Powertank 17 compatibility with Celestar

[guym50]

Hi all,

I bought one of those from Andrews Comms last week. Need some advice, please:

1. The Powertank cigarette lighter sockets output at 12vDC, 10A. The DC input on my Celestar is 12V, however no mention of the max safe current that it handles can be found anywhere. I am loathe to try (using a modded cable / adaptor) just in case I burn the motor drive on the Celestar out. Can someone out there let me know? Just for the record, if I do try based on any advice given, the responsibility is mine and mine only if the motor drive fries itself.

2. The 9V 1A output on the Powertank, I deemed safe enough to connect to the 12VDC input of the Celestar. It seems to work ok (after all the Celestar drive powers from a 9v battery), watching it to see if it is moving the scope in the right direction right now, even then, no way to tell if it's tracking at the right speed (need to test outdoors, weather has not helped :(. Can anyone let me know if using the 9v 1a output on the Powertank is ok?

Thanks in advance and cheers

Guy

[Allan_L]

Hi Guy,
I have just read the manual on line, and it says that a standard 12 volt adapter is included with the Celestar as standard equipment, to run off a car cigarette lighter. So the 10amp power pak should be safe.

The 10 amp rating is the maximum output. Actual output is determined by the draw of the Celestar.

Most power adapters have a fuse in them (if necessary to ensure the device is not fried if it should short circuit). Checking that fuse should give you an idea. (I would expect it to be maybe 5 amp?) So this will provide protection for your Celestar.

I would think it is safer to run from the 12 volt output than the 9 volt, as this is what Celestron had intended.

[UniPol]

I've run my Tak EM200, Tak EM11, Meade 10" LX200, Losmandy G11 & SkyWatcher EQ6 mounts all with the Powertank 17 for the past five years without issue, just charge it up once a month whether it is has been used or not.

[guym50]

Thanks guys,

Good to know.

However right now, the Powertank is back with Andrews Coms, seems to be from an incorrectly wired batch: it will not recharge at all.

They are checking it out and will let me know.

Cheers

Guy