At times we are definitely a bit too adamant about topics like batteries not
being on the list - our apologies. It's a valid question.
For your outfit, I'd probably go to Sears or something and invest in a deep
cycle/marine battery. Should cost about $60. They look like a car battery,
but are designed for the kind of charge/discharge cycle you will create in
this environment. You could also spring for an optima or equivalent and get
better spill protection at more cost.
That should last you easily 1-2 nights. If you want to be 'stand alone' for
3-4 nights, you could buy two. I bring 3, but consider one a backup. One
thing you can do though to make your battery last longer is take the battery
OUT of your laptop, so that you don't spend valuable amps charging the
laptop.
During the day we will have a generator-based charging station so that you
can refresh your battery if/when you run low.
Pete
-----Original Message-----
From: sf-bay-tac-bounces@No-Spam [mailto:sf-bay-tac-bounces@No-Spam] On
Behalf Of Rogelio Bernal Andreo
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 11:01 AM
To: The Astronomy Connection
Subject: Re: [TAC] Re: Golden State Star Party
> What is really great to see is all the first timers who are signing up.
There has been an effort
> to encourage more beginners to see what a real dark sky is like. Look at
the percentages of first
> timer attendees on the poll:
I'd be a first timer but still thinking about it. Wife isn't used to
this hobby of mine yet that requires me to dissapear for 4 days
somewhere in the middle of nowhere with a bunch of other "weirdos like
myself" (so she says, don't take it personal :-)
One concern... How do people who need power most of the time (and I mean
to operate laptops, mounts, etc. - leave aside basic needs) deal with
that? I've read the TAC wiki about batteries, and I noticed that when
this issue surfaces in the list many ppl go "here we go again" but I'm
still not sure what would be best for my needs (ok, a bit selfish but
before I can figure it out for someone else, i'd need to know what'd
suit me best, right?)
Since I mentioned "my" needs I'd spell it out: My basic need is life of
battery rather than power, and I wouldn't be using much, as I'd only
need to keep alive a 12v mount (EM400), a laptop (researching dc-dc
issues to avoid using the laptop's 120v converter), dew heater and a
120v plug to recharge my Canon's battery from time to time (I've got two
- I could recharge those at the inn I guess, not the "big" battery, as I
wouldn't be able to recharge it fully from one day to another). As far
as astro gear I think that'd be it. Did I mention I've never been at a
star party before?
Rogelio
--
GSSP price increases 4/15/08: http://goldenstatestarparty.blogspot.com
Who's observing where? - http://observers.org/OI-calendar/
Mailing list preferences: http://seds.org/mailman/listinfo/sf-bay-tac
--
GSSP price increases 4/15/08: http://goldenstatestarparty.blogspot.com
Who's observing where? - http://observers.org/OI-calendar/
Mailing list preferences: http://seds.org/mailman/listinfo/sf-bay-tac
Received on Wed Mar 26 15:51:15 2008