Celestron 6se HELP!

[Steve_meg]

Firstly sorry if this is the wrong section......

I final brought a 6se today, which I found secondhand but unused. guy had it in his loft for last 18 months as it was a gift he didn't know how to use.

anyway I took it out tonight after setting the location to London (nearest location to Maidenhead, about 20 miles away) set the date and time and tried to align it.

Firstly I tried the 3 star auto align, after three attempts it accepted it. clicked Saturn from the list and it went to the opposite direction. So tried to align it to Saturn, worked OK first time. Moved away a bit then clicked Saturn. went kind of close, thought I would slew the telescope away and then retry. This time it went to another random part of the sky.

this continued each time I tried to align the telescope, tracking to random places. In a few instances the telescope went so far up it start to go upside down??

Also is it normally for the slewing to go slow sometimes, as now and again the direction buttons would make the scope move very very little.

Now things I'm thinking are, either power supply as it is on batteries (not sure how good). or the software needs updating, although he didn't have the discs, can this be downloaded somewhere? lastly maybe the telescope is incorrectly set up or balanced. Just seems to have a mind of its own.

or is there something wrong/broken and I should ask for my money back??

sorry for the long post and any help would be really appreciated.

[Crose01]

You may want to update the software on the telescope to the latest version. Sounds like a random slew issue. I get them sometimes.

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[Rockrae78]

Celestron's website is pretty good for support. If you go to the page for your telescope, it has a support tab where you can download manuals and any available free software for your scope. They also have a good help section on there.

I've read a few threads on this site too detailing similar issues. You can search the whole forum for keywords to see what others did to resolve issues.

I've heard that batteries can lose power quickly and can cause some of the problems you're having, so you might want to invest in some sort of power tank. FLO have a Maplins one that is reasonably priced and will work for your scope.

With regard to the different slew speeds. The scope will move slower when slewing during the 'align' process. It starts off quickly when you are searching for the object in the finder, but will slow down considerably once you are centering the object in the EP.

There is also a way to change the speed on the handset (usually called the rate button, but also motor speed depending upon the model). If you press this button by accident and then follow with either the scroll buttons, or certain number buttons, this will change the slew speed. I've done this myself by accident a few times when I'm busy looking through the EP and using the remote.

HTH.

[Helen]

Batteries are a common issue for problems with slewing. As far as alignment goes you might want to carefully check time, date, time zone, summer time etc . Its really easy to get these wrong and they muck up the location of planets in particular.

The SE mount is a nice little mount though, and the 6 inch is great too, so its worth trying to get it working properly.

Helen

[astrosathya]

Hi,

When you did the three star align, did you actually look into the eyepiece to center each of the stars? Also, are you in London or away by about ten miles? Did you put in the daylight savings n it? Also, the time zone has to be set at +00:00. Some handsets have a default -00:00 set.

I have tried setting it up during the day by simulating Saturn's position using an app on the IPad.

[ronin]

Are you sure you set everything?

Once they have been set they tend to hide bits that a new location needs. As you say the previous person didn't know how to use it they may have managed to get data in that you need to change, or set correctly.

Are you sure you got London UK, there is a London just outside Toronto, and the scopes tend to display N American locations first.

[Steve_meg]

Thanks for the replies. As for location I went into international, then England, then London. Then I set the date, at first I entered it wrong but realised it was in US format. Lastly set the time.

Now the batteries were in the scope when I brought it and I tried for a few hours to get it to work, so it's possible they are drained.

But would this cause the erratic behaviour? Just puzzled as it almost got it a few times then went completely of, as I said sometimes to the point the telescope moved almost upside down?

Also noticed I wasn't given the lead for the pc. Where is the best place to buy one from? Are there any shops which might have them or are the specialist?

[Cjg]

I own the 5SE, and can reply more fully this evening if needed. The mounts are power critical and duracell or other high power batteries do not last long in these mounts - forget what Celestron says on their site regarding battery life - it's like getting the stated MPG from your car.

If you use NiCads or similar, you will encounter alignment errors too as the voltage will be way out. I use the power adapter from my netgear router as it's the same voltage and tip positive - try your scope from mains power, use something like Heavens-above.com to get the exact latitude and longitude for your locaction and try again.

Sometiimes the sky align fails for no obvious reason so try a two star alignment too. You will get there, they are a great scope and for visual use superb.

Good luck.

Chris

PS I cannot stress how critical it is to get the connection correctly, if you use the wrong voltage at the tip of the power adapter, you could fry the electrics on the mount.

[Steve_meg]

Well I was going to buy the Maplin power pack, what lead do I need to ask for?

Would this one work http://mobile.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?moduleno=37423

Also as above would somewhere like maplin do a universal cable for the PC connection?

[Cornelius Varley]

Well I was going to buy the Maplin power pack, what lead do I need to ask for?

Would this one work http://mobile.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?moduleno=37423

Also as above would somewhere like maplin do a universal cable for the PC connection?

Don't use that Maplins adapter, it is only rated for 1A, you need a regulated psu rated for at least 2A or a 17Ah power tank. For the connection cable check out FLO or ebay.

[Rockrae78]

But would this cause the erratic behaviour? Just puzzled as it almost got it a few times then went completely of, as I said sometimes to the point the telescope moved almost upside down?

The previous threads I mentioned said exactly the same thing. Erratic slewing and almost going upside down. Pretty sure, from what I remember - that the advice given there was to ensure that they had a regular power supply. AA batteries were definitely not recommended.

Im not sure which Maplin power pack you are planning on buying, but if its the one from FLO, I would email them and tell them what equipment you have and they'll be able to tell you exactly which power cord will fit both the battery and the scope. They really are very helpful and I've never waited more than a couple of hours for a response from them.

