dfox68
member
Reged: 08/23/09
Posts: 23
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Getting tired of replacing batteries (it seems especially wasteful), I'm shopping for another source, whether it's a starter battery or the Celestron Powertank. My question is this - where can I get a connector cord? I bought this scope (6SE) used and the cord did not come with it. I've looked at the connector socket on the mount and there is nothing in any of the pictures of cords that looks compatible. Celestron either doesn't offer one or I just can't find the link. Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance!
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Arctic_Eddie
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/30/07
Posts: 610
Loc: St. Petersburg, FL
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There should be lots of cords around for cigarette lighter to barrel connector(5.5mm x 2.1mm) with tip positive. Try Radio Shack or the surplus market. Be sure the plug is fused for around 3A.
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The shortest distance between one point is an infinitely small circle.
73's de KF4JU
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mgregory
member
Reged: 07/14/09
Posts: 15
Loc: Regina, SK, Canada
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The Celestron Powertank comes with an adapter.
But here is a link to one...
http://www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?pid=105-238-241-190
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TonyDralle
professor emeritus
Reged: 08/17/06
Posts: 533
Loc: Bethel Park, PA
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Do you mean the charging cord, or the one that connects the Tank to the scope? I've bought replacement cords from Tank to scope (about $15 - $20) from Hands on Optics (after my cat chewed through the original). The replacement cord is much longer than the original -- good for preventing cord wrap.
- Tony
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- TonyD
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dfox68
member
Reged: 08/23/09
Posts: 23
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Thanks! I followed the link and bought the cable. Now for a starter battery.
I love this forum! Somebody, somewhere always seems to have the answer I need.
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mbaier
member
Reged: 09/17/09
Posts: 18
Loc: Switzerland
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I bought a noname 7av powertank and it came with a bunch of adapters. I'm running the nexstar6se as well as the heated dewcap off it and it works fine.
It's always good to have an extra cable around because just last week i was outside in the dark and did not have the "anti cord wrap" feature enabled and suddenly the scope started to slow down and twaaaang - the powercord ripped apart....
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Nexstar 6 SE
Panasonic Lumix G1 camera
...and an iPhone with the Starmap App : )
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Peter9
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 10/30/08
Posts: 809
Loc: Yorkshire - Born & Bred
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Hi Mbaier, It's best to put a set of batteries in the battery holder which will act as back up just in case, as with you, there's a lose of power. The batteries will take over and the scope will not lose alignment. Rechargeables are a good idea as they will only need checking every three months or so and recharged if needed.
Peter.
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Some of the pleasure I get from life I owe to Astronomy.
Astronomy does not owe me a thing.
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Nexstar 8se
150mm Helios Newton Reflector EQ 3 G.E.M.
6.3mm 10mm Plossls. Celestron 25mm & 40mm E.Ps. 8mm x 24mm Baader Hyperion Zoom. 2x Barlow. 9x50 R.A.C.I Finderscope. G.L.P and Bracket. Dew Shield. Home made Solar filter. Home made H.C Holder.(Great Asset). Maplin's 12V 17ah Auto Start Unit.
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hazilim
member
Reged: 09/11/08
Posts: 41
Loc: Arizona
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I've been trying various power sources for my 6SE; I've read the (many) CN posts regarding cordwrap, keeping a set of AA cells in the mount "just in case". I've not (yet) inserted AA batteries into the base, but I suspect that a problem may then arise: If one were to place 8 NIMH cells in the base (9.6V) and simultaneously power the scope with an external lead-acid power supply (12V), would the external source be constantly charging the internal NIMH cells? When using a robust 12V supply, i.e. a 7-14 AH Powertank, the current diverted to the internal NIMH cells may not be significant. But if I want to power my scope from an external supply of lesser capacity (12V NIMH 2600 mah pack), might it be better to leave the 9.6V pack out of the base? Has anyone experimented with this?
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NexStar 6SE
Vixen LV EP's
AstroTech diagonal
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Tel
Post Laureate
Reged: 03/31/06
Posts: 3984
Loc: Wallingford England
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Quote:
I've been trying various power sources for my 6SE; I've read the (many) CN posts regarding cordwrap, keeping a set of AA cells in the mount "just in case". I've not (yet) inserted AA batteries into the base, but I suspect that a problem may then arise: If one were to place 8 NIMH cells in the base (9.6V) and simultaneously power the scope with an external lead-acid power supply (12V), would the external source be constantly charging the internal NIMH cells? When using a robust 12V supply, i.e. a 7-14 AH Powertank, the current diverted to the internal NIMH cells may not be significant. But if I want to power my scope from an external supply of lesser capacity (12V NIMH 2600 mah pack), might it be better to leave the 9.6V pack out of the base? Has anyone experimented with this?
