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Hi Jeff, The subject of powering mounts has been discussed on IIS many
times, with just as many preferences and opinions appearing. Many people are limited by their budget, and have to make do with what they
can afford. I have been powering my present HEQ5 Pro Goto, and my previous mount, for many years with a car battery, although purists
will recoil in horror. I only power the mount and a primary mirror dew
heater with it, but it will easily last for an 8hr session. When you consider that it ran in my car for four years before being put into semi retirement
on my scope, I imagine that a new one would do even better. Also. it's only a small battery, being out of a Corolla. A larger car battery would
obviously last even longer. You can't harm the mount; it will tell you if the voltage is low. I wouldn't worry in the least about Celestron being unhappy. Celestron owners use all sorts of power supply arrangements,
as you will see if you go to a star party.
The only proviso is that if you want to power other things as well, such as a laptop, it is wise to use a separate battery[or run it from it's
own battery and carry a spare one with you],to avoid potential ground
loop problems.
raymo
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