POWER SUPPLIES Last updated: 12 February 2009

Mike here: A few years back I had been looking to buy a 12VDC rechargeable power supply for my ETX and LXD55 telescopes. The one I really wanted then (at Target) was no longer available (according to my local Target store). So I decided I would survey ETX and LXD55 users. I am sure there are many others interested in this so have compiled a table from the inputs I have received. In October 2004, I ended up purchasing a Celestron Power Tank and it has worked out well for me. But I am keeping this table going so if you would like to submit information for your power supply, please copy the lines below and paste into a new email message, add your responses on the same line as the item, use a Subject line of "Power Supply Table", and send it to me at etx@me.com. Thanks.

New entries added on the right side of the table or at the end of the page.

Some people sent me other information on power supplies:

From: gooddealonly@hotmail.com (gooddealonly (gooddealonly@hotmail.com))
I use the this one myself:
http://www.atozastro.com/shop/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=29

Ringo Li (reseller)


From: srapp2@bellsouth.net (Sam Rapp)
This looks a lot cleaner, and cheaper too.
http://bartswatersport.com/roadpropor12.html


From: gjyoung@cfl.rr.com
Heres another, with 3, 6, 9, and 12 volt taps.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2701385231&category=383

I've never used it, but power systems tend to pe pretty simple.  I guess
the only drawback could be the possible flimsyness of the case or
connectors.

Gil


From: johns@eeea.com (John Spaar)
I use this one extensively. It works for the scope and any lighting or
even small heating(creature comforts) requirements. Also it justifies
the cost as it has helped out during power outages here. Here is the
link. They were 200 US, but I got mine at Wal-Mart for $49.97 . I think
they were discontinuing them, but should be able locate elsewhere.

http://www.centuryonline.net/catalogue/catalogue.asp?productID=2&catagoryID=11&modelID=50


From: rseymour@wolfenet.com (Richard Seymour)
First, a tale: how i selected the pack i use for my LX00gps: (the ETX90
runs on internal AA cells or RadShack 500ma 12 AC adapter) One
lunchtime, I walked to the nearest automobile parts supply shop
("Shucks", a local chain).  I asked what types they had. They had a
17AmpHr battery-only for $99, and an on-special 17AmpHr with 3 12
outlets, integrated air compressor and white flood lights for $45.
Which i bought.
That was how i chose: price and availability.
Target/Costco/etc. stores aren't immediately convenient for me, so i
still haven't priced them there.  In the ensuing 9 months i've looked at
other units (i would have -preferred- one with an AC output, and an
integrated charger, instead of this one's wall-wart, but i haven't seen
one of those in my usual circle of shopping).

The unit has only failed me once: after a week or so of observing
without recharging, (average 2 to 3 hours per night), it failed to start
my car the next morning (dead cell in car battery). After a day's
recharging, it -did- start the car the next morning.

I see your list of specs doesn't include -capacity- (the AmpHour rating)

To connect, I use a no-longer-available Radio Shack fused Radar Detector
power cord. It's a little shorter than i'd like, but came with the
proper connectors. It also has an LED on the plug, so i can tell if it's
fully seated.


From: jksmit0@uky.edu (Jim Smith)
I purchased a 12 volt rechargeable battery pack(Century Portable Engine
Starter) from Sam'sClub for about $35.00(on sale).  It has 1000 mAmp
hours  capacity.  It is designed to be an emergency car battery and has
the large cables and clips for starting your car.  It also has two
cigarette lighter ports.  I modified it by removing the two large cables
and replacing one of the cigarette lighter ports with an adapter so that
I could plug in my power cable for the telescope.  I did this because
the cigarette lighter ports were not too good and became disconnected
too easily.  I did not connect my power cable directly because I can use
this battery for other things as well.  I use the other cigarette
lighter port to power an alternater to run my laptop.
Jim Smith


From: Flundberg77@wmconnect.com
I see that you are requesting information on 12v power supplys suitable
for ETX and LDX telescopes.

I recently ran across an interesting rechargable battery in a Cabela's
catalog. Cabela's is a major mailorder sporting goods retailer located
in Sidney, Nebraska.

They sell a 12 volt, 7 amp hour rechargable gell cell battery for
powering fish finders which should also be suitable for the above
telescopes. The price ranges from $24.95 to $49.95 depending on whether
you want just a battery or a charger with one or two batteries. Pretty
cheap!

Cabela's web site is: www.cabelas.com

To find the battery on their site look under STORE and click on Marine,
then look under FISHFINDERS and click on "Fishfinder Accessories" and
then look for the Cabela's Rechargable 12v Battery.

