Need help with Celestron Nestar 8SE setup

[TommyGG]

Hello!  New here, please go easy on me!

Bought a Celestron 8SE off Ebay recently.  I've assembled it, but whatever I try it will not turn on.  I make sure the power switch is in the | position, and have 8 brand new batteries fully charged inside it.  Nothing happens, display panel doesn't light up on the controller.

Am a little bit lost, any ideas what I could do?

[parallaxerr]

My first suggestion would be to try an external 12V power source via the DC socket next to the power switch. There are cigarette lighter cables available or if you're handy with soldering etc, you can make your own up with a 2.1x5.5mm DC plug, centre positive.

The Nexstar's are notorious for not lasting long on internal batteries anyway, I removed my battery tray and use the space to house the level bubble.

[Cornelius Varley]

Hello and welcome to SGL. Rechargeable AA sized batteries only produce 1.25v so giving you a total of 10 volt. The mount will probably not work at that voltage so you will need to to use either 1.5v Alkaline batteries or a suitable 12 volt supply.

[parallaxerr]

Also check the handset cable is plugged in both ends, nothing will work otherwise. The nexstar will work down to 10 volts, I've been down to less that 9 and the handset is still illuminated.

[TommyGG]

Ah, right you are tried a 12v power adapter works fine!  Regarding batteries, that's a bummer.  Without the 12v adapter it just wont turn on.  I'm guessing that means that functionality is broken?

[LukeSkywatcher]

I agree. The battery pack which is built-in will not serve you well. Disposable or rechargables will not work well or even last very long. A 12V power pack with connecting cable is needed. The cable should have come with the scope. 

[LukeSkywatcher]

5 minutes ago, TommyGG said:

Ah, right you are tried a 12v power adapter works fine!  Regarding batteries, that's a bummer.  Without the 12v adapter it just wont turn on.  I'm guessing that means that functionality is broken?

It should turn on with just the AA batteries in place. It should move up/down/left/right. Just you wont get as much out of them as you will with it plugged into a 12v power pack. So not worth using AA's.

Perhaps the AA battery compartment has rusted out?. If thats the case........AA's will never work again.

[TommyGG]

As another poster guessed, I am using 1.2v rechargeable batteries = 9.6v total, probably explains why it's not working on batteries!