Thank you.
I will try that.
If I want a portable device, if could use a 12V car battery or a lipo, right?
What kind of lipo can I use? How much mAh should I take to have a decent run time?
Maybe I will make a few different cables to cover all situations.
I'm not sure of the input voltage range on the hellfighter, but I do know they can run off the BA 5590 batteries (
http://www.batterystore.com/Saft/SaftPDF/BA5590.pdf ), So the voltage range includes at least 10-15V SF's website says they run for 1.5 hours on a single cell, so assuming it runs it in 12v mode, that means it pulls ~10A. A 15-18AH lead acid battery would work, but you wouldnt get the same runtime as the BA5590, because lead acid batteries lose capacity ad you draw power faster (peukert effect)
Either a 3S li-po (or Li-Poly) battery or a 4S LiFePO4 battery would work, with LiFePO4 being a bit more rugged imo.
http://www.batteryspace.com/LiFePO4...V-20Ah-256Wh-10C-rate-with-LED-Balancing.aspx would probably make for a nice battery depending on how "Portable" you want portable to be. Built in BCM to balance it too, and charge/overdischarge protection, So you could use a 2-terminal LiFePO4 charger, or a suitable automotive charger (15.2v max for the LiFe 4S battery corresponds with a 12V 'peak' charge nicely) Mostly end-user proof, but not totally idiot proof, obviously. Youre going to want at least 10AH/hour of runtime you want. I.e. you could run for 30 minutes on a 5AH 12v pack, or an hour on a 10AH pack.
If youre ok with using a RC hobby charger, then I'd check out some big-honkin packs on hobby king. Something like
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=20645 or
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=20845 would work, but they arent protected.
I'd definitely use an anderson power pole if you wanted to hook up a battery, (dont forget the inline fuse!)
http://www.powerwerx.com/crimping-tools/tricrimp-crimping-powerpole-contacts.html The tri-crimp crimper works great on the contact too, $40 is a steal for it, as I'm used to stuff like molex or tyco crimpers which cost $200+. If you get the crimpers, it makes it so easy to put a connector on whenever you get an inkling.