PC on an inverter for outdoor use .... advice please.

[Mick]

Hello all ....

I use an astronomical telescope and have recently started using a modified
webcam for astrophotography. As this a computer based branch of the activity I
am tied to my PC and hence, my backgarden which is hopeless due to
streetlighting and very poor visibility.

I would really like to get the scope and PC etc up in the fells where I can get
good dark skies. The problem is a lack of 240v wall sockets though.

I have not got (and not can I afford) a laptop which is the obvious answer.
However I do use an old (built from old parts) PC which I use next to the
scope.

My question is can I run this from an inverter. The PSU in the PC is a 300w
model and all it has is one hard drive, garphics card NIC and no soundcard.
There is the webcam of course and not forgetting the monitor ... a 15" CRT
model.

I have a 75ah battery already floating about.

So ... is an inverter an option here and if so then what size?

Thankyou in advance

--
Mick
Cumbria
UK

 

[Glen]

On Mon, 01 Sep 2003 13:47:11 -0500, Mick <fred@fred.com> wrote:

You need to check the wattage on the monitor. Combine the two and
find an invertor that will supply more than you need. Also, buy an
'on-line' battery backup/line conditioner, to hook the PC/monitor up
to. It'll save your PC and monitor, as well as provide some extra
run-time when your main battery runs down. On-line UPSs monitor the
input for variences in voltage, and compensates for sags or switches
off the input when it spikes. Cheap UPSs do not do this, they only
swtich to battery when the input drops below a preset voltage.

You should be able to find a 600W inverter on ebay for $80-$120. I'd
recommend running the invertor off of a 1-farad capacitor connected
directly to a deep-cycle high-output 12V gel battery. If your 75ah can
produce enough amps, use it. The capacitor will store juice to buffer
spiked drain from the invertor. This will save the battery cells. You
can find them at Circuit City, Best Buy, or any local car audio store.

Glen

Hello all ....

I use an astronomical telescope and have recently started using a modified
webcam for astrophotography. As this a computer based branch of the activity I
am tied to my PC and hence, my backgarden which is hopeless due to
streetlighting and very poor visibility.

I would really like to get the scope and PC etc up in the fells where I can get
good dark skies. The problem is a lack of 240v wall sockets though.

I have not got (and not can I afford) a laptop which is the obvious answer.
However I do use an old (built from old parts) PC which I use next to the
scope.

My question is can I run this from an inverter. The PSU in the PC is a 300w
model and all it has is one hard drive, garphics card NIC and no soundcard.
There is the webcam of course and not forgetting the monitor ... a 15" CRT
model.

I have a 75ah battery already floating about.

So ... is an inverter an option here and if so then what size?

Thankyou in advance

 

[Nirodac]

If this is an old PC, could you not just power the pc from the battery via
a 12 volt regulator(bypassing the PSU) and going directly to the MB. You'd
need a good sized vreg for the 5 volts, and maybe another small battery for
the -12V. If it's old enough, you probably don't need the 3.5 volt rail.
Just a though, something I always wanted to try but never got around to
doing.

Ray

"Glen" <nospam-webmaster@all-spec.com> wrote in message
news:7d67lvof5jm82lqdaaprkin4fn9ns3hp5c@4ax.com...

On Mon, 01 Sep 2003 13:47:11 -0500, Mick <fred@fred.com> wrote:

You need to check the wattage on the monitor. Combine the two and
find an invertor that will supply more than you need. Also, buy an
'on-line' battery backup/line conditioner, to hook the PC/monitor up
to. It'll save your PC and monitor, as well as provide some extra
run-time when your main battery runs down. On-line UPSs monitor the
input for variences in voltage, and compensates for sags or switches
off the input when it spikes. Cheap UPSs do not do this, they only
swtich to battery when the input drops below a preset voltage.

You should be able to find a 600W inverter on ebay for $80-$120. I'd
recommend running the invertor off of a 1-farad capacitor connected
directly to a deep-cycle high-output 12V gel battery. If your 75ah can
produce enough amps, use it. The capacitor will store juice to buffer
spiked drain from the invertor. This will save the battery cells. You
can find them at Circuit City, Best Buy, or any local car audio store.

Glen

Hello all ....

I use an astronomical telescope and have recently started using a
modified
webcam for astrophotography. As this a computer based branch of the
activity I
am tied to my PC and hence, my backgarden which is hopeless due to
streetlighting and very poor visibility.

I would really like to get the scope and PC etc up in the fells where I
can get
good dark skies. The problem is a lack of 240v wall sockets though.

I have not got (and not can I afford) a laptop which is the obvious
answer.
However I do use an old (built from old parts) PC which I use next to the
scope.

My question is can I run this from an inverter. The PSU in the PC is a
300w
model and all it has is one hard drive, garphics card NIC and no
soundcard.
There is the webcam of course and not forgetting the monitor ... a 15"
CRT
model.

I have a 75ah battery already floating about.

So ... is an inverter an option here and if so then what size?

Thankyou in advance