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Power supply for an EQ3 Pro mount

Galactic Wanderer

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Galactic Wanderer

Galactic Wanderer

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Hey everyone,

Ive been wondering what sort of power supply I need for Eq3 pro synscan mount. Currently I am using a maplin 12v charger from the mains. A telescope expert said that was fine but sometimes it just does not want to work. I also recently bought a battery from amazon 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/EasyAcc-20000mAh-Portable-External-Supported/dp/B0142925GQ/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1462169911&sr=8-8&keywords=easyacc+20000mah

I also got this 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B019BEMQPM/ref=sr_ph?ie=UTF8&qid=1462169954&sr=1&keywords=12v+-+usb

The battery has  not been working well either. The synscan lights up and i go thru the steps but when it comes to slewing to something, it does not work.

I would be very grateful if anyone could fix this.

Thanks, Seb

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Dr_Ju_ju

Dr_Ju_ju

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Hi Seb,

I wouldn't bother with either of those two items, as I don't believe they are up to what is needed...  I also use a Maplins' power supply (http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/power-pax-120w-switched-mode-dc-fixed-voltage-12v-power-supply-n96ju) and this is enough to drive mount, including my AZ-EQ6, and cameras etc.

If you want to go the battery route, either use a deep cycle caravan battery or the Tracer lithium ion batteries from FLO.

 

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Physopto

Physopto

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The charger is only rated at 15watts so that is probably the problem. 15watts at 12volts is only 1.25 amps, not enough on a slew. Get a bigger battery first to test the mount with. A standard lead acid borrowed if possible. Those lithium  batteries were never intended to output a large current, they are built to recharge small devices.

It is the same story for the booster cable. It was never intended to give out a current more than 1.5 amps at just over 12 volts. 

Derek

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Galactic Wanderer

Galactic Wanderer

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Thanks guys,

Will this damage the motors? Ive just tried to power the telescope with the 12v maplin cable. Unfortunately, it doesn't work. Are there any other suggestion which are under £40? 

THis is 50 but how about this?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Aukey-28000mah-Multi-voltage-External-Notebooks/dp/B0151IBSQ0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1462173688&sr=8-1&keywords=aukey+28000

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Galactic Wanderer

Galactic Wanderer

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21 minutes ago, Dr_Ju_ju said:

Hi Seb,

I wouldn't bother with either of those two items, as I don't believe they are up to what is needed...  I also use a Maplins' power supply (http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/power-pax-120w-switched-mode-dc-fixed-voltage-12v-power-supply-n96ju) and this is enough to drive mount, including my AZ-EQ6, and cameras etc.

If you want to go the battery route, either use a deep cycle caravan battery or the Tracer lithium ion batteries from FLO.

 

I like of that maplin power supply actually.

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Cornelius Varley

Cornelius Varley

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8 minutes ago, Galatic Wanderer said:

Hey Peter,

Thanks for the suggestion. Ill keep looking into it and hopefully Ill get somewhere. Have I damaged the motors?

seb

Probably not. So long as the supplied voltage was within the recommended range then things should be ok. The problems are more to do with the amount of current (amps) your batteries etc can deliver. If the battery/ psu cannot supply at least the recommended minimum to drive the motors then the mount will either refuse to work of start moving erratically. 

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Physopto

Physopto

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I doubt that you have damaged the motors but you could damage the control board using the wrong type of power supply. If the voltage goes too low the mount tries to draw a bigger current and that can fry parts on the board. So DON'T use the wrong supply. Get a proper supply that can provide the required  amperage without the voltage dipping below that required  for safe operation of the mount.

Try to cut costs at your peril!!

There are plenty of good supplies out there, but a good lead acid battery 30AH or more will do the job along with a suitable interconnect power cable. It is only on a slew that the max current is needed. The rest of the time the mount will most likely only be drawing about 0.5 amps. Thus you will get a good period of use out of a fully charged 30AH battery, before the voltage drops too much. A 30 AH battery should be capable of giving you a good nights use.

You can always test the mount with a mains driven supply to see if it works OK. If using a mains unit out doors then protect it and yourself with an RCD.

Derek

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Galactic Wanderer

Galactic Wanderer

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6 minutes ago, Physopto said:

I doubt that you have damaged the motors but you could damage the control board using the wrong type of power supply. If the voltage goes too low the mount tries to draw a bigger current and that can fry parts on the board. So DON'T use the wrong supply. Get a proper supply that can provide the required  amperage without the voltage dipping below that required  for safe operation of the mount.

Try to cut costs at your peril!!

