Re: [ATM] question about reducing dc voltage

[RP <rp@suttonsonline.us>]

Hello Mark, Vladimir and Lawrence:

Thanks to all of you for your help. I think I have identified my drive 
setup - it looks identical to the orion Dual Axis drive setup for the 
sky view pro mounts - an exact match - appearance wise anyway - in the 
control layout, the cables, the options - even the batteries used. 
However, on their site anyway, Orion does not list the current 
requirements either. Anyone happen to know them offhand?

thanks again -

RP

Mark Holm wrote:
> 1. Check the specs on the drive.  It is possible that it will be OK on 
> 12 volts.  Remember that a fully charged 12 volt lead acid battery runs 
> nearer 13 volts, so the specs should allow that much overhead to be safe.
>
> 2. If you use a linear regulator (transistor that acts like a variable 
> resistor in this setup), you will lose half the energy in your battery. 
>   (It turns into heat.)
>
> 3. On the other hand, modern DC-DC converters are quite efficient, small 
> and not terribly expensive.  In this case, you will need what is called 
> a "buck" converter (as opposed to a "boost" converter.)  There are 
> probably three design criteria:
>
> 	a. ~ 12 volts in  (they are usually quite flexible in this regard) and 
> 6 volts out.  You may have to do a bit of minor circuitry, such as a 
> resistor, to program the output voltage.
>
> 	b. Enough current capacity to power your drive.  Check the specs again 
> for that.
>
> 	c. Input, output and control connections are on leads, or screw 
> terminals rather than circuit board contacts.  This keeps you from 
> having to build a circuit board.
>
> Your drive probably isn't taking a large amount of power, so at the 
> typical high efficiency of modern converters, you probably won't need a 
> heat sink.
>
>   
_______________________________________________
ATM mailing list http://www.atmlist.net/