Mike here: Consider this a "better safe than sorry" warning. I have never had this problem with any of my AutoStars. If you have, please let me know at etx@me.com. Thanks.

Subject:	Autostar Quick Battery Check
Sent:	Monday, August 8, 2011 05:59:37
From:	Mike Hogan (mhogansr@comcast.net)
I've noticed that you often recommend changing batteries or power source
as the first step when troubleshooting many problems. If the Autostar is
working, there is a quick way to check the status of the power using the
'Status' Menu (MODE for 2 seconds). The last item in the menu is
'Battery Level' and shows voltage of the power source as a percentage.
I've found that the 'scope may start behaving erratically when this
value drops to about 75% but I recharge my external Power Pack when it
falls to 85% just to be on the safe side. If the level falls too low, it
can corrupt the memory, requiring a RESET or even a reload of the ROM.

Just thought I'd pass this along.
 
Regards,
Mike Hogan

And:

I don't have any experience with the #494 so don't know if low power
will have the same effect. I know my #497 got corrupted once and I think
it was low power but can't be 100% positive.

Subject:	Low Battery Warning 
Sent:	Thursday, April 12, 2012 21:01:22
From:	gary chance (garychance@ymail.com)
This is a great site with alot of great info! I juts wanted to add to
the low battery problem, and how it can relate with a 494 autostar. A
few weeks ago i bought a etx 70at from ebay. When i got the scope it
looked great, i then found the flip mirror had come unglued and was
lodged below the flip holder. I used your site and repaired it myself
(thank's to this site) I powered up the scope (a battery was already in
it and when i flipped the switch i came on so i went with it. The
autostar went through setup screens and then tried to slew to cirrus.
After playing with it for awhile during a slew the screen keep
flickering, would even go out for a bit, then come back on. Then it gave
me a motor fault. SO it went to train motors then died again in the
middle of this. Come to find out the person i had bought the scope from
must have lost the battery pack and just had a single 9 volt installed.
I ordered a external dc adapter and ac kit, and now use a jump start
battery pack with the dc adapter which works great. But i think the low
power must have fried my 494 autostar, because it go's through the setup
menus, but gets stuck at daylight savings time. All i can do is use the
autostar to control the scope which it still does. So i think the low
power did fry it. I have a new 494 controller should be here tomorrow
sure hope this one does not get fried to, but after reading what i have
here, i think it was the 1 9 volt battery and being under powered. Hope
this helps someone else not to fry there 494 (there hard to find)

Go back to the Warnings Page.

Go back to my ETX Home Page.