Astronomy Power Options

[@ericmaxwell735]

Thank you for your time, sir.

[@kevinashley478]

Sir, you are my hero. I am subscribing. Your videos answer the exact questions i have. Thank you!!!

[@lixiaoyu1067]

Great content! Very informative!

[@Mr.eTrain007]

So helpful, thank you!

[@marvhalsey7544]

Very precise and informed discussion! Thank you. Do those 3 battery options have to be recharged with solar panels, or will a 110 charger work?

[@astronomytipsreviewswithcu740]

Thank you. The Jackery and the EBL come with their own AC (110V) chargers. Li Time (Ampere Time) sells their own AC chargers or you could buy a generic one made for Lithium batteries. All 3 can be charged with solar panels as well. The Jackery and EBL have a built in solar charge controller so just hook the output of the panel to the input to begin charging. For the Li Time battery you will need an external solar charge controller if you want to use a solar panel to charge it. If you want to use a solar panel you might want to look at my video reviews of solar panels on this channel.

[@josk5389]

Thanks for the Video. But there is one thing more, what you need to think about, when it comes to power your scope. If you want to take it on a plane, then you are limited to 2 x100 Wh Powerbanks. You can‘t get a Powerstation into a plane. That why I use 4 x 100Wh Powerbanks, that can be parraleld. That we can take onto a plane!

[@kevinashley478]

6:23 Quick question. So i know that the ASIAir will only accept ZWO products. The Pegasus is universal, assuming you have the proper drivers and etc. I like what i have seen of the AA but i cant guarantee that I will use only ZWO products. Does the Pegasus accept ZWO products, or has ZWO limited their products to only be used with the AA?

[@astronomytipsreviewswithcu740]

The two are very different devices with different purposes. The ASIAIR is a Raspberry Pi computer designed to control you equipment with the ASI software package. It also includes both USB and Power hub capability along with integrated WiFi. The Pegasus is not a computer. It is designed to be a Power and USB Hub to minimize cabling and allow control of the power settings via an included SW App. The Pegasus will work with any devices. The ASIAIR can control all ZWO devices but not other suppliers cameras, focusers, etc. It will control a wide range, but not all, of other suppliers mounts. I much prefer a mini-pc over the ASIAIR as it has much more computing power, storage, etc. and use the Pegasus to do the power and USB distributiion.

[@kevinashley478]

@@astronomytipsreviewswithcu740 what is the difference between a mini-pc and the ASIAir/Pegasus?

[@astronomytipsreviewswithcu740]

@@kevinashley478 The ASIAIR and Mini-PC are computers and the Pegasus is not. They can run astronomy software to control your camera focuser, mount, etc. Pegasus cannot. Pegasus is a hub which routes power from one source to each piece of equipment. It also routes USB inputs from your computer, mount, focuser, etc. to whatever computer you are using. You would use a Pegasus, if you like, together with a mini-pc, if you like, as I do to simplify cabling and connections from both the computer and your power supply to all of your equipment. The ASIAIR does all of those things combined, but not as well as the mini-pc/Pegasus combination. Hope this is clear now.

[@kevinashley478]

@@astronomytipsreviewswithcu740 yes. The so the ASIAir is an all in one and the pegasus is just a hub. Easy peasy. Last question: what qualifies as a mini-pc? Or is that just a descriptive term vs a category?

[@astronomytipsreviewswithcu740]

@@kevinashley478 I suggest you Google the term to get a comprehensive answers.

[@refetastro]

Can we plug all equipment direct to car Bettie’s

[@astronomytipsreviewswithcu740]

Do you mean to say car "battery"? If so, some people do that but you run the risk of discharging your battery to the point where it will no longer start. A lead acid battery can only be safely discharged by 50% whereas a Lithium ion battery can be fully discharged without damaging it. Better to get a separate power source for your astronomy gear and have it for years to come. Just my opinion.

[@refetastro]

@@astronomytipsreviewswithcu740 Yes I meant to say that Sorry for my spelling .

