3 replies to this topic

[prsnikt]

Thought I would share a decent find ... a portable power pack that has actual >12V output (so not the Ni-XX varieties) with good capacity, for those times we just don't want or don't have an AC plug.  A good example is keeping the 8 AA's in the NexStar8SE as a backup (to maintain settings) instead of being the primary power, while not having to lug a larger battery pack around when the session doesn't require it.

 

There was a sale going on at Amazon and sometimes a useful item pops up.  This one was about $35.  6Ah capacity.  Comes with cables for both 12V and 9V output ports, has a USB port, and a proper 14.6V LiFePO4 charger.

 

 

So I wanted to confirm the actual power cells being used and how they were managed.  Decent system using 32700 LiFePO4 cells (at nominal 3.2V and 145g each) and a Cortex M0 MCU with 30V/30A MOSFETs for management.

 

If and when the cells get old, I suppose one could replace them with >6Ah units in the same 32700 form factor ... instead of just tossing the unit into the landfill.

 

There are several versions of this same thing, though this is the one that was on sale.

https://www.amazon.c...,aps,122&sr=8-5

[mclewis1]

Nice find.

 

A little clarification ... the presence of the AA internal batteries in the SE scopes doesn't retain anything. The settings are primarily retained in the hand controller which uses non volatile memory locations to store them. The admittedly minimal benefit of keeping batteries in the SEs is to prevent power resets which would necessitate re doing the initial alignment.

[prsnikt]

Appreciate that info @mclewis1

I figured everything would be lost ... alignment and handset settings.  So there indeed is NVM in

the handset. Well ... the next time I set things up, I will see if that memory actually works. 

Though for a supposedly "independent" rig (self power), one would figure the mount's electronics

would also have some sort of memory ... not saying one could set the platform up exactly the

same after each session, but if the tripod pads were marked, at least the alignment would be

similar to start with.  For casual users and as a house party anchor, that would be plenty good

enough.  Or better yet ... the batteries die ... everything stops ... replace the batteries ... continue.

That would be nice huh?

 

BTW ... I used a splitter and plugged in a couple USB LED reading lights on this thing and ran it

to test running capacity ... lasted like 4 days straight (1845 day1 to 2215 day4).  Nice to know

for camping trips.

Edited by prsnikt, 18 April 2025 - 08:30 PM.

[billywjackson]

The SE handset has a setting called "hibernate". It retains the last alignment and as long as the mount isn't moved you shouldn't have to redo alignment. As far as retaining location anyway, mine does that.

Clear skies!