Celestron 8SE spare parts urgent required

[todick]

Hi all

I'm in deep whatsit !!

I OWN A CELESTRON 8SE

GREAT!!

 have been trying to update my hand set to a v4... (long story)

been in contact over the past 2weeks with celestron to see what's wrong with it( not recognising my telescope?)

Any way !! last might I decide to give it 1 More try.. Connected up with the old handset ok.

switched off changes to v4 hc.

what ever I did I spelt that cooking smell from the base.. switched off,  went to bed.....

This morning investigated the problem. see pics

for those who do not recognise it the pcb is under the battery tray..

AUX & AG CONNECTOR BOARD FOR NEXT STAR 6/8 TELESCOPE

Nex6-Foo-5 (nxw438)

Hand set plugs into Plus a lot more>>

Tried  celestron directory of  dealers in the uk

Found one

Phoned  DOES NOT SELL DIRECT TO PUBLIC Bleeding GREAT

I  also GOT  of from the directory of dealers the likes of  National parks, maplins ??????

 

*****here is the crunch can anybody suggest a dealer who can supply a new board.

or is there a electronic geniuses who can tell me the resister so I can replace it (I am capable to re-solder etc)

I can still smell the fried component after a good dose of air freshener ( its a constant reminder of my mistake)

Thanks for reading my mishap.

any help really appreciated as we have a  few events coming up with the Leister Astronomical Society  (LAS)

 

 

 

[Cosmic Geoff]

I suggest you also investigate why this fault occurred. A resistor would not burn out for no reason. Actually, the burnt component looks like a diode to me.

https://www.nexstarsite.com/OddsNEnds/HCVersion4.htm

"The only NexStars this hand control will not work with are the original NexStar 5/8 (non-i Series). "

[MarsG76]

What da far out???? What exactly did you do.. just plugging in a handset will not fry that DIODE like that... that was caused by excessive voltage....

Contact Celestron directly for spare parts... or try emailing OPT Corp.. 

https://www.celestron.com/collections/spare-parts

https://www.celestron.com/products/motor-board-for-nexstar-68-se-telescopes

https://optcorp.com/

 

But before you do, replace it with the same type of diode thats next to it, read the numbers off it and go to your local electronic component store..... hopefully you didnt fry something else..... but its not looking good with such a sever burn mark on both side os the diode....

 

[MarsG76]

Looking at that AUX port.... did you try to force a incompatible plug into it? it looks a bit chewed up....

 

[Knighty2112]

Yeah, D1, D2 and the burnt D3 are all diodes not resistors.

[Knighty2112]

Where exactly where you plugging the flashing cable into from your PC? This cable should be plugged directly into the handset itself and not by the two ports in the base? If you plugged into any of those and tried to flash mew software through them then that is most likely why you have a fried pcb. 

[todick]

Respone to q3

The Aux plug is the result of having a coupler fitted to allow a gps and a starsence to be connected at once. connected

the adapter has such a hard external lead when the telescope rotates high up  the gap between the base and the lead is so mall it forced its way past.

this is when i first tried . Since then i never allow the scope to rotate vertically.

 

 

You are quite right it is a Diode.

been onto celestron only pretty pictures of the part.

Tried 3 dealers hmmm not sure if we can get it !! ring you back..

Found one in usa 25$

DELIVERY 35$ wow!!!! as soon as they see uk price goes up.

v4 hand set ???

Celestron adviser suggested I link both the hand set with the starsence through the AUX port perhaps I put it into the aux guide port instead..

going to tape it up now!!

Thanks for the replies very helpful

still got that burning smell even with all the windows open all day.. 

more later

 

 

[todick]

Read all the notes from celestron advisers for over 2 weeks trying to get it to work.

I guy suggested a buy a new camera and a new hand set (gave up on him) his best advice thanks celestron.

all web forums tried them all.

connect this connect that do this do that still no use!!

other sites that state v4 handsets work with se8 mine does not???  

downloaded all updates removed updates time and again

"cannot recognise telescope error!"

should have put it in the bin ages ago!! but you think 1 more try at 150 £

thanks

all

 

[Knighty2112]

Did you try another usb to serial lead? Sometimes they can cause issues? My brother tried to update his goto (Skywatcher not Celestron), and could get the software update to start, but then not finish. I loaned him my usb to serial adapter to use instead and it did the update straight away.

[Cosmic Geoff]

2 hours ago, todick said:

Found one in usa 25$

DELIVERY 35$ wow!!!! as soon as they see uk price goes up.

No need to spend this to get a diode! Or to order from America! You just need to figure out what it is (from looking at the unburnt ones) and then find it, or a suitable equivalent, from a UK component supplier.  Should cost pence rather than $.  It's a shame Maplin went bust.  If you can read a sensible-looking number off the diodes I might be able to suggest something.

EDIT: I can make out 1N400-   could be 1N4001, a popular diode available on ebay etc and cheap as chips.

So Starsense didn't work with your mount either?

I don't know much about these handsets, but I think I read that you have to HAVE a V4 handset to load the V4 firmware, you can't necessarily load it in a V3 if the hardware is different.

I think my mount is later than yours and the NEX-E (Nexstar, came with it,)  NXS (Nexstar+, the later post-2012 handset), and the SSA (Starsense) handsets all work, plugged into the fork arm socket.

[todick]

Well

New board ordered Both Flo and groves could get them 25 to 30 pounds 5 pounds delivery. here on Monday PHEW..

Yes brought 2 new ones just in case.

Just to clarify Celestron 8SE can it or can't it use v4 hand controller.

I've been talking to 2 different Celestron advisers about my issue's with the v4 hand set neither raised the possibility it is not compatible as osmic Geoff

suggests (thank you).  

