Cordless drill with a cord

[PJs]

Thanks Marv, that rung a bell for a lead acid I have for my 2 axis equatorial mount that's been sitting...a while and a 12V Ryobi drill I picked up at Restore for $8 (batteries are $25+ ). I had built a 12ga wire cage around it with a handle then put it in an old camera bag that was just the right size...portable and handy with pockets. I've seen these hacks before but this one hit home with your writing style!

These cordless drill/tool batteries are like Printer Ink...3 uses and the ink cost more than the printer. My C3 stuff I use all the time and finally got a 18V 4ah Li-ion for them at a price I didn't have to indenture my first born for. A world of difference to what it came with (1.5ah). I picked up one of those mini C3 vac/blowers and after 15 minute of use it blew the fusible link in the one of the 2 original batteries I had. Some engineer cacked on the current draw/heat load calcs. Li-ion has its pluses, but over heating danger and the link are the bane of them IMHO. I think you can push Lead acids a bit harder and they recover much better, plus capacities are reasonable, just larger typically.

Also wanted to say thanks for your gear ratio tutorial...definitely confirming to what I came up with for a solar powered music box I'm making for my grandson. Had to go from 2400 to about 60rpm with 2 singles and a double (8-50/8-56=~55rpm).

Thanks!! ~PJ