Chris Jones

Dear Lenscap, It's new and under warranty and I may go back to the shop with it when lockdown eases a little (it's some distance away). they were helpful and provided anew battery but were flummoxed as to the casue of the problem, so in the meantime I have contacted the UK agent for skywatcher and also celestron to see if it's something they've encountered before. It may be such and easily put right. I'll see if I can get a car battery as a control test, thanks.

I had the tank on charge for 8 hours and the problem happened. It was the same with the previous PowerTank. the mount slews ok with no telescope nor counterweights on it, it happens when I ass ten scope and weights. I measured the current with a multimeter and the highest current I got was 3.1 A, at which point the device shut down.

Hi Michael The only cable I have is the one that comes with the Powertank. It's brand new so I am assuming it's ok. The slewing works with no problem when the mount has no telescope nor counterweights on it. Would that fit with your argument?

I recently bought a Skywatcher Explorer 200P EQ5 Pro GOTO Telescope, featuring the SynScan Computerised GOTO Equatorial Mount and to power it I bought the PowerTank Lithium Pro. I am having a problem and wondered if you have any ideas about how to solve it. When I use the SynScan handset to align the telescope to the stars it goes through the automatic procedure first. then I have to fine tune it using the up/down/left/right buttons on the handset. When I slew it on the lowest rate it works as it should but when I slew at the highest rates (8 or 9) the PowerTank shuts off and the handset goes dead. The shop replaced the PowerTank Lithium Pro but still the problem persists. I’ve never seen a battery shut off before, it’s instant. I’m contacting the shop and am hoping to ask the same questions of the SynScan people but I thought I’d ask if any of you might know if the PowerTank had some kind of shut off mechanism? Say when it encounters too much load from the telescope or a back emf from the motor drive? Maybe this is something that’s built in or that any of you have encountered before? This is my first bit of serious kit and having it switch off part way through alignment is spoiling the experience somewhat. Many thanks