I am looking for some advice on batteries and chargers for base stations. Any particular batteries better than others? Optima's worth the extra cost? I can buy two cheap deep cycles for the cost of one optima
What about chargers? I have big push around type chargers that can jump start a car and smaller battery tenders for maintaining batteries. What is a good simple charger that has enough power to charge up a battery overnight without charging it too fast? The smaller the better.
Just get a jump start battery. 12 volt accessory connection and come with or have built in charger. I have one of each. any big box or auto supply store.
Paul in PA
We use deep cycle wheel chair batteries rated at 35 amp hours. They are the size of a lawn mower battery, come with a carry handle attached, and can handle a couple years of charge/discharge cycles. I have run a base station and 35 watt radio for three consecutive days without recharging. The charger we use is one supplied by our Trimble dealer and charges at 7.2 amps/hour. We just replaced a 4 year old battery at the cost of $70.00.
I use a garden tractor battery, fairly light weight, I can lift it with one hand. I use a small "maintenance" charger that keeps it topped off, about every 3 days or so.
-JD-
Thanks for the replies.
I have never really used the base intensively before. Usually just a few hours here and there. This is going to be sun up to sun down type of thing every day for a week or so. Didn't want to run into battery problems.
Can you park a vehicle near the base and run a power cable through the window to your power accessory port and "guard" the base?
I have always been told you don't want your vehicle near the base as it can be a source of multi path and reduce accuracy and cause init problems.
I will admit, I do not have much experience with survey grade GPS. However long ago, when I was assisting the state on an HPGN densification project, we were instructed to park the vehicle..I believe on the south side of the monument as far as our cables would reach, and leave the processing unit in the vehicle. Perhaps the long occupation times helped with the potential for multi-path?
From looking at skyplots in the Northern Hemisphere I'd think parking off in the distance on the North side where you'd potentially expect to block fewer satellites over time would be the thing to do. If that's NOT the case, I'd sure like to know.
> From looking at skyplots in the Northern Hemisphere I'd think parking off in the distance on the North side where you'd potentially expect to block fewer satellites over time would be the thing to do. If that's NOT the case, I'd sure like to know.
You are correct. I have always heard on the north side is best to block the fewest satellites. We always put our radio antenna on the north side.
From what I have read I was worried about multi path not just blocking satellites. How big of a problem it is I don't really know but I don't like to take chances.
I just bought a SLA 45 AH battery. for the base.
Sealed Lead Acid batts of this type are what you find in UPS and also the 35 AH is what comes with these things, when new.
So, that is what I'm trying now.
I have worn out 2 optimas.
N
Here is an image of what I am concerned about having a vehicle close to my base.
One bit of advice about running all day...we were working in a very hot area, 90 to 100+ degrees in the daytime, we had the base on a parade ground out in the wide open. The radio we had at the time (trimmark II) would shut down at high temps, so we had to buy a reflective blanket (sporting goods section at Wal-Mart) and place it over it to keep the direct sun off of it. Be sure to leave an open area underneath for air to circulate. Maybe the newer models are better in this respect.
OK, I could never figure out what was meant by that... I am over 6' tall, and my dad is 6'4", and well, you get the picture... SHORT people multipath disorder!! Ok, I get it!!
N
