Sky watcher auto focuser

[ultramol]

I purchased an auto focuser by SW the other week and after I fitted it on to my 200p I tried it in the house and it worked brilliantly. The weather has been bad but when I took it out a week later when the weather turned for the better it would not work at all. The upshot of this was on changing the battery it worked. I put the best durecell money can buy into it and some how it had drained all the power in less than a week. Now I remove the battery after use but has anyone else had this problem? Do you think I have a problem with this focuser ?

Regards....Geoff

[JB80]

Sounds like something is not right, I haven't had to change the battry on mine at all yet.

Maybe something is stuck and thebmotor is running when not in use?

[ultramol]

Thanks for that Jarrod. I stored the hand control without the lead on . Unless something in the box was holding the button down I am at a loss.

Thanks   Geoff

[dph1nm]

The only trouble I have had with mine, which is now a few years old, is the buttons. Press one of them in fully and nothing happens, so you think the battery is flat - but if you carefully only press half way (ish) in then it works.  I suggest you get a cheap battery tester and see if the old battery really is flat.

NigelM

[Apharov]

Mine also exhausts the battery in a couple of weeks. I got it a couple of months ago. It's an annoyance, so maybe I'll try to get a replacement.

[Nillchill]

the skywatcher auto focuser uses a simple dc voltage regulator circuit to drop the 9v to the 6v required to drive the motors,with a small set of push switches.

there is plenty of room in the case to install a simple switch, between the positive and the circuit board inside, it cured the issue of flattening batteries for me

btw its am lm617 voltage reg circuit 

[Astro Imp]

I have had mine over a year now and have never had to change the battery.

[m37]

Mine lasted ages, possibly a faulty circuit? Is your focuser very stiff? That might drain the battery...

[zedds]

The controller on mine was very intermittent. Drove me mad. So I bought this http://www.firstlightoptics.com/hitecastro/hitecastro-dc-focus-controller.html . More expense but have had no further issues.

[ultramol]

Thanks for your suggestions concerning my problem. I will check if the battery is flat as I still have it. Also checked the focuser for undue stiffness and it was very smooth. Nillchill, I presume the switch was put in just to make sure the thing is turned off so to speak ? Zedds, does that unit you refered to mean I can run the focuser from my computer ?

[zedds]

Zedds, does that unit you refered to mean I can run the focuser from my computer ?

Yes mate, that was another reason why I bought it and that's how I use it. Great bit of kit.

[ultramol]

Nice one Zedds, maybe you could help with another query ? I am thinking of getting that box for eqmod to run my scope. I noticed that it had a 12v supply to it but my motor kit is 6v would this fry my mototrs or is it stepped down from within the box ?

[zedds]

Not too sure mate. I have mine on a permanent set up in a ROR obsy with mains power. I use THIS to connect power to the controller and have had no issues.