<p>Before buying anything, get out your Amp-meter and measure what the motors pull in clock drive and GOTO mode, starting from a variety of scope positions.
An 18 incher will have a lot of mass, and Dobsonians are not known for their excellent bearings, so the amount of juice you need for a night of observing could be considerable.
Do you track most of the time, or GOTO...GOTO...GOTO?
How many hours is your typical observing session.
Multiply your average tracking amperage by the approximate number of hours you spend tracking, then do the same for your GOTO work.
Add the two numbers (amp hours) together, and double the result.
That should tell you about how big a battery you need.</p>

<hr>

<p>The doubling is done to provide leeway, and because taking a standard lead acid below 50% is a sure way to kill it after only a few recharges. If you go Li, you can probably cut the multiplier.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-21T00:54:43.067Z
2014-10-22T17:00:38.840Z
2014-10-22T17:00:38.840Z
Wayfaring Stranger
<p>Many electronic systems today use standard electric power formats, as 12 Volts, 9 Volts, currents batteries has different balance in power,some ones hold  a level in volts but not electric current (12 volts 0.005 Amp), or hold a level in current Ampers (8 volts but a continue current in 0.01 Amp), but not a level in volts, the key is power in Watts/hour , check your data sheet , if you system only required power, use battery type Lithium , but if you system you can see a data like a 12 Volts + - 1 Volt, use a battery non Lithium. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-20T04:29:38.480Z
2014-09-20T04:29:38.480Z
Adrian R
<p>You could buy a sealed lead acid battery (12V 7.2Ah) for a reasonable price and try it out. If it fails to run all night, you can connect 2 together for a longer run time (connected in parallel to give 12 volts at double the number of Ahs). </p>

<p>Usually sealed lead acid batteries are designed so they can run down completely before being recharged (they are used in emergency lighting, which have a minimum on time).</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-20T14:00:50.900Z
The type you want are called Deep Cycle batteries: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_cycle_battery
Wayfaring Stranger
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-21T00:49:44.750Z
@WayfaringStranger Deep Cycle Batteries are usually not sealed since water needs to be added frequently. Also, they usually have much more than 10 Ah. This is what I was refering to: http://www.batterysharks.com/12-Volt-7-2-Amp-Sealed-Lead-Acid-Battery-p/12V-7.2AH_B12-7.htm?gclid=CjwKEAjw5ZKiBRDhqa-Yjcml9kYSJABia-RnE_46PzRp64sbt6CbtYKiqwsblnflqqcmIbFGGPP3gRoCIorw_wcB
LDC3
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-20T05:05:42.303Z
2015-07-11T06:54:37.957Z
2015-07-11T06:54:37.957Z
LDC3
<p>I have a <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20061216215456/http://plettstone.com/telescopes/products.htm" rel="nofollow">Plettstone 18"</a> Dobsonian telescope with GOTO and clock drive that runs off a 12 volt cigarette lighter adapter.  What is an appropriate battery to use to run this overnight while viewing all night long and then charge during the day for the following night's use?</p>

<p>In the past I've used deep cycle lead acid batteries, but these are heavy and can fail if not carefully maintained with a float charge.  Also, I don't need cranking power of a car, just sustained energy to drive the scope.  A typical <a href="http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/B0013ZGZ9Q" rel="nofollow">Optima YellowTop</a> deep cycle is rated 75 ampHours.  I don't know what the draw in Amps of my telescope is, but imagine it is less than an amp.</p>

<p>I've also seen these <a href="http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/B00F9LPJ8S" rel="nofollow">Battery Tender Lithium Iron Phosphate</a> types but wonder if their 10-12 ampHour rating is enough and whether they are meant to be drained over a whole night?  Some say if you get below 8 volts the battery becomes broken, but I doubt the telescope would still run at such a low voltage.</p>

<p>What would a reasonable ampHour rating be?  What kind of battery is a good fit for astronomy equipment overnight?</p>

<dobsonian-telescope>
Appropriate battery for overnight viewing to drive telescope and GOTO?
WilliamKF
# Appropriate battery for overnight viewing to drive telescope and GOTO?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-09-19)

I have a [Plettstone 18"](https://web.archive.org/web/20061216215456/http://plettstone.com/telescopes/products.htm) Dobsonian telescope with GOTO and clock drive that runs off a 12 volt cigarette lighter adapter. What is an appropriate battery to use to run this overnight while viewing all night long and then charge during the day for the following night's use?

In the past I've used deep cycle lead acid batteries, but these are heavy and can fail if not carefully maintained with a float charge. Also, I don't need cranking power of a car, just sustained energy to drive the scope. A typical [Optima YellowTop](http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/B0013ZGZ9Q) deep cycle is rated 75 ampHours. I don't know what the draw in Amps of my telescope is, but imagine it is less than an amp.

I've also seen these [Battery Tender Lithium Iron Phosphate](http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/B00F9LPJ8S) types but wonder if their 10-12 ampHour rating is enough and whether they are meant to be drained over a whole night? Some say if you get below 8 volts the battery becomes broken, but I doubt the telescope would still run at such a low voltage.

What would a reasonable ampHour rating be? What kind of battery is a good fit for astronomy equipment overnight?

**Tags:** dobsonian-telescope

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-10-21. Score: 2

Before buying anything, get out your Amp-meter and measure what the motors pull in clock drive and GOTO mode, starting from a variety of scope positions.
An 18 incher will have a lot of mass, and Dobsonians are not known for their excellent bearings, so the amount of juice you need for a night of observing could be considerable.
Do you track most of the time, or GOTO...GOTO...GOTO?
How many hours is your typical observing session.
Multiply your average tracking amperage by the approximate number of hours you spend tracking, then do the same for your GOTO work.
Add the two numbers (amp hours) together, and double the result.
That should tell you about how big a battery you need.

---

The doubling is done to provide leeway, and because taking a standard lead acid below 50% is a sure way to kill it after only a few recharges. If you go Li, you can probably cut the multiplier.


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-09-20. Score: 1

Many electronic systems today use standard electric power formats, as 12 Volts, 9 Volts, currents batteries has different balance in power,some ones hold a level in volts but not electric current (12 volts 0.005 Amp), or hold a level in current Ampers (8 volts but a continue current in 0.01 Amp), but not a level in volts, the key is power in Watts/hour , check your data sheet , if you system only required power, use battery type Lithium , but if you system you can see a data like a 12 Volts + - 1 Volt, use a battery non Lithium.


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2014-09-20. Score: 1

You could buy a sealed lead acid battery (12V 7.2Ah) for a reasonable price and try it out. If it fails to run all night, you can connect 2 together for a longer run time (connected in parallel to give 12 volts at double the number of Ahs).

Usually sealed lead acid batteries are designed so they can run down completely before being recharged (they are used in emergency lighting, which have a minimum on time).

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: The type you want are called Deep Cycle batteries: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_cycle_battery  
> **username_3**: @WayfaringStranger Deep Cycle Batteries are usually not sealed since water needs to be added frequently. Also, they usually have much more than 10 Ah. This is what I was refering to: http://www.batterysharks.com/12-Volt-7-2-Amp-Sealed-Lead-Acid-Battery-p/12V-7.2AH_B12-7.htm?gclid=CjwKEAjw5ZKiBRDhqa-Yjcml9kYSJABia-RnE_46PzRp64sbt6CbtYKiqwsblnflqqcmIbFGGPP3gRoCIorw_wcB  

---

