Crawford or Electric Focuser

[guipago (Geoff)]

Do these units fit the Crayford style focusers or just the r&p type focuser, are they even needed on a Crayford focuser???

[OzEclipse (Joe Cali)]

I bought one of these Skywatcher Electric Focus in early-mid 2015. I put an alkaline battery in it but then put it on the shelf with battery installed and didn't get around to fit it to my focusser until a few weeks ago. I didn't know about the battery flattening issue. Battery has been in for more than a year and still working fine. I measured the no load current drain from the battery. It's 0.0 milliamps. If the buttons get pressed in your accessories box by contact with other items, with no motor attached, it will drain at 5mA.

I wouldn't both to install a switch unless you find it is actually flattening batteries.

Joe

[raymo]

They come with adaptors for both types of SW focusers.
Joe, there were quite a few of us early buyers of this electric focuser
that had this problem, a new battery would be dead within 12-24hrs.
As I have stated before, I have no idea whether this problem was ever
rectified. Mine is still the same if I forget to switch it off; luckily I now
use a rechargable battery. Yes, not much point in switch if focuser is o.k.

Mine is Crayford style, but I wouldn't be without my electric focuser.
You can override the electric focuser for very large focal adjustments by simply
pushing or pulling the focuser to an approximate focal position, and doing the final
adjustments electrically. Can't do that with r&p focuser of course.
raymo

[Allan_L (Allan)]

Mine flattens a new battery overnight, (ie within 24 hours) even with the motor and cable disconnected.
Disconnecting the battery each night, the battery lasts for ages.
But, the wires are so flimsy, they are easy to pull right off the control board if you are not careful. [I hate 9 volt battery connections].
I hope they have fixed this issue.
But it wont take long to find out if not.

The switch sounds good Raymo, but as I said, the wires are so flimsy, and short, that I am not confident that I could attach a switch successfully.

[Missedapproach (Ben)]

I went to Jaycar today and bought a small rocker switch and a meter of small wire. Totalled $3.40 so I think a cheap mod. Better than changing batteries. I will post a pic when done

[Missedapproach (Ben)]

Well i got carried away last night and forgot to take photos but had a easy time fitting the switch. I used a low profile rocker switch and mounted it through the side between the in/out buttons and the top of the battery compartment. Simple job just cut the red wire with about 15mm from the battery connection. Soldered two wires to the switch then made the one from the board as short as possible and gave the one back to the battery a extra 20mm. Fits and works perfectly.

[raymo]

Yes, quite easy, saves messing about every time you use it. Allan, don't
you have a friend who likes doing this sort of thing?
raymo

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

Originally Posted by Terry B

I've had one of these for at least 8 years (I don't exactly remember). I have changed the battery once in that time. No extra switch.

That sounds about right. I'm pretty sure the battery is disconnected (or as good as) unless one of the buttons is being pressed. Mine's an older unit, approx 10 y.o. From what others are saying it sounds like it's some of the more recently made units that have an issue. I'm curious now. I'll have to have a look inside my controller.