Hi Hazilim,
There is no charging of the internal AA batteries by any outside source of power. The "back-up" therefore offered by keeping 8 X AAs, (rechargable or not), in the mount's battery box, is to be highly recommended.
Best regards,
Tel
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Truth is the cubed root of Verbosity.
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hazilim
member
Reged: 09/11/08
Posts: 41
Loc: Arizona
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Tel: Thank you; The reason for my concern: I am about to try an external 10-cell NIMH pack per Midnight Dan's post. It looks superb, but I began to worry about the cells in the base. No need to worry - I may indeed keep 8 AA cells in the base, per your suggestion.
By the way, I saw online a description of 1.2V AA lithium cells (2800 mah). These seem to have a very high capacity, but they are not rechargeable, and therefore might be expensive (I don't know the cost). Has anyone tried these as an internal battery pack?
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NexStar 6SE
Vixen LV EP's
AstroTech diagonal
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StarWars
Postmaster
Reged: 11/26/03
Posts: 13810
Loc: CyberSpace
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Scope Stuff to the rescue.... 
http://www.scopestuff.com/ss_cc14.htm
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Sony Digital Media player..
MX 460 earbuds
Celestron 2x Barlow Lens
Orion Collimation Eyepiece
Rigel Quick Finder
Assorted Bino's 
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Tel
Post Laureate
Reged: 03/31/06
Posts: 3984
Loc: Wallingford England
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Hi Hazilim,
I've not come across the 1.2V Li 2800mAh cells but would merely suggest that whatever types and capacity are placed internally in the mount's battery box, they only serve as a back-up in the event the external supply is briefly interrupted for any reason. If you use Dan's idea of the 10 cell external pack, you might not even need to consider any such back-up as power interruptions normally relate to cordwrap problems; eliminated by the use of Dan's pack !
Best regards,
Tel
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Truth is the cubed root of Verbosity.
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alser2
member
Reged: 02/23/08
Posts: 95
Loc: cork, ireland
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i replaced mine with one from ebay, it was a connection for charging a laptop in your car and it comes with lots of heads and i hoped that one would fit my 6se, which it did perfectly. and i feel the cord is long enough...have a search
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Celestron Nexstar 6SE
Celestron Firstscope 114 EQ + Solar filter
Celestron 12x60 Skymaster Binos
4mm, 6.4mm, 32mm, 40mm Plossl, 2x barlow lens
10x, 20x, 25x celestron eyepiece
moon filter and various colour filters
seben LP filter
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Midnight Dan
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/23/08
Posts: 2763
Loc: Brockport, NY
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Quote:
By the way, I saw online a description of 1.2V AA lithium cells (2800 mah). These seem to have a very high capacity, but they are not rechargeable, and therefore might be expensive (I don't know the cost). Has anyone tried these as an internal battery pack?
Hi Hazilim:
I would not use 1.2V batteries in the internal battery compartment. As batteries discharge (rechargeable types or not) the voltage drops slowly. A battery's capacity is rated based on it being able to drop to some reasonable voltage over time.
When using 1.5V batteries, the total for 8 cells is 12V. The actual starting voltage for a fresh set is a bit more than 12V and over time it drops until it gets to a bit less than 10V at which point the mount starts having problems operating correctly. But you need to use up most of the batteries' capacity to get them down that low.
When using 1.2V batteries, the total for 8 cells is only 10V. When fresh they will be a bit more than that, but they will quickly drop to below 10V and the mount will start misbehaving. So, even though the cells are rated at 2800mAH, you will get far less useful capacity out of them because they are not supplying the rated voltage for the system.
Putting them in as a backup like Tel recommends would be ok because you would not need to use them for long. But for that purpose, regular AA alkalines are a lot less expensive.
-Dan
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Scopes: Celestron NexStar 8SE, Orion EON 72mm ED/APO, Orion ShortTube 80
Mounts: NexStar Alt/Az GoTo, Orion Astroview (EQ3) w/single axis drive
Eyepieces: Baader Hyperion 36mm (Aspheric), 21mm 13mm, 8mm, 5mm;
Other: 2x & 3x Barlow, 0.63x Focal Reducer, Dew-not strips, DewBuster controller, SQM Meter
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Skip
Starlifter Driver
Reged: 01/23/08
Posts: 1343
Loc: San Antonio, Texas, USA
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Your OP asked about cords to connect from Powertank to computer. If you still want that, here's one.
Duh! Just read the earlier reply. 
