seeker372011
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 03/05/04
Posts: 876
Loc: Sydney , Australia
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I've had this a couple of years-two weeks out of warranty 
This is the Celestron Advanced series CG 5 with GoTo.
and when I set up last night and connected to my usual battery pack nothing happened..no power to mount-the red light didn't come on, and the hand controller stayed dead
battery is fully charged but I tried with my 40 amp hour gel battery which is also fully charged and same result
checked the fuse in the cigarette lighter cord and that's fine
is there anything else I can check?
I have sent an email to Celestron Tech Support and also contacted my dealer but so far I haven't heard back from Celestron and its the wekend here so I wont get an answer back from my dealer till at least Monday
would appreciate any suggestions or advice
thanks in advance
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ED 80 on a CG5 mount;ED 127 on EQ6; QHY8, 20 x 80 LW Obies;PST;10 inch GSO dob
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AZDeepSky
sage
Reged: 09/19/04
Posts: 344
Loc: Tijeras, NM
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I've been there with my CGE and my brand new CG5-GT. The latter (destined for refractor duty) just arrived yesterday. I assembled the mount and "plugged it in." Nothing.
There are three possible causes that I know of, and the fix is easy.
First, there's a 1 amp fuse (I believe it's one amp, but check) that you can access by unscrewing the tip of the plug-in connector. Be careful that you don't lose the small spring when you unscrew the tip (it loves to go shooting off into space). You can visually check the fuse, but a circuit tester is best.
The second is that the female part of the plug-in is not making good contact with the male part in the mount. You can take a small screwdriver and either open the male part slightly (if you have that type of part) or bend ever so slightly one way or the other to improve contact. (This was the "fix" for my new mount.)
The third and least likely is that the cord itself is "open" somewhere along the line. Again, take your circuit checker and test that you have 12volt at the plug-end that inserts into the mount.
FYI, my typical wait time for a response from Celestron tech service is two to four weeks. They're overwhelmed, apparently. Always better to call. Maybe use "Skype"?
Good luck.
Max
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Tak-Epsilon-180ED f/2.8
SV-115 f/7 TMB design
CGE x 2
SBIG-ST-2000XCM x 2
Canon 40D x 2
TV-.8FocalReducer
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LLEEGE
Running out of Oxygen
Reged: 03/03/05
Posts: 8299
Loc: Cloud-chester,NY
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Throw away the cord that came with the mount. It is junk. Get one from radio shack.
I would also confirm that there is power at the tip. If so, then there is an internal problem. Could be as simple as a bad connection on the female power end. As the mount is out of warranty, don't be affraid to open up the mount.
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Trev
sage
Reged: 12/18/05
Posts: 289
Loc: Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada
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There was another thread here a few months ago about a couple of these mounts doing this and the problem was the power switch on the mount. The contacts were corroded/ worn out.
If it turns out not to be your power cord and the mount is off warranty then open it up and install a new switch.
Trev
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Modified C6R-ASGT (Frankencannon)
Modified 102 SLT (Frank Jr.)
Nighthawk NG Deluxe w/ BV & SLT Mount
PST w/Manfrotto 055Pro & 128RC Head
6" f/5 Newt on CG-5 w/ Argo Navis
10x50, 12x50, 15x70 Binos
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seeker372011
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 03/05/04
Posts: 876
Loc: Sydney , Australia
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thanks for your advice. I tried another cord and that doesn't work.The fuse-I believe it should be rated for 3 amps-is also Ok. It may be the switch or the contacts.
I won't be holding my breath on a Celestron tech services response then I suppose.
I will give opening it up a go
Thanks again
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ED 80 on a CG5 mount;ED 127 on EQ6; QHY8, 20 x 80 LW Obies;PST;10 inch GSO dob
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tishovlin
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/11/03
Posts: 1842
Loc: Springfield, Pa
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I had to by-pass my power switch to get it working. I recommend that you get a power cord that has its own switch and leave the power switch in the "on" position. Use the switch on the cord to power "on" and "off". Here's a picture of the switch. I can't remember exactly which two legs are the ones to jump.
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Tim S
C6-RGT
13.1" Truss Dob
Osypowski dual-axis Eq. Platform
15x70 Obies
NP-101
Gibraltar tripod/mount
Losmandy G-11 w/Gemini
I'm headin for Galt's Gulch
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tishovlin
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/11/03
Posts: 1842
Loc: Springfield, Pa
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Oops! The picture got left behind. Here it is:
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Tim S
C6-RGT
13.1" Truss Dob
Osypowski dual-axis Eq. Platform
15x70 Obies
NP-101
Gibraltar tripod/mount
Losmandy G-11 w/Gemini
I'm headin for Galt's Gulch
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Rusty
Postmaster
Reged: 08/06/03
Posts: 17312
Loc: Brooker, FL
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The contact between the mount's jack's center post sometimes fails to make contact. You can take a very thin knife blade and insert into the slot of the centerpost and spread it slightly.
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N11GPS Fastar
TOA-130S
MK66 Std
Vintage C5
Megrez II 80mm ED Triplet APO
SolarMax 40
NJP Temma II
Sirius EQ-G
ST8XE/CFW-8(LRGBHa)/AO-7/DF-2/STV Dlx/ST237a/350D (Unmodded)/Mallincam Color Hyper Plus/DSI III Color/DSI II Pro
Two not-spoiled Golden Retrievers - Maggie and Casey
Sometimes I think we're alone in the universe, and sometimes I think we're not. In either case the idea is quite staggering. - Arthur C. Clarke
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seeker372011
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 03/05/04
Posts: 876
Loc: Sydney , Australia
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Quote:
The second is that the female part of the plug-in is not making good contact with the male part in the mount. You can take a small screwdriver and either open the male part slightly (if you have that type of part) or bend ever so slightly one way or the other to improve contact. (This was the "fix" for my new mount.)
Thanks Max (and Rusty who suggested the same thing).
I tried this and it fixed the problem straight away.So now my mount is working again, the sky is covered with cloud and everything is back to normal 
Boy its a relief and thanks everyone else for your other helpful hints. You guys are champs
Edited by seeker372011 (02/25/07 01:17 AM)
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AZDeepSky
sage
Reged: 09/19/04
Posts: 344
Loc: Tijeras, NM
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Super! I'm going to have to check my fuse again. 3 amps is a lot of current for a small DC motor. You will eventually hear from Celestron tech support. But never on a timely basis. <g> My usual wait is about a month.
And I know cloudy nights, believe me. What I really hate is night after night of clouds when the moon is last quarter or new.
Cheers.
Max
--------------------
Tak-Epsilon-180ED f/2.8
SV-115 f/7 TMB design
CGE x 2
SBIG-ST-2000XCM x 2
Canon 40D x 2
TV-.8FocalReducer
|
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