Telescope Reviews: Need help on a new Losmandy G11 Gemini mount

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revans
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 09/26/05

Loc: Fitchburg, MA

Need help on a new Losmandy G11 Gemini mount
#3129052 - 05/26/09 07:54 PM

Hi all,

My Losmandy G11 Gemini mount arrived today from OPT in California. It arrived in 4 boxes, but a smaller box inside one of these was sealed up with tape but empty. Upon assembling everyting I notice that I do not have a 12 volt power supply included in the shipment... only a cord to plug into a car 12 volt DC cigarette lighter jack.

Does Losmandy normally include a 12 volt power supply with the mount or are folks expected to purchase this separately... also I notice that the power supply to mount connecting cords appear to be non-standard so I can't just run to Radio Shack and buy a 12 volt power supply for this mount.

Maybe I've missed something obvious... but I hope someone can set me straight on this...

Rick Evans

Post Extras:

lineman_16735
Tak-o-holic

Reged: 12/04/04

Loc: Central PA

Re: Need help on a new Losmandy G11 Gemini mount new

[Re: revans]
#3129126 - 05/26/09 08:40 PM

Losmandy does not supply a power supply. The power cable should be included that allows you to connect to a cig lighter port. You can purchase an AC-DC power supply from many places. Here is a good one, for a good price. Link

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LLEEGE
True Blue

Reged: 03/03/05

Loc: Cloud-chester,NY

Re: Need help on a new Losmandy G11 Gemini mount new

[Re: revans]
#3129130 - 05/26/09 08:43 PM

You only get a 12v cable. Most folks use a power tank or a jump start kit. You can buy an AC adapter from radio shack. As long as it is rated for 12v/5amp output. You can bring the cable to size the tip. Just make sure the tip is positive.

Post Extras:

LLEEGE
True Blue

Reged: 03/03/05

Loc: Cloud-chester,NY

Re: Need help on a new Losmandy G11 Gemini mount new

[Re: LLEEGE]
#3129135 - 05/26/09 08:45 PM

Lineman's would be a better option. A lot cheaper the RS and it is regulated.

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revans
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 09/26/05

Loc: Fitchburg, MA

Re: Need help on a new Losmandy G11 Gemini mount new

[Re: LLEEGE]
#3129147 - 05/26/09 08:53 PM

Thanks guys... I'll be in business soon...

but really Losmandy should include a power supply or the mount is just so much dead weight... I view it as a stupid marketing decision...

Rick

Post Extras:

LLEEGE
True Blue

Reged: 03/03/05

Loc: Cloud-chester,NY

Re: Need help on a new Losmandy G11 Gemini mount new

[Re: revans]
#3129161 - 05/26/09 08:59 PM

FWIW, AP only ships mounts with a cable. Tak, Celestron, Meade, etc, etc....All just a cable. Of course, Meade's come with a battery pack. Best to just chuck those in the trash for the bigger mounts, LXD's and up.

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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie no more

Reged: 04/30/03

Loc: NE Ohio

Re: Need help on a new Losmandy G11 Gemini mount new

[Re: revans]
#3129163 - 05/26/09 09:00 PM

Quote:

Thanks guys... I'll be in business soon...

but really Losmandy should include a power supply or the mount is just so much dead weight... I view it as a stupid marketing decision...

Rick

I've owned lots of German EQ mounts. The only ones I've ever purchased that came with AC supplies were LXD650/750 series mounts. Vixen, AstroPhysics, Takahashi, Mountain Instruments, Celestron, and current Meade mounts all follow the industry norm of not doing so - as does Losmandy. I'm fine with that; I already have suitable supplies in the observatory for whatever mount is in there, and I use battery packs in the field.