[@refetastro]

@@astronomytipsreviewswithcu740 I agree I won’t get to use it much because maybe once a year I would go to star party Otherwise I’m at home I’m single AC to dc adapters

[@anata5127]

I am confused about DC to DC convertor. My equipment has specialized plugs for connections and I don’t want to use convertor. Besides, it is convenient to hook them straight to battery, but not via Pegasus, which is ON telescope. Jakeret has 110v plugs, which I use for NUC and my mount (24V). Am I spending excessive amount of energy this way compared to converters?

[@astronomytipsreviewswithcu740]

Anything that requires 12V can be connected directly to you 12V power source which could be a 12V battery or a 12V power supply like the Pyramid I showed in the video assuming you have access to AC power. The DC-DC voltage converter comes in handy when you have something that needs DC but not 12V, like my MyT mount which needs 48V or your mount which needs 24V. If you have access to AC you can just use the AC adapter that came with your mount but when you are in the field, you can connect your mount's AC adapter and plug it into the AC output of a portable power station like the Jackery or EBL I show in the video. Or you can buy a 12V to 24V DC-DC adapter and hook the output to the input of your mount and the input to a 12V battery. No need for AC power in that case. Same thing for your NUC which likely runs on 19V where you could use a 12V to 19V DC-DC adapter. If you always have access to AC power you don't need to fiddle with a DC-DC adapter. If you don't have AC power you can always use the AC output of a portable power station and still don't need a DC-DC adapter. AC inverters and adapters are only about 80 -85% efficient so they do waste power but you could buy a bigger power station. Whatever you prefer as all of these will work.

[@anata5127]

@@astronomytipsreviewswithcu740 Thanks. I have been looking for last portion of your reply. I would like to hook everything to portable power station. In backyard, I hook mount and NUC to AC outlet. However, in field, they will be connected to AC output of portable power station. I just wonder how big should it be? My guess is at least 500W for one night. My Jakery is only 300W. During whole night I spent 150-180Wh for whole rig except NUC and mount. One more thing; my mount is 10 micron and I need to build sky model for unguided imaging. This requires constant slewing to 25-50 stars.

[@tangotango256]

I built my own using a 30 cal plastic ammo box a TX20HL diehard 18Ahr AGM Motorcycle battery a coupla power posts and a mountable 12v cigarette socket i can fast slew for 18 hours before getting low took 3 hours from coffee to operation imagine the looks I'll get at a star party LOL

[@astronomytipsreviewswithcu740]

I always like DIY projects. But next time do yourself a favor and replace the AGM with a lithium battery, Lighter and cheaper in both the short and long run. You can get a lithium battery at half the capacity you need to have for an AGM and still run your equipment for the same length of time.

[@dallas69]

Just Say No! Why? RYOBI 12V output 120-Watt power source (RYI12VBG) $60 Use The above is expensive $60 and you need to buy 18v batteries but, for additional home use I have 18v radios 18v Fans 18v Drills 18v Sanders 18v Saws 18v Shop lights and lots more tools. Roybi has 300+ tools and equipment that are all 18v battery powered. Battery 18v Roybi batteries 2-16A (lots and lots of power) Batteries are a simple plug n play. No need to take apart anything to fix a dead battery. No need to stop and recharge your power source just plug in a new battery. Even better Roybi 18v batteries are low cost and sold everywhere. Truth Roybi 12v is light years better than PowerTank or any other 12v telescope power source! Last My 4 Celestron & 12 Meade Telescopes I only use the above 12v Roybi power system.

[@astronomytipsreviewswithcu740]

You can certainly do that, but all of those batteries designed for power tools and lawn tools from Ryobi, Eggo and others are way too expensive for our application compared to a simple LIFePO4 battery. But to each their own.

[@dallas69]

@@astronomytipsreviewswithcu740 FYI I like your vids and your work has helped working on my 6SE and 8SE. THX

[@astronomytipsreviewswithcu740]

@@dallas69 Glad to hear that as that is why I do these.