Just A DarnNice Guy

Being I am a new buyer of the Celestron 8SE, I am going tell Celestron what I think about the worthless battery situation and no RTC. Raise the price $40. add a RTC. Get rid of the AA batteries and just use external ion pack. Amazon sells 12,000mAH ion packs in the $40 range. Guessing bulk price be in the $20 range thus the added $40 price increase to the scope. $40 is a small price to pay for something that would actually work instead of the disappointment of the AA batteries.

Thanks for all the reply. You can add a real time clock to a raspberry PI for about $5, guessing cost celestron about $1 to build into board. Seems odd to lack it on a $1200 unit. Going to stay away from a M18 battery setup. too bulky and for the cost. The car jumper ideas look like the way to go. I have a 22000mAH ion car jumper with a cigarette out adapter. Going to give it a try. ordered the cigarette plug for scope.

No, external power is optional. Everything I read , will not run on non alkaline battery. I used 8 standard AA batteries, it would power up but not move. Glad I bought the AC adapter.

HI, Just received my 8Se. Read about using external power source instead of AA batteries, so bought the AC supply. Every time I unplug, loses times, date, location. Was wondering, if I leave the AA batteries in while using external power source, will it fry the batteries? Is there a diode to prevent the AA batteries from taking a back charge? Will the AA keep the time/ date/location? External Battery pack. I have many power tools that are 18V and 24V. I'm sure the 24 V Milwaukee would fry the scope. Will the Nexstar work on 18 V or is that still too much. Have a pile of M18, ( at least 10 ) @ 5 amp batteries for power tools. Milwaukee makes an adapter to slide onto batter to give you power leads . But still at 18V Or should a guy add a DC Voltage Reducer Converter DC 8V-40V to 13.8V 10A 138W Automatic Step Down Up Voltage Regulator Power Converter. They do make an automatic step down to 12V hurts to think about spending $250 for power tank when I have M18 for endless supply of power. Last question. I bought this and it is winter in Montana. Read about how the screen does not like the cold. some say the display will work, some say it will not. Too cold and it does not display. Was thinking about taking an old ski glove, cut a flap in the palm and sew it up with some Velcro. Put some Velcro on the hand cuff to keep it closed. Slide the hand held controller in glove along with a hand warmer. The shake and break kind. heat for about 8 hours. they get pretty warm. hope not to damage controller from the heat. maybe slide the packet into a finger for first try.