Post Extras:

Cotts
Just Wondering

Reged: 10/10/05

Loc: Toronto, Ontario

Re: Need help on a new Losmandy G11 Gemini mount new

[Re: lineman_16735]
#3129192 - 05/26/09 09:22 PM

Quote:

Losmandy does not supply a power supply. The power cable should be included that allows you to connect to a cig lighter port. You can purchase an AC-DC power supply from many places. Here is a good one, for a good price. Link

Definitely THIS. These Pyramid power supplies are designed for the amateur radio community so they are VERY well filtered (your Gemini will be very happy with the smooooooth 12VDC from this box - some 'filtered' power supplies aren't filtered very well and provide 'spiky' DC which varies significantly from the nominal 12V at a rate of 60Hz. This is not a good situation for your motors....). I have the exact one shown in the picture which cost me about $70 CDN in Toronto... The price shown on the link is excellent - you should get it!!!

Dave, Toronto

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revans
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 09/26/05

Loc: Fitchburg, MA

Re: Need help on a new Losmandy G11 Gemini mount new

[Re: jrcrilly]
#3129599 - 05/27/09 03:36 AM

My Tak EM-200 came with a power supply in a blue plastic case (I think this is the standard Tak mount power supply for most models). I just think that if a mount comes with non-standard, weird looking power connectors or a cigarette lighter type power connector than it should really come with the mount since these power supplies are not that easy to find around town. I'm told Radio Shack has one, but I ordered one from Losmandy which I suppose is what most people end up doing anyway... would have saved some time if I'd known up front that I had to order one.... as it is I've probably lost the upcoming weekend for imaging/practicing with this mount.

But anyway, the mount looks stable and functional... a bit larger and beefier than I expected.

Rick

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Kaizu
sage

Reged: 08/17/07

Loc: Finland

Re: Need help on a new Losmandy G11 Gemini mount new

[Re: revans]
#3129636 - 05/27/09 04:32 AM

I think that it is quite wise decision. There is also life outside of US, in fact more outside than inside.
The 110V 60Hz is not so common outside of US. So low voltage is quite unpractical if you need more power, the current is big and you need thick cables.

Kaizu

Post Extras:

Dave M
Postmaster

Reged: 08/03/04

Loc: N.E.Ohio

Re: Need help on a new Losmandy G11 Gemini mount new

[Re: Kaizu]
#3132523 - 05/28/09 03:31 PM

That Pyramid power supply is nice, great price but their
shipping sure seems high, i`m only one state over and got
quoted $23 on the UPS ground shipping.

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revans
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 09/26/05

Loc: Fitchburg, MA

Re: Need help on a new Losmandy G11 Gemini mount new

[Re: Kaizu]
#3133516 - 05/29/09 04:24 AM

Kaizu,

Yes, surely it is a great advantage if a mount power supply can accept an input of either 110 or 220 volts. I used to travel to Europe often (Finland is beautiful by the way...) and had to rely on a variety of travel power adapters to use the electricity there. Unlike the Euro which seems to have taken hold over most of Europe, the electrical plugs seem to be quite different for most countries even now... not to mention Australia and many other places...

Rick

Post Extras:

ZRX-Steve
sage

Reged: 03/31/08

Loc: Phoenix, Arizona

Re: Need help on a new Losmandy G11 Gemini mount new

[Re: revans]
#3133989 - 05/29/09 11:08 AM

I just bought a new-to-me G11. The power cable that came with it was cut in half, probably to use on twist terminals on a power supply.

I've read that the Losmandy mounts work best with 18v so I purchased a Kendrick 12-18v inverter ($119) Link and the required Kendrick 18v Power Cord for Losmandy/Gemini for $49.00. I coupled this with the Pyramid PS15KX 10A 13.8-Volt Power Supply with Cigarette Lighter Adapter from Amazon for $51.33 with free shipping.

It's probably overkill, but the kendrick Inverter can cable can be used with a battery in the field as well as with the Pyramid at home.

Steve

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revans
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 09/26/05

Loc: Fitchburg, MA

Re: Need help on a new Losmandy G11 Gemini mount new

[Re: ZRX-Steve]
#3135295 - 05/30/09 04:50 AM

Steve,

I ended up buying the power supply directly from Losmandy although it was a more expensive solution.

