend a UPS or a way to control power fluctuations from the house? I'm trying to think of a way to convert AC to DC and run a 100' cable out to mount.

[@qwertyu2387]

One hundred percent agree with you. I have had to put up with low capacity and not particularly reliable power supply units. Interestingly, one of my negative experiences I had with Skywatcher dedicated power station. You can only take as much but at some point decisions must be made. Bought 85Ah deep cycle leisure battery, number of car style cigarette sockets, LCD voltage display, aluminium L shape profiles (25x25mm), some male and female electric connectors. I then took some measurements and ordered perspex sheets cut to size. Put it all together in two afternoons. It's common knowledge that good battery must be heavy (unless its lithium battery) and my is about 27kg but I don't care because I know what happens when your power supply voltage drops down below 9volt. In my case low voltage have destroyed my HEQ5 motherboard.

[@AstroExploring]

Ouch!!

[@billkonkel6325]

Ecoflow River series battery are good batteries with quick recharge times. They are having a sale on them right now.

[@alanalain4884]

Hi... Great videoo , thank you. II think you forgot the link fr the car 12v adapter as you said you would link in your description... Thank you if you have any time for an update...

[@AstroExploring]

Apologies, I’ve just updated the description

[@Johnnyboing]

Hi Nick, great video. My issue is not power but CLOUDS!!! Can you do a video on how to get rid of them!!!! John.

[@AstroExploring]

FLO sell a cloud zapper 😂

[@Johnnyboing]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@kevinashley478]

So how do you look at your gear that needs power and figure up how much power you need for at least 12 hours?? I took Electricity/Electronics in middle school, but that was over 30 years ago..more like 35. I dont remember any of the formulas or how to figure up power requirements. Any info from anyone??

[@astrobath]

I have got a 12v lead acid AGM battery, 28 Ah, so I will see how it works in my DIY box.

[@markcompton1249]

I am sure it must be possible for those with electric cars to have another solution. With around 80kW (@400W?) on board in many of them, there's loads of capacity, but few manufacturers so far seem to have built in enough amperage output to power astro (or camping, etc) gear. Tesla truck, when it arrives, will be a notable exception. It seems that the rest of us need to get a knowledgeable electric-car mechanic to do a suitable mod... 🤞

[@dallas69]

Ryobi one+ 18v 120-Watt Push Start Power Source with 12-Volt Outlet RYi12VBG

[@leoncorns1450]

Mains power through the catflap for me.

[@AstroExploring]

Great solution! How does the cat feel about that? 😂

[@leoncorns1450]

@@AstroExploring The cat died last year. Natural causes . Not electrocuted by the Mount's power feed.🙂

[@koomber777]

Aldi have a pretty decent weatherproof extension lead the now for under £30. Only got 2 sockets on it. If you are reading this in the future:. Aldi had a decent 20m weather proof extension lead for less than £30 in June 2022

[@iShilas]

just realised i am drilling my house wall tomorrow

[@wesleydonnelly2141]

My goodness me!!?? Did I see that correctly!!?? £1154.99 for that portable Power Station in your vid at around the 4:00 mark!!?? If yes, then that's HILARIOUSELY EXPENSIVE!!! On another subject, I think it would have been helpful if you cautioned viewers about running Lithium-Ion battery packs until they're completely flat, because as you likely know, running Li-Ion Batts until they're totally flat causes stress to the battery chemistry and shortens the batteries useful life span. In my own personal experince, it's always good practice to never run a Li-Ion Battery to below 30% capacity and avoid charging them up to 100% capacity, preferably never above 70% to 90%, if at all possible, because again it causes stress to the battery chemistry, reducing the useful life span of the battery. Obviousely these targets will limit coniderably your imaging times while "at the field" so to speak, but if it is possible, then i'd advise people to strive for these parameters whenever practically possible! ESPECIALLY if it cost you over £1000!! LOL. Great vid btw, I enjoyed it and got a lot of useful tips and info about powering my rig! Thanks! Wes, Liverpool UK.

[@AntPDC]

Yep - ludicrous! Good advice on lithium type batteries. These days, a number of them have monitoring circuitry for "smart charge/discharge" - rather like that used in smartphones.

[@wesleydonnelly2141]

@@AntPDC Yes I have seen that tech myself. I didn't mention in my original comment, my knowledge of lithium Battery tech has come from years of using Lipo's and LiFe ( Lithium Polymer and lithium Ferrous, respectively ) battery packs to power my RC Helicopters, Cars etc. You really learn how to care for Lithium based batteries in that hobby. You also learn just how dangerous Lithium battery tech can be when you abuse them or don't look after them! Scary!