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Skip
Celestron NexStar 6SE (Small Caliber)
Orion SkyQuest XT10i Intelliscope (Howitzer)
2 25mm Plossls; 24mm & 13mm Hyperions; 10mm Plossl; 6mm BO/TMB; 2X Barlow
Telrad + 4" Riser
7Ah PowerTank
Starbound Observing Chair
Eagle Eye Observatory, Texas -
Edited by Skip (10/30/09 06:11 PM)
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Arthur Dent
Galactic Hitch-Hiker
Reged: 10/23/08
Posts: 1184
Loc: South Yorkshire, UK
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Quote:
By the way, I saw online a description of 1.2V AA lithium cells (2800 mah).
Hi Hazilim
I haven't come across any Lithium batteries that have a capacity, such as 2800 mAh marked on them. The batteries that usually have a capacity marked on them are rechargeable.
If the battery concerned is a Lithium-Polymer (commpnly referred to as a LiPo), then I'd be VERY cautious about considering them as a power source.
LiPo batteries are a rather new technology and are used in electric r/c model aircraft (and latterly in electric r/c cars too), but they need a special LiPo-capable charger (an ordinary NiCD or NiMH charger WILL NOT DO), and they are very sensitive to over-charging and can explode or self-ignite.
I only add this as a warning to others. The LiPo batteries have a high energy-density and good self-discharge characteristics, however, due to the problems outlined above, I won't be going anywhere near them (and I have several year's experience of NiCd and NiMH rechargeable cells).
Art
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If I like it, the wife says that we can't afford it!
=======================================================
Meade ETX105 (a nice "Grab & Go" scope) & Celestron NexStar 6SE with Bob's Knobs.
Various EP's from 6mm to 26mm, Baader Hyperion 8-24mm Zoom, a 2x Barlow, 2" diagonal and 7Ah PowerTank.
MRF and Antares 8x50 RACI finder scope - both for the 6SE's OTA, whilst the ETX gets a plain RDF.
Canon EOS 400D DSLR (un-modded) and SPC900 webcam. Finally climbing the AP Learning Curve!
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hazilim
member
Reged: 09/11/08
Posts: 41
Loc: Arizona
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Thank you, Tel, Art & Dan. I am going to try the 2600mah NIMH 10-pack external power source described in a previous post. We'll see how long it can power my scope.
Since the initial issue addressed by this thread is cordwrap/power supplies I want to point out that the new version 4.18 HC software turns cordwrap OFF by default when EQ tracking is selected; it turns cordwrap ON when ALT-AZ is selected. Whenever I power on the scope, I need to go into the menus & change cordwrap to OFF if I want the scope to GOTO either direction without having to avoid that "no-cross" line.
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NexStar 6SE
Vixen LV EP's
AstroTech diagonal
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DeepField
super member
Reged: 08/17/09
Posts: 106
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Like I mentioned in another post, they are selling 9800 mah 12V Li-ion packs with a charger for $40 on e-bay for CCTV camera systems.
Just search on e-bay for "cctv 9800mah". Lots of choices.
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Scott
Nexstar 6SE
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Arthur Dent
Galactic Hitch-Hiker
Reged: 10/23/08
Posts: 1184
Loc: South Yorkshire, UK
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Ahh.... Li-ion not Li-po.
No direct experience of Li-ion batteries (save for those in mobile phones of course).
As far as I am aware, they don't have the same safety issues as those that I outlined for the Li-po batteries above.
Just had a look on eBay, the "cctv 9800mAh" batteries are available complete with charger here in the UK for around £26.00
Let us know the outcome of the 2600 NiMH's Scott. Cheers. You need 10 because the NiMH's only put out 1.2V, not the 1.5V of alkaline cells.
Art
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If I like it, the wife says that we can't afford it!
=======================================================
Meade ETX105 (a nice "Grab & Go" scope) & Celestron NexStar 6SE with Bob's Knobs.
Various EP's from 6mm to 26mm, Baader Hyperion 8-24mm Zoom, a 2x Barlow, 2" diagonal and 7Ah PowerTank.
MRF and Antares 8x50 RACI finder scope - both for the 6SE's OTA, whilst the ETX gets a plain RDF.
Canon EOS 400D DSLR (un-modded) and SPC900 webcam. Finally climbing the AP Learning Curve!
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earthbot1
super member
Reged: 08/27/09
Posts: 178
Loc: Central Virginia
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My first run with a Duracell Jump battery was a dud. It worked ok for a short time, but alignment was off and it eventually ran low.
I bought it off ebay, so not sure how long it was charged. Will give it another go...if nothing else it makes a good spare flashlight/emergency jump start for car.
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Nexstar 8
Meade/Celestron EPs
Bushnell 90mm Mak-Cass
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