With regards to the power cable, it isn't included with all Celestron scopes. I didn't get one with the 130 SLT. It's worth paying for one because if anything ever goes wrong with the handset, or if you need to update the firmware, you will need one. I think the cable and the USB to serial adapter cost less than £20 to buy for both so not a massive cost. I got my cable and adapter from Amazon. The RS-232 cable is pretty standard I think, but the USB to serial adapter was a tricky one. They aren't all the same and some of the cheaper ones have limited capabilities (all to do with the drivers I think, but I'm not a techie so not completely sure!). I think you need to find one that will work with whatever operating system you have on your pc/laptop. I'm sure that Maplins will be able to tell you which one is best for you though.

Good luck.

[Rockrae78]

Sorry, should have said pc cable not power cable for the last paragraph.

[stevend]

I use the power adapter from my netgear router as it's the same voltage and tip positive

Brilliant. I am about to order a 127 SLT, wondered whether I might have a suitable power adaptor in the garage somewhere, and I have a couple of Netgear ones. Proving yet again it is worth keeping all those electrical bits.

Thanks.

P.S My first post, I was waiting until the scope arrived to introduce myself but tips (excuse the pun) like this are gold.

[Steve_meg]

Brought a maplin 3-1 12v power pack and this lead http://mobile.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?moduleno=115314 does this one look suitable? It's 3a and give out 12v.

[Cornelius Varley]

If you are using a 12v powertank you won't need the second item.

[Steve_meg]

It's one like this which a few people have recommended http://mobile.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?moduleno=383992

[OneEyedSam]

punch in your longitude and lattitude rather than city. You cant be too precise with these things.

[ronin]

International, England, London should be right, I only asked as I recall someone took Birmingham as the nearest city. Trouble was the scope was using Birmingham Alabama, not West Midlands.

If you enter your own location as Long+Lat (think it is this way round on the SE range) then make sure that the timezone is 0.

[Steve_meg]

So spent half the day in maplin finding the correct jump start and lead (not ideal but powered it fine). Then as it was clear tonight tried again.

What a difference! Although my first and second two star alignments fail, I realised it was because the were close together. So for ease I used saturn. The telescope seemed to track to the location of the object although slightly out.

So tried the two star again with the stars further apart. Success. Then I selected Saturn., which was just off but I mean just. Tried again, off by the same amount. Then choose m03, bang in the eyepiece it was!

Through out the whole 2 hours it did not go to random place, go upside down etc. just seemed to function as it should.

So thanks to everyone for their help, really happy it works. Just can not understand why celestron put the battery tray there if it does not work.

[Rockrae78]

Glad you got it sorted. Once you get the hang of the SkyAlign, it will be easy as pie. I would check your finderscope alignment tho with you saying it was a little off each time. I've use SkyAlign with both of my scopes and never had a problem with it being off.

It always centres it exactly in the finder, and then it's in the EP. I would also suggest that when you are choosing the SkyAlign 3 star process, try and use stars that are in a triangle sort of shape. At the moment I'm using Saturn, Spica and Arcturus. Whenever you use stars that are in a line (no matter how far apart) it always seems to fail.

With regards to the battery pack. I think that they are included to make sure that the scope is portable (ie no need for external power sources). They do work, but the batteries don't last very long. I've used them before in my SLT 130 and its been fine for 2 nights at the most (although I managed about 4-5 hours each night). I've never had the scope behave strangely, just a general slowing down of the motors when slewing.

I do think that they might wear out even sooner in a 6SE (more powerful motors). You mentioned in an earlier post that the batteries were in the scope when you bought it so they may have been in there for months and may have already been seriously depleted. You didn't mention what type of batteries they were: I wouldn't recommend anything other than Duracell. Any lesser batteries won't stand a chance!

Interestingly, there is no battery option to power my CPC 800. It would seem the bigger or more powerful you go, the less batteries are effective.

Anyway, once again, I'm really pleased for you. There is nothing worse than buying something new to find that there are problems, but on a brighter note, I've never had a problem that wasn't solved with the help of the lovely people on this forum!

Good luck and clear skies!

[Cjg]

Great that you got sorted Steve. The battery tray is there as in some cases the power lead could fall out of the mount ( apparently more prevalent in earlier models) if that happens, the batteries can keep the alignment and save you having to re align ....

Clear skies,

Chris

[baggywrinkle]

If the 6SE is behaving erratically then check the batteries, it sounds odd but when the power level drops the GOTO just goes to .... and does weird things. I have had this with mine.

Use google earth to get an accurate lat & long for your observing area, it helps with the final tracking. Also make sure your OTA is in the dovetail the correct way around.

Mine tracks very well but as it is an AZ mount you are limited to about 30 secs for long exposure astro-p work.

[impactcrater]

I worked years ago in Maidenhead and lived in Shoppenhanger's road.....small world....I have purchased 'enoloop' rechargeable batteries as AA s will only last a little time...these are the best rechargeables according to some photography pundits I have listened on line to. I bought 8 for the scope and I have 4 for my camera. They are predictably strong...otherwise you will spend big time on batteries. I just keep some spare ordinary batteries near by if I run low on power...impactcrater

[FrancoPucci]

I have the SE8 and have exactly the same problem, but running off a 12v 7AH battery - which should have more than enough power for the scope. I entered Lat and Lon instead of city, and I am in Durban, South Africa so my time zone is 2. However, I will try some of the suggestions mentioned in the replies to see if any of them help.

Thanks for the great tips.

[Steve_meg]

Impactcrater, it is a small world. I decided to buy the power pack and had been brilliant since. Although it will strangely only run on Duracell batteries, others don't seem to fit???

Franco, my power pack solved the problem. However next on the list was to return to factor default and update the software.