power cable for orange tube C8

[mental4astro]

Hi folks,

I'm after a power cable for an old orange tube C8. It is a unique three pin plug which is not made any more. Some 'newer' C8's made in the early '80s also used this style of plug-in cable - see attached picture.

Please let me know if you'd like to move on your old cable.

Many thanks,

Mental.

[John0z]

Hi,

These are a little hard to find, can get them on old HP equipment at times. Mouser still shows it in its catalog - http://www.mouser.com/catalog/637/1093.pdf - it is known as a PH-163 connector and this cable I think is still made by Volex. No idea of pricing though, but this will give you more to search for.

-John

[Edit] I am not familiar with the Celestron C8 - if it will run from 240V 50Hz because the cable plug looks like it is for 110V 60Hz. If you bought this locally in Australia, then quite possibly it will work.

[erick]

Nope, you cannot have my cable, and if I ever lose it I'm sort of stuffed - well until I make up something. As John asks, are you sure your C8 is 240V and not 110V before you connect the power?

If we can locate the plug, I can make up a cable. And I really should so I have a spare. Currently it sits inside the rolled up dew shield. If I forget the dewshield then..... grump!

If all else fails, insulated croc clips, and keep the kiddies away!! No, we must be able to find that plug somewhere.

[mental4astro]

Thanks for the link John. The pic is from a cable in the States, not of the cable I have. I just used that pic to show the plug shape.

Eric, I'm in for a new assembly. I'll do my bit to try to source this plug too. My electronics knowledge & links is bigger all.

[erick]

OK, here are some search hits worth investigating:-

1. " http://www.ebay.com/itm/Oval-Power-Cord-Cable-Celestron-C8-telescope-NEW-/390330658178 "


2. "I did contact Celestron and they gave me the name of a guy in California who I just got a response back from. He does have them for $40. Seems a bit pricey for an AC power cord, but I may have to bite the bullet."


3. "VICTOR 5-311 works perfect. Not easy to find, though. I've got a few extras stashed away for the needy."


4. "Try to look at one at Pix2go.com/ebay/C8_power.jpg" Eric says this one is clearly labelled 125V.


5. "This site has some good info on the type of connectors used on the older C8's - Volex 17280. A quick summary - you can use either of the two types without harm (my personal read of it ....) www.cs.ubc.ca/~hilpert/e/powerConn/index.html (http://www.cs.ubc.ca/%7Ehilpert/e/powerConn/index.html) " Eric says second one down this page.


6. http://rockyroadsystems.ecrater.com/p/13067975/oval-power-cord-cable-fits Eric says same guys as the Ebay site. Check the measurements against the pin spacing in the socket. Why don't you email them, Alex, and ask if they have a 240V version. Don't worry about the Australian power plug, we can do that ourselves. Or maybe they'll explain that their 110V version is rated to 240V.

Eric also says - I'll have one when you order some.

But remember, we still need to check that your C8 motors are 240V and not 110V

[mental4astro]

Ta Eric. I'll do some chasing.

My C8 is 240V. Like you, I'm looking to have a back up cord.

[Poita]

Check old 16mm projectors as well, some use that cord.

[Allan_L]

hi guys,
please excuse my butting in, but I am confused. :confused2:
So a probably equally dumb question I have is ...
what part of a "C8" is 240 volts?

I am assuming C8 to refer to a SCT Celestron C8 OTA?
Right?
But there were No power plugs on my old orange C9.25 OTA.

So, Do you mean a mount?
But I thought all mounts were 12 volt DC.?

So I am very confused as to what we are talking about here.

Only reason I ask is that I have a few old US type power cables, depending on what it will be used for ?

[erick]

Allan, the base of the fork has two motors in it that drive the fork in the RA direction when the fork is mounted on a wedge. I understood that so-called "clock motors" were readily available, that could be made to turn, through gears, once in 24 hours (a modified clock hour hand gearing, I guess). They were mains-operated AC motors - so that is what was used in these earlier orange tube C8 SCTs.

Out in the field, I drive mine successfully, from my 12V battery, through the smallest "beer can size" 240V AC inverter I could buy from Jaycar.

[mental4astro]

I finally found some & I'm going to make an order for this cord. Anyone else like to put their hand up for one? The cord & wall plug will need to be changed as these cords are not made to our Australian power supply.

Let me know ASAP as I'd like to put the order through by Monday next week.

Alex.

[hamradioguy]

Trying to find the same cord and found this site. Our local high school just rediscovered a "lost" orange tube C8 and of course someone at some point threw the power cord out! But good and bad news: The bad- these connectors are listed as either "obsolete" or "out of stock" at electronics parts sellers here in the States. The good news- The older style Hewlet-Packard (HP) instruments used this cord. Ham flea markets, hams with basements full of old HP test gear, and electronic surplus dealers are a potential source. My basement yielded a cord that I'll donate to the school.