There are plenty of good supplies out there, but a good lead acid battery 30AH or more will do the job along with a suitable interconnect power cable. It is only on a slew that the max current is needed. The rest of the time the mount will most likely only be drawing about 0.5 amps. Thus you will get a good period of use out of a fully charged 30AH battery, before the voltage drops too much. A 30 AH battery should be capable of giving you a good nights use.

You can always test the mount with a mains driven supply to see if it works OK. If using a mains unit out doors then protect it and yourself with an RCD.

Derek

something like this then:

http://www.batterytrader.com/leoch-lp12-28-lp12-30-12v-replacement-sealed-lead-acid-battery-p-42199.html?gclid=CKHj6qCQu8wCFRUW0wodRoIFPA

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Physopto

Physopto

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Just because it states 12 volts does not say that the mount is getting 12 volts when under load conditions! You need to measure the voltage with a multimeter during a slew to be certain.

Also does the mount LED flash during a slew, if it has one? I know that the NEQ/EQ6 mounts do have an LED. If it does and it flashes during a slew then the voltage is too low, i.e. below the required voltage.

Derek

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Physopto

Physopto

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3 minutes ago, Galatic Wanderer said:

something like this then:

http://www.batterytrader.com/leoch-lp12-28-lp12-30-12v-replacement-sealed-lead-acid-battery-p-42199.html?gclid=CKHj6qCQu8wCFRUW0wodRoIFPA

A bit expensive maybe, ( I have not bought one for some time), but that is the type that is very safe to use. Just make sure that you match the correct charger to the battery. As a rule of thumb the charger should not produce more than 3 Amp hour charging rate. 10% of the battery capacity.

Derek

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Galactic Wanderer

Galactic Wanderer

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5 minutes ago, Physopto said:

Just because it states 12 volts does not say that the mount is getting 12 volts when under load conditions! You need to measure the voltage with a multimeter during a slew to be certain.

Also does the mount LED flash during a slew, if it has one? I know that the NEQ/EQ6 mounts do have an LED. If it does and it flashes during a slew then the voltage is too low, i.e. below the required voltage.

Derek

I see, the synscan does show how much voltage it is getting. Is that not reliable? And no, it doesn't flash during the slew. It just says slewing for 2 secs and stops.

Thanks for the replies, ill find ones soon

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Galactic Wanderer

Galactic Wanderer

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12 minutes ago, Grotemobile said:

The size of the connector that goes into the mount,  should be  2.3mm not 2.1mm. That could be a lot of what of  what your  problems are.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B019BEMQPM/ref=sr_ph?ie=UTF8&qid=1462169954&sr=1&keywords=12v%20-%20usb&tag=stargloung-21

this one has a number of different sizes (millimeters)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Output-Universal-REGULATED-SUPPLY-1500mA/dp/B0054QJ434/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1462184992&sr=1-1&keywords=12v+1.5+amp+2.3mm+power+supply

I'm getting there!!!:BangHead:

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Cornelius Varley

Cornelius Varley

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11 minutes ago, Galatic Wanderer said:

this one has a number of different sizes (millimeters)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Output-Universal-REGULATED-SUPPLY-1500mA/dp/B0054QJ434/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1462184992&sr=1-1&keywords=12v+1.5+amp+2.3mm+power+supply

I'm getting there!!!:BangHead:

More amps !  The psu can only deliver 1.5amps max, you will need at least 2amps minimum to drive the mount, 5amps is better, 

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Cornelius Varley

Cornelius Varley

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29 minutes ago, Grotemobile said:

The size of the connector that goes into the mount,  should be  2.3mm not 2.1mm. That could be a lot of what of  what your  problems are.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B019BEMQPM/ref=sr_ph?ie=UTF8&qid=1462169954&sr=1&keywords=12v%20-%20usb&tag=stargloung-21

The Skywatcher mount uses a 2.1mm plug. That usb lead cannot provide sufficient amps to drive the mount.

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Galactic Wanderer

Galactic Wanderer

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9 minutes ago, Grotemobile said:

The power output is only 1.5amps. U need @ least 5amps. It is the slewing of the motors, that take the juice.:happy8: :help:

So that's why the maplin one was being funny. This one?!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/5000mA-Fully-Regulated-Supply-Connection/dp/B007BN4X20?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0

or this!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Power-Adapter-12-Volt-5-Amp-12V-5A-Supply-for-LED-Strips-Light-LCD-Monitor-/272031198917?hash=item3f5652aec5:g:9rYAAOSw5VFWMh~0

Thanks again for the really helpful advice. I joined SGL yesterday and never knew I would get so many posts in one day!!:headbang:

 

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