I hope you find this interesting.
Forrest Lundberg


From: jimabbey2002@yahoo.com (jim abbey)
Here is a 2 photos  of my scope with the Radio Shack  Power Station
attached, You will notice  the 2cigarette lighter sockets in the front
of the unit. also just above them are the multiple power outlets

Subject:	ScopeStuff power sources for the LXD55
Sent:	Saturday, March 15, 2003 16:57:47
From:	Jim Henson (jimh@bga.com)
I wonder if you would consider adding our LXD55 power source products to
your fine LXD55 site Power Supply Listing.

Our #CC12 cigarette lighter cord and #PS12 AC/DC power supply are used
by LXD55, LX90, lots of LX200-GPS owners and also a few ETX folks.

Both products are 100% tested here before shipping, and there is no
danger of getting the polarity wrong as with the adaptaplugs.

#CC12 Fused 12VDC Power Adapter Cable is at:

http://www.scopestuff.com/ss_cig1.htm

#PS12 12VDC Regulated Power Supply, 100-240VAC Input for LX200-GPS,
LX90, LXD55 is at:

http://www.scopestuff.com/ss_ps12.htm

Keep up the good work,
Jim

Jim Henson
ScopeStuff
www.scopestuff.com
jimh@scopestuff.com or
jimh@bga.com

Subject:	Power supply
Sent:	Saturday, May 1, 2004 19:06:41
From:	"David Guibert" (PlutoVIP1@cfl.rr.com)
Just responding to your request on power supplies. Hope it's not too
late. Try a Vector 400 Amp 17 hour(VEC021AC) It has a 200 watt AC to DC
power inverter and car battery jumper cables. It's a tank, it keeps
going and going. Helpful hint, I purchased it from ScopeTronix for a
hundred bucks, but if you check out the manufacture's site it cost
around fifty-nine bucks,(son-of-a-gun).

I also purchased the Orion Dynamo, it's not bad but on a long night it's
good for only about four hours. (Keep in mind that I had three heating
elements connected to it for my Kendrick System). Maybe that's really
good on second thought, but I haven't used my Vector in it's place, I
use it for the drive on my LXD mount.

Dave Guibert
Melbourne, FL
PlutoVIP1@cfl.rr.com

Subject:	More on Portable Power Stations for the ETX
From:	Anselmo Perez Serrada (anselmo@relojesdesol.org)
Perhaps many ETX users in Continental Europe would like to know that I
am succesfully using with my ETX-125-AT the EGS-12 EINHELL Power Station

It is a 'plug and slew' rechargeable gel battery & power supply unit,
very small, light and affordable (you can easily find it in many
european supermarkets* for about 30 EUR). It works great with the ETX
and I warmly recommend it.

Its main drawback?  Well, it needs ca. 15h charging for ca. 8h working,
but it's more than OK for just 30 EUR, isn't it?

Best regards,

Anselmo Perez Serrada
www.relojesdesol.org

(*) For instance, MAKRO stores sell it for 29 EUR, Leroy Merlin for 34
EUR and so on...

Subject:	Portable Power Supply
Sent:	Sunday, July 25, 2004 11:42:04
From:	Lorcan (LAdrian@nacrol.co.uk)
I have just purchased a very nice portable power supply unit, a TRONIC
KH3106.  It's only 8"x6"x3" in size and I intend using it outdoors with
my Meade ETX 90.

I have two questions

a)         The connecting cable plug can be either point (+) barrel (-)
or reversed.  Which is the format needed for the ETX 90??

b)         What is the best setting for the EXT 90?  I have a choice of
1A or 1200 mA

I have looked in the manual, but it only refers to a Meade accessory
#541 that run off 115V

2. Technical data

Energy station

Rechargeable gel battery                            12V===/7Ah

Low voltage jacks (DC Output)                   3V===/4,5V===/6V ===/9V ===/12V === un-stabilized / 1 A        

Motor vehicle socket                                   12V-=--/10A (DC 12V /max. 10 A)

Screw connections                                    12V-/10A for max. 2 min.

Mains charging adapter

Power supply                                              230V~/50Hz

Charging output                                           12V===/0,5A

Charging time                                              approximately 15 hours with empty battery

Protection class II

Regards

Lorcan

Subject:	power supply
Sent:	Sunday, July 17, 2005 03:11:30
From:	Rik Delaet

Product Name: Tronic 
Model Number: KH3106
Manufacturer: Kompernass Handelsgesellschaft mbH/ 
http://www.kompernass.com/display.html?section=products&subsection=detail&product=133&lang=en


Where purchased: LIDL (Belgium)
When purchased: 2005/5/10
Price: 16.99 euro
Size (width, depth, height): 19.5 cm, 8 cm, 18 cm
Weight: 2.790 kg
Warranty length: 3 years
Number of 12VDC cigarette lighter ports: 1
12VDC power normal (amperes): 1
12VDC power peak (amperes): 15 (2 minutes)
Other DC power output ports & voltage: 3/ 4.5/ 6/ 9/ 12
AC power output ports & voltage: 0
Power On indicator (type): led (green)
Charge level indicator (type): led (green = OK), led (red = to be charged)
Charging indicator (type): led (green = charging), led (red = charged)
Charging power source (car, 120VAC, 220VAC): car, 220 VAC
Time to charge: 15 h
Utility light (type, color): ??

