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Old April 30th 04, 06:55 PM
Andrew Cockburn
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You're right, I'll make the dew heater, then I have a reason to make the
master project :-)

Problem is, work is looking sucky for the next 3 weeks - lots of
travelling so no time to do anything at all astro related except bug you
all with my posts !

The only plus is that I will be spending a week in the states so might
get a chance to pick up some cheap astro bits or components for the dew
heater - I'll be in Silicon Valley, and they have electronics shops
there you just wouldn't believe ;-)

Andrew

Colin Dawson wrote:

Cool.

Rather than spending time thinking about your main power project, it might
be worth getting the dew heater built up and running. I remember that it
took me about a week to of evenings to get the main ring and K8004 running.
You could also put a power lead to your scope from this box, or do something
similar to my new box that I'm working on. Then have a single plug into
your start's socket.

Once you've got the K8004 working properly, there shouldn't be a problem
moving the circuit into your master project once it's ready. ;-)


I've got next week off work, so hopefully I'll be able to get my power box
finished. It's taken a little thinking out, but I've got a rough plan for
how the box is going to fit together. Fingser crossed that it works.

Regards

Colin Dawson
www.cjdawson.com


"Andrew Cockburn" wrote in message
-service-com...

Got my starter so power is sorted for the time being :-)

Now I have time to think about the main power project since there hasn't
been a break in the clouds for days :-(

Andrew

Colin Dawson wrote:


"Chris Taylor" wrote in message
news:6unjc.10$96.0@newsfe1-win...


Hi Colin

I own 2 GOTO scopes and both have their own 1.2Ah batteries. I've not
noticed any difference between the beginning of the evenings battery's
performance (slewing speed or sound), or the end of the session on


either

of


them. I do spend more time tracking with the LX90 given that the LPI


get's

used. Nonetheless, I've not had the battery go flat, or appear to be
labouring on the LX yet and I've spent from 8pm to 2am observing. The C
Cells are an expensive way to do things so I bought the Lead Acid before
they could go flat. On the Celestron GOTO the batteries (AA's!) used to


go

flat in a few hours and were a waste of time and money; lesson learned.



hmm, you're lucky. I think it's partly because I'm such a pickky


little

blank (insert bad word of your own choice)
but I've noticed that about 1/2 way through the session my scope starts


to

sound a less perky than at the beginning of the session. It doesn't


seem

to affect the performance though, but I'm definatly not making it up.

I've just checked the Duracell web site, and they rekon that the LR14's


will

work for 11 hours at 0.5 amp current.




There's also no reason not to get a 7.2AH and I'd have probably bought


one

if the closest shop i could find with a solution (B&Q) had sold them.


The

other alternative was a 45 Minute journey to Maplin, or a few day wait


for

an internet purchase to arrive.



From the information that you've provided, I think that the only need to


a

bigger battery it to help power more toys.
Can't have too many toys.

Regards

Colin Dawson
www.cjdawson.com