I know that in the literature on the sky prodigy 130  it states the handset can be upgraded (BUT IT CANNOT)

so??

has anybody got se8 with a v4 hand controller??

 

 

[todick]

Thanks Cosmic for your reply just posted that got one on order.. Keep 1 as spare!!!

But will try to get the number as you suggested. By the way I have a celestron power pack the other night out the red bulb gave out.

Went all over LOUGHBOROUGH I mean all over  Stores sells torches no bulbs. B&Q must sell them NO!! Halfords NO!!

Had to order pack of 2 from the net. No wonder the high streets are dying.( miss Maplin's).

Let you know if I can read the diodes

thanks again for all the replies

 

 

[Knighty2112]

Page from the manual states that only V4 handsets can only be updated by the owner, so if your handset is V3 and you trying to update to V4 software you can’t. It has to be a V4 handset. I updated my handset when I had my 8 SE goto mount to the newer Nexstar+ handset which allowed upgrading OK.

[Knighty2112]

Just sold the mount the other week, but this was the latestest version software I had on mine with the Nexstar+ handset.

[todick]

Thanks it is a brand new V4 handset. good point.

yes read over and over again .

• thanks The only other this I remembered was that I upgraded the v4 to the latest firmware from celestron (2018 jan I think) thinking that would cure it But  no still cannot recognise telescope model??

One thing is nagging me if I remember correctly i managed to get into the version display it showed the new hc version but not motor version < not ure if that has anything to do with it??

[todick]

Thanks for the pics very helpful.. Think I will put it into my parts draw ....and wait for the new board to come on Monday (hopefully)

May I say a big thanks for all the help you guys have given.. Just shows someone, somewhere knows.   great site...

[Knighty2112]

Oh! Just remembered! I think I had the same issue as you on my V4 handset originally too when I tried to update the software (before I changed to the new Nexstar+ handset). The problem in the end was I was using the wrong software to do the update. Can’t remeber what the correct one was, but there is some more software from Celestron that is the correct software that will allow you to update correctly. I’ll see if I still have it loaded on my laptop and let you know what the software was.

[Knighty2112]

Ok, the only Celestron software I have loaded on my laptop is the one shown in the image and link below. Try this software next time if you’ve not already done so and see what you get, HTH.

https://www.celestron.com/pages/drivers-and-software

[Cosmic Geoff]

2 hours ago, todick said:

One thing is nagging me if I remember correctly i managed to get into the version display it showed the new hc version but not motor version < not ure if that has anything to do with it??

Yes, it probably is.

My mount has 5.14 & 5.14 firmware, IIRC.  If the version is not displayed, or there is some other error, then it means that the alt or azimuth circuit is not responding (or both of them not responding).  That could be because the EEprom (or EEproms) is/are corrupt and needs reprogramming, or because of some other fault.  Could be anything from loose wire to totally fried chips, but most likely the EEproms need reprogramming.  Celestron have a piece of software  (possibly called MCupdate) that can be used to verify or reprogram the mount alt & azimuth EEPROMs  (not the handset).

[todick]

I have downloaded them both 1 for the hcupdate and the other mcupdate or similar..

will try these when the mount is up and running again

.Waiting for reply from celestron !!

thanks

[todick]

Update on my pc board..

Well up and running again all good.. managed to get one within 2 DAYS 23 POUNDS UK 3.00 POSTAGE.

 

just to make sure I do not plug anything into the AUG Guide plu I cut the end of one of my old leads removed the cut off wires and sealed the end so no moisture can get in..

Now I know I cannot connect anything into to it.

Thanks for all your help

regards

[todick]

Just to say I have been in touch with Celestron HQ after a long phone call about my V4 hand set problems not recognising my telescope and not being able to update..

I have sent it back to them for investigation(at last)

[todick]

Celestron 8Se v4 starsence hand set

Got a reply from celestron HQ.

They said "the  hand set has a fault" they sent it back no other explanation no advice in what to do next !!! £150 pounds in the bin

Is this good customer relations

I was expecting them to give me a reason for the fault, I am sure I have read other people have had this same problem...

can you imagine if they made cars.

going to find out if I can get a replacement pcb..

stick it in the used but useless draw..

[Cosmic Geoff]

No doubt this is an annoying outcome for you, but writing as a former electronics repair engineer I make the following comments:

I suspected from your description of your problems above that one or more of the subassemblies might have a permanent hardware fault.

Celestron engineers could put the suspect handset into a known good system and confirm that " the handset has a fault."  To discover which component is to blame might require a further level of diagnosis, using specialist electronic equipment that would not be commonly found in a telescope repair workshop. 

Having found, say, that surface mounted integrated circuit U3 has a fault, what to do about it? In principle one could obtain another IC - if it is not a generic part it would have to be ordered from the OEM in China. Then it has to be fitted, which requires surface mount desoldering & soldering equipment.  This is available in a typical electronics repair workshop these days, but not so likely to be found in a telescope repair workshop, where they would repair down to subassembly level.

In short, even if one knew the exact nature of the fault, if it is not economically repairable (which I strongly suspect is the case here) this doesn't help much if the assembly is too costly to repair (including labour).

I doubt if this will please you much, but electronic gear these days is usually not made with repairability in mind.

It is not impossible that the same issue that damaged the board you ordered and replaced also took out the handset.

Finally, what sort of warranty did you have with the handset and have you tried claiming on that, or on your statutory rights as a consumer?

[todick]

Hi thanks for the input

this problem with the v4 hand set has been ongoing for months

celestron now says buy another hand set as they do not supply pcb on their own. The burn out pcb was after the handset problem when I was advised to plug in the starsence camera and the gps into the other socket.. I know that's what probably blew the pcb.

Live and learn..

stick with what works !!! now

 

all sorted in the junk box....

thanks

dick