Another thing I notice with this mount is that it didn't come with any instructions on assembling it or the Gemini system. The mount itself went together pretty easily, but I'm still puzzling over what appear to be a couple of encoders and a bunch of wires

Hopefully, I'll be able to deduce how to get it working... the manual I found on the internet refers to an instruction sheet supposedly indluded in the Gemini and mount shipment, but in my case no paperwork or disks were included... just the parts (I looked through everything 3 times)...

Rick

Post Extras:

Luigi
Postmaster

Reged: 07/03/07

Loc: MA

Re: Need help on a new Losmandy G11 Gemini mount new

[Re: revans]
#3135351 - 05/30/09 06:39 AM

When I got my CG11 10+ years ago it came with a simple wall-wart supply that worked fine, though most often I ran off a 12V gel or AGM battery. As for tha Finnish guy complaining about 120V 60Hz, inexpensive universal input switching power supplies are becoming the norm. Check you cellphone or computer for example. The bottom line is, if not including a supply doesn't adversely affect sales, why would the manufacturer burden himself with the cost, albeit small?

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revans
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 09/26/05

Loc: Fitchburg, MA

Re: Need help on a new Losmandy G11 Gemini mount new

[Re: Luigi]
#3135363 - 05/30/09 07:01 AM

I think I now have the power supply problem solved. I'm assembling the mount... what I thought were a couple of encoders are probably really the RA and Dec Servo motors (no instructions or manual in the box). Is it possible that encoders are not automatically included in the Gemini system? I am suspecting that this is the case and that they are not regarded as essential and not supplied as standard equipment... but I could of course be wrong...

Rick

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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie no more

Reged: 04/30/03

Loc: NE Ohio

Re: Need help on a new Losmandy G11 Gemini mount new

[Re: revans]
#3135369 - 05/30/09 07:10 AM

Quote:

Is it possible that encoders are not automatically included in the Gemini system? I am suspecting that this is the case and that they are not regarded as essential and not supplied as standard equipment... but I could of course be wrong...

They are an option for a few hundred dollars more. The Gemini controller can use them for clutch slip recovery if they are present, but it doesn't require them.

Post Extras:

revans
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 09/26/05

Loc: Fitchburg, MA

Re: Need help on a new Losmandy G11 Gemini mount new

[Re: jrcrilly]
#3135420 - 05/30/09 08:02 AM

Yes, that makes perfect sense to me. Speaking of clutches... they aren't obvious to a non-Losmandy person like myself who has used only Tasco, Cave, Meade, and Takahashi mounts up till now. But I'm sure they are there someplace and I will start a search

Post Extras:

jrcrilly
Refractor wienie no more

Reged: 04/30/03

Loc: NE Ohio

Re: Need help on a new Losmandy G11 Gemini mount new

[Re: revans]
#3135423 - 05/30/09 08:07 AM

Quote:

Speaking of clutches... they aren't obvious to a non-Losmandy person like myself who has used only Tasco, Cave, Meade, and Takahashi mounts up till now. But I'm sure they are there someplace and I will start a search

Yes, they seem oddly placed to me as well. The DEC clutch is at the top of the counterweight shaft. The RA clutch is where a polar scope eyepiece would be on a Tak mount.

Post Extras:

revans
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 09/26/05

Loc: Fitchburg, MA

Re: Need help on a new Losmandy G11 Gemini mount new

[Re: jrcrilly]
#3135524 - 05/30/09 09:28 AM

OK.. found the clutch releases... not levers as I expected but instead for each axis its a ring that turns to expose some washers... interesting.

Now I'll try to put a telescope on it and see what happens, although my power supply doesn't arrive until next week.

PS - why does the Gemini control box have a handcontroller telephone-type jack, but the handcontroller box attaches via a sort of computer COM port type connector?

Its all new to me...

Rick

Edited by revans (05/30/09 09:29 AM)

Post Extras:

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