Telescope Reviews: Batteries bad for scope?

Heres a post of my question from the user group at yahoo, maybe someone here has some insight.

Ok let me explain about the current batteries I use.

I use Shop Rite brand batteries. I buy a 8 pack of C cell batteries
(total needed for the scope at one time) for only 6 dollars!

The same 8 pack of C cells from duracell or energizer are around 14
dollars. So yes, the batteries I buy are under 1/2 the price of brand
name batteries...however shoprite has informed me that they get their
batteries from the same exact factory that most companies get them
from...they are almost all made in china.

You know how eyepieces companies all get the same eyepiece from a
china factory, and THEN add their own cosmetic changes and coatings?
Well apparently the same thing is the case for batteries. All the
different battery companies like duracell energizer, and even lots of
cheaper companies are all getting their batteries made in china, then
they take these and put their cosmetic color and perhaps upgrade the
connection points.

Since you are in this field by profession...is this true?

Basically my only problem with the shoprite batteries I have been
using so far is that SOMETIMES, very rarely.....the autostar handbox
would lose voltage or something and go crazy. This would make the
alignment out of wack. I would need to turn off the telescope for a
minute, then turn it on and repeat alignment all over again. But, be
aware that this happens maybe once or twice every 6 months. So, it is
not a common occurrence.

Last night, using the same shop-rite batteries that have been inside
my telescope for 3+ months, I tested the electronics of the telescope
from 9pm - 4am.

What I found was perfection. The telescope maintained its tracking
accuracy all night long up until i turned it off at 4am. I suppose if
I left the scope on it could have maintained accuracy for even longer.

So...I am not quite sure how I feel about battery operation just yet.
What I do note is that when using batteries, the voltage goes up and
down. I can hear the dec and ra motors accelerating and decelerating
as the scope is slewing at max speed.

I assume that if I were to use power supply or socket
operation....then the scope would work optimally at all times?

Someone here mentioned that batteries could possibly leak into the
telescope? I have never had this happen to me before....how is it
possible? Usually I leave in the same batteries for as long as it
takes until the batteries are drained. I know you are supposed to take
the batteries out when storing the scope away for a long time, but
what if the scope is simply waiting in your garage or dining room
waiting to be used a following day. Is there a problem with leaving
the same batteries in there for as long as it takes for them to get
drained?

One last thing...can anyone here suggest to me where to buy the
optional wire to connect the telescope to a power supply or house wall
socket? I probably need both connectors as I will use a power supply
and a regular house wall socket that is near my balcony. I have a
25-50 foot extension cord to compensate for the distance.

Any other information anyone wants to share on the optimal ways to
power the telescope, don't hesitate to share it with us.

Oh right, I also wanted to ask.

What makes a battery leak? Does this event occur towards the end of a
battery's life?

Judging by the autostar battery life/level meter....my battery was at
50% last night, but tonight it says 60-70% battery life. Why does this
estimate keep fluctuating?

Based on what autostar is telling me, when should i discard these
current batteries and start using new ones?

I know batteries suck, so I will be ordering the 12v wire...I just
need to decide where to order from.

--------------------
Meade 8.25"(209.55mm) LX-90 EMC (SCT)

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