EQ6 power supply

[nobbygon]

Hi,
I just bought a new Skywatcher EQ6 PRO goto mount today and it doesn't come with a power supply. It did come with a power cord with a cigarette lighter adapter on the end for use with a car.
My questions are; What does everyone else use as a power supply?
Where can you get it from?
Do you have to therefore get a new cord for the new power supply?

Cheers, Angus

[Gallifreyboy]

Hi Angus,
My EQ6 is used as a mobile mount in different locations. The easiest and cheapest solution is to buy a rechargeable 12V car battery used for jump starting, they come with the connectors already, that is what I have done. There are more complicated and more expensive options depending on if the EQ6 is a mobile or fixed unit and has access to mains power. Would recommend a bigger capacity battery 17Ah or higher as the unit is power hungry.

Peter

[darrellx]

Angus

I have just purchased a new EQ6 Pro as well. I got a cigarette lighter adapter with a set of aligator clips from Supercheap for $9. I then clip it onto a deep cycle 12 volt battery.

Darrell

[Starbug]

I run two supplies depending where I am.

4A 13.8v filtered and regulated supply that I built years ago.

Second system is a 12ah gell cell battery pack with inbuilt charging system and voltage indicator. Onece again filtered and regulated. 17ah would be better.


a gell battey and a charger is a good choice. Avoid running the mount with the charger running as the filtering and regulation on some charging units leave a lot to be desired. At best such a unit may cause erratic behaviour in the mount. At worst... fizzz, crrackle.....and a smoke leak.

[bloodhound31]

If you want a power supply for the home, I have this one from Dick Smith mounted to my pier and plugged into the mains. From it, I run my EQ6 and Orion Starshoot astrocam. It has the banana plug fittings and also a cig. lighter outlet. You can buy a double lighter cord to run more than one device as I have for both the mount and camera.

http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/4a4b4800091e471e2740c0a87e0105b2/Product/View/Q1755

Hope it helps.

Baz.

[bmitchell82]

I use one from Jaycar, 8Amp 13.4 Volt regulated hasn't missed a beat and will handle anything you chuck at it (within reason) plus its only 35 bucks.! :) even better.

[MrB]

Brendan, what's the cat# of that supply? Not familiar with it :shrug:
May have been discontinued.

[bmitchell82]

http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=MP3470&CATID=27&form=CAT&SUBCATID=381

with the cat number being MP3470 works a charm and it seems they have put the $$$ up on it by 10 rods buggers.!

[mldee]

Jaycar have another potential supply, apparently regulated, but designed for 12V halogen lighting. It costs far less than the "power supply" types, and regulation is good.

I bought a model GH1379 12V/6A from Jaycar and it drives EQ6 and obs ancillaries quite well. On the Jaycar site there is also a MP3051 105Watt (12VAC/~9 amps) electronically regulated halogen lamp supply, but as it is AC output, no good for our needs. I had earlier stated it was 12VDC, sorry.

The GH1379 12V/6A is worth a look.

[Merlin66]

If you consider batteries, I'd strongly recommend a couple of 20Ah Gel cell batteries and an electronic charger.
That's what I use on my HEQ5pro, CCD's and laptop.

[MJ_]

I had the same problem when i bought my HEQ5 pro today, i didnt know it needed a 12v power supply until i set it up and by that time all the shops have closed.

Thanks for the link to the jaycar power supply, im gonna buy one tomorrow.

[MrB]

Thanks Brendan, that's one I haven't seen yet!

The GH1379 that Mike mentions has been re-sourced, it is now a 12V 5A supply.
Originaly intended to power car fridges from mains, hence the WACO style fridge plug and the 'GH' code (Gadgets)

[Moon]

That sounds like the one I got from jaycar. It's switch mode and it makes a strange clicking sound when it doesn't have any load on it. Seems to work ok so far.

[MrB]

hehe yep, thats the one.

[bmitchell82]

hehehe when you are a university student you find the biggest bang for your cents :) (i don't have bucks).