By passing the internal battery on an Evolution mount

[David Ettie]

My now aging Evolution mount, originally bought to support my 9.25" SCT has had issues with its internal battery for a couple of years but now continously messages "low battery" when in use despite having an external lthium Iron battery connected, question has anyone modified the wiring to the internal battery to convince the sytem that it should reference the external supply rather than the internal battery. I think the external supply is actually charging the internal source rather than providing power directly. It might seem "cheapskate" to not simply buy a new battery but I am informed that the type of battery has changed and that fitting a new one also requires a new control board which can only be fitted by Celestrons agents at a high hourly rate for an undisclosed period of time, could ell end up costing more than the mount is worth.

[Carbon Brush]

I don't know this mount. However, from your description it does look like an age degrading internal battery is likely.

However, I can't imagine it need a specialist Celestron technician to swap out a battery, even if the new one is a bit different.

Have you had the covers off to identify and inspect the internal battery? That would be my first move.

Sometimes 'back to the factory' stories on batteries are simply that you need a soldering iron🙄

It could be a fault in the battery voltage monitoring circuit. But 10 minutes with a multimeter would rule this in or out.

Hopefully someone who knows this mount will be along soon.

David.

[johninderby]

Some usefull info here on the Evolution mount.

https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/521568-celestron-evolution-simple-repair-and-a-look-inside/

Edited November 29, 2021 by johninderby

[Cosmic Geoff]

I would doubt that you need a 'back to the factory' to change an internal battery.  I read somwwhere about the characteristics of the Evolution internal battery, and it seemed rather small...

Having had to change a number of laptop batteries, I would not expect the Evolution battery to last longer than about 3 years.  So long as you get a battery of the same type (e.g. Li-ion) and the same number of cells, a replacement ought to work, even if you have to do some soldering.  Or just continue using an external battery/power pack, like the rest of us have to do.

With my latest laptop I had to unscrew and unclip the underside, and unscrew the battery, in order to exchange it. I wonder how many owners of ultraslim laptops just take it to a service agent if the battery starts failing.

Addendum: Have just read the Cloudynights post above, which details the battery and shows a picture - it has multiple wires going to it - just like laptop batteries have a multiway collector linking them to the charge circuit. Best of luck with changing that if it's wired in.

Addendum 2: A post in the Cloudynights thread mentions a battery connector, so looks like it can be unplugged. The battery is in the arm.

Edited November 29, 2021 by Cosmic Geoff
Batt details.

[David Ettie]

At last I found a source for a fully functional replacement LiFePo 9.6V battery with a slightly higher Ah (all to the good, will fit in the next 24 hours and, actually, contrary to the manufacturers advise its a very easy job once you are confident whenopening up the mount casing.

The supplier was a UK company BBLBatteries based in Bristol (you can find them on line) delivered to me within 48 hours of ordering, nice folk to deal with as well...