Included accessories: 5 types of contacts
Handle/strap: strap
What telescope powered: ETX 70AT
What telescope accessories powered: autostar + telescope motors
Typical time between charges: many days
Other comments: I have made a simple connection cord myself but I have
a (little) problem when it wraps around the telescope base when it
turns around. Maybe somebody has a simple solution for that? Maybe it's
a good idea to tape the 12V outlet off. So you cannot use it
inadvertently and damage the telescope.

Would you buy it again? YES

Rik Delaet

Subject:	ETX - AC Power Supply 
Sent:	Monday, November 17, 2008 03:40:17
From:	Ludwig Krijgshaftig (ludwig.krijgshaftig@xs4all.nl)
Having read a number of reports on your site re. good and bad
experiences with AC power supplies for the ETX, just wanted to add my
personal experience as well.

I have only purchased my ETX little over a week ago, so not much
experience yet, but have been using it with either a 12V jump start
battery pack or an AC power adapter.

I did not really want to purchase the Meade AC adapter. I live in the
Netherlands and they charge over 60 EUR for the device, while I could
get any other no-brand AC adapter to deliver 12V for less than 15 EUR. I
did purchase it anyway because I was in a hurry and needed the long
cable to connect the ETX control panel to the jump start battery pack
with a cigarette lighter plug, which is included with the "Meade" AC
adapter.

I stated "Meade" here, because the AC adaptor comes in a non-descript
cardboard box, with just a label stating Meade AC 220V Adapter. It also
states ETX90 125 105 LX90 and a part number 24455120. That's all.

Inside is the power adapter from Sunny Computer Technology Europe s.r.o.
Made in China. Model SYS1319-3012, switching adapter, input 100-240V,
50-60Hz, output 12V 2.5A (30W Max).

So, it does not really appear to be so special made for Meade that it
would value over 60 EUR. Although it is a switching adapter and I have
read somewhere on your site that that is a Good Thing.

Contrary to another contribution on your site, there is no clear warning
that this is for indoor use only. Though I must say I still have to
"decode" all these symbols the European Union forces suppliers to put on
their products. There is a symbol of a house there, perhaps it means
safe to use in the house, perhaps it means indoor use only, have to find
out...

Anyway, I have only used it indoor so far. For a couple of hours at a
time while fooling around with the ETX and the connection to my PC. It
has run without any problem, did not fry the ETX board or motors due to
excessive voltage, slewing the ETX went OK all the time.

All I can say for those wanting to buy an AC adapter but afraid to use
one: at least this one works fine.


Kind regards,
Ludwig

Product Name: Power station (Energiestation)
Model Number: EGS 3600
Manufacturer: Einhell
Where purchased: Amsterdam, Netherlands
When purchased: November 2008
Price: 67 EUR (about 84 USD)
Size (width, depth, height): 25, 13.5, 35 (size in cm)
Weight: 7.3 kg
Warranty length: 2 years
Number of 12VDC cigarette lighter ports: 1
12VDC power normal (amperes): 10
12VDC power peak (amperes): 600 (max. 5 sec)
Other DC power output ports & voltage: 3V, 6V, 9V (all 1A)
AC power output ports & voltage: none
Power On indicator (type): Green LED (Red LED when Empty)
Charge level indicator (type): Green LED (when Full)
Charging indicator (type): Red LED
Charging power source (car, 120VAC, 220VAC): 220VAC
Time to charge: Have not done that yet (will update this info)
Utility light (type, color): 12V, 5W, Bright white bulb (Car light)
Included accessories: AC charger, cigarette lighter plug and cable for
DC, jump start cables and clamps
Handle/strap: Handle is part of fixed construction, No strap
What telescope powered: ETX-125PE
What telescope accessories powered: None (will use for Dew Heater)
Typical time between charges: Do not know yet (will update this info)
Other comments: It is rated for 18Ah (capacity appears not to be
included in the standard parameters for this table)
Would you buy it again? Yes, probably. Need to work with it longer to
obtain a firm opinion. Did prefer an older model (no longer available)
without the lamp and with an additional cigarette lighter plug, but I
suppose I can split the one here when necessary.

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