|
ibase
super member
Reged: 03/20/08
Posts: 112
|
|
The manual of the Celestron power tank (7-amp) seems to have omitted the most important function, i.e., how to connect the scope to the power tank. I'm now using a separate cigarette lighter adapter which I got from Amazon to fire up my scope (Nexstar 6SE and Nexstar 8) connected to the tank's cigarette lighter receptacle; the question is, can I also use the cigarette lighter plug that came with the power tank to connect to the scope, which in the power tank manual is indicated to be used ONLY to recharge the tank when plugged to a car lighter receptacle with the engine running? Thanks!
|
alser2
member
Reged: 02/23/08
Posts: 81
Loc: cork, ireland
|
|
i used the cable that came with the powertank, and its fine, not just for charging.
--------------------
Celestron Nexstar 6SE
Celestron Firstscope 114 EQ + Solar filter
Celestron 12x60 Skymaster Binos
4mm, 32mm, 40mm Plossl, 2x barlow lens
10x, 20x, 25x eyepiece
moon filter and various colour filters
seben LP filter
|
Midnight Dan
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/23/08
Posts: 619
Loc: Brockport, NY
|
|
Yep, use the one that came with it.
-Dan
--------------------
Scopes: Celestron NexStar 8, Orion EON 72mm ED/APO on Astroview mount (EQ3)
Eyepieces: Celestron 40mm, 25mm, Baader Hyperion 13mm, 8mm, 5mm
Other: Telrad, 2x Barlow, 0.63x Focal Reducer, Dew-not strips, DewBuster controller
|
ibase
super member
Reged: 03/20/08
Posts: 112
|
|
Thanks guys for the reply; I was just a bit wary because I looked at the specs of the AC charger for the power tank and it indicates an output of "15.0VDC 500mA." If this is the rating of the power tank AC charger then might it not be the same for the cigarette lighter adapter when charging the power tank by car battery? What I know is that the Nexstar runs on 12VDC only so might using the power tank cigarette lighter adapter strain the Nexstar with too much voltage at 15v (the power tank's cigarette lighter adapter does not have any specs on it so 15v is just an assumption if we were to go with the AC adapter)? Thanks.
|
alser2
member
Reged: 02/23/08
Posts: 81
Loc: cork, ireland
|
|
i also used a 12V adaptor plug from old pc speakers which worked fine with the scope, i was amazed that it actually plugged into the scope, i stopped using that when i got the powertank.
--------------------
Celestron Nexstar 6SE
Celestron Firstscope 114 EQ + Solar filter
Celestron 12x60 Skymaster Binos
4mm, 32mm, 40mm Plossl, 2x barlow lens
10x, 20x, 25x eyepiece
moon filter and various colour filters
seben LP filter
|
ibase
super member
Reged: 03/20/08
Posts: 112
|
|
I guess everybody is using the cigarette plug adaptor that came with the power tank to connect it to the scopes; I just wished that Celestron had placed it clearly in the manual that this plug is not only for re-charging the power tank by car battery but also doubles for connecting the tank to the scope. I'll just use the plug which Celestron sells separately ("this adapter allows you to power you telescope directly via the car cigarette lighter, or Celestron’s PowerTank receptacle" - from Celestron website) just to be on the safe side and not to possibly overpower the Nexstar if the tank's plug is indeed putting out 15v like it's AC adapter instead of the Nexstar's specified 12v.
|
Midnight Dan
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/23/08
Posts: 619
Loc: Brockport, NY
|
|
ibase:
AC chargers typically put out more voltage than the standard 12V battery voltage because they need to drive current into the 12V battery. If they were both at 12Volts, no current would flow between them.
When charging from a car, you should have the car running so that the alternater is supplying voltage to the car's electrical system. This is typically at 14 VDC, not the 12V of your car's battery. For the same reason as above, the voltage is higher so that it will drive current into the car's battery. It will do the same for your Power Tank.
Note that the cigarette lighter charging cable is just a straight through cable with a fuse in it. Because of that, it does not have a current supply rating like the AC charger. The AC charger has electronics in it and is limited to 500 mA. The cigarette lighter charger will deliver as much current as can flow through the wire, up till the point where the fuse blows.
-Dan
--------------------
Scopes: Celestron NexStar 8, Orion EON 72mm ED/APO on Astroview mount (EQ3)
Eyepieces: Celestron 40mm, 25mm, Baader Hyperion 13mm, 8mm, 5mm
Other: Telrad, 2x Barlow, 0.63x Focal Reducer, Dew-not strips, DewBuster controller
|
joejoe
member
Reged: 08/04/08
Posts: 62
Loc: Switzerland
|
|
Ok it's not a power tank, but I just bought a car charger from OBI here in Switzerland (50 CHF = about 45 USD) and it too had the car charger inside the box, and no English instructions. I tested it with a multi-meter and found out it was tip positive, as required, so safe to use. In the end I hard wired it inside the device at the same time I removed the jumper leads. This leaves the cigarette lighter socket free for other devices in the field. It much easier than using the 240V power supply.
--------------------
Celestron Nexstar 8SE
Maxvision MN152 F4.8 Mak-Newt
Megrez 72 APO
EQ6 Mount
Edited by joejoe (08/29/08 02:05 PM)
|
ibase
super member
Reged: 03/20/08
Posts: 112
|
|
Thanks for that explanation Dan! Now it's sure: power tank cigarette lighter adapter works safely with scope. Can now power up two scopes with the two receptacles in the tank. Thanks! 
JoeJoe: Good to know you have a good car charger power tank; you're right, it's a lot easier using a portable power tank, it's uber convenient to use. Thanks.
|
|
1 registered and 2 anonymous users are browsing this forum.
Moderator: Charlie Hein, Greg K.
Print Thread
|
Forum Permissions
You cannot start new topics
You cannot reply to topics
HTML is disabled
UBBCode is enabled
|
Thread views: 281
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
