Sky-Watcher SkyMax 127 AZ-Go2 power supply

[Monzilla]

Hi all 

A pleasure to be able to find this forum, some great threads here!

 

I've just purchased a Sky-Watcher SkyMax 127 AZ-Go2 mak and currently looking for small rechargeable power banks/packs to work with this.

I don't want anything big and heavy, just something to last a good few hours out in the sticks, I just don't know what's available. 

Any links would be appreciated

many thanks 

Chris 

[Monzilla]

Anyone ?

[Beardy30]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sky-Watcher-17Ah-Rechargeable-Power-Tank/dp/B0039ZPCYW
 

Hi Mozilla - this is what I use for my AZI GTI mount. Not cheaper but does the job well.

[Gfamily]

For 'a few hours' you should be OK using 8x rechargeable AA batteries - I've generally found that Skywatcher are OK with rechargeables (Celestron, err - less so!!)

However, I generally use the 6.1 Ah Celestron Powerpack  Lithium LT and it does several sessions with no problem. 

https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/celestron-powertank-lithium-lt-61ah.html

 

[Monzilla]

36 minutes ago, Beardy30 said:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sky-Watcher-17Ah-Rechargeable-Power-Tank/dp/B0039ZPCYW
 

Hi Mozilla - this is what I use for my AZI GTI mount. Not cheaper but does the job well.

Hi thanks for the help, I seen these but still top big for me,  I was hoping for something a lot smaller really? Pocket sized?

[Monzilla]

16 minutes ago, Gfamily said:

For 'a few hours' you should be OK using 8x rechargeable AA batteries - I've generally found that Skywatcher are OK with rechargeables (Celestron, err - less so!!)

However, I generally use the 6.1 Ah Celestron Powerpack  Lithium LT and it does several sessions with no problem. 

https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/celestron-powertank-lithium-lt-61ah.html

 

Thanks 😊  will this work for the skywatcher too then? 

[Beardy30]

The only other one I’ve ever used is this - it’s smaller but also very good 

https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/celestron-powertank-lithium.html

[Carbon Brush]

Any of the reputable name power packs will be fine.
May I suggest you buy from a specialistastro retailer?
They are best placed to advise you on present nd future equipment and accessory choices.
Try asking amazon customer services about additionasl eyepeices, battery life, mount options......

[Gfamily]

57 minutes ago, Monzilla said:

Thanks 😊  will this work for the skywatcher too then? 

Yup - I'm mostly a Skywatcher user now, and that's my main power pack. 
I do also have a TalentCell power pack, but the Celestron LT is the one I use by preference. 

[PeterC65]

I also used the Celestron PowerTank Lithium LT 6.1Ah battery with a SynScan AZ GOTO mount and a Skymax 127. Very similar to your mount and it would power the mount for several hours before needing a recharge. The battery straps to a tripod leg and is very unobtrusive.

Edited February 1 by PeterC65

[Adam J]

On 31/01/2024 at 19:58, Monzilla said:

Hi all 

A pleasure to be able to find this forum, some great threads here!

 

I've just purchased a Sky-Watcher SkyMax 127 AZ-Go2 mak and currently looking for small rechargeable power banks/packs to work with this.

I don't want anything big and heavy, just something to last a good few hours out in the sticks, I just don't know what's available. 

Any links would be appreciated

many thanks 

Chris 

Honestly what's wrong with the AA batteries? I run my AZ GTI from AA batteries and it can go for 12 hours or more even tracking. It portability is an issue just out some cheap AA batteries in it. 

[Captain Scarlet]

I used to have one. I found with the 8-pack of AAs on cold nights the supply would cut out from time to time. I guess the voltage was dropping just enough for the mount to say “not enough”. I got a 10-pack from Maplins and never had that problem again.

M

[PeterC65]

Using non-rechargeable AA batteries is quite expensive and wasteful as they won't last long. Rechargeable AA batteries have a lower terminal voltage than non-rechargeable so you will get less than 12V and that will drop slowly as the batteries discharge, so they are not recommended. The Celestron PowerTank Lithium LT 6.1Ah battery is regulated so that the terminal voltage stays at 12V throughout the whole discharge cycle, which is quite unusual.

 

[Monzilla]

Thanks guys, I ordered myself a pack of rechargeable batteries and charger for now and see how we go, I like the look of the Celestron powertank 

[inedible_hulk]

The corrector plate on Maks are proper dew magnets (I have the SkyMax 150) so I can see you soon investigating in a heated dew band or shield. The Celestron PT should run one of these and your mount all night. I also used mine a lot to charge my phone on camping trips 😊.

[Jules Tohpipi]

Do you use cordless power tools at all? I've been experimenting recently with using my Makita LXT batteries as a power source for my AZ-GTi and Goto Dob. I say recently but the bad weather means the very limited testing has been spread well over a year now. This is the first time I've talked about the experiments in any depth.

The Makita LXT batteries are 18V and I've been using a third-party 12V converter that's specifically designed to mechanically clip onto said battery i.e. no cable from battery to converter. Have also been trialing a standalone 12V step-down converter (requires a cable between battery and converter) which has more current capacity for driving the Dob and looks more reassuringly built.

Let me say from the outset that these experiments are not a good area of technical knowledge for me. I'm pursuing faith in the very high quality of the Makita batteries and their proven track record in the professional building industry (the same could be said of Dewalt etc) and putting blind faith in the unknown quality of the 12V converters I've purchased.

There have been several  incentives for giving this a go. The Makita batteries are compact and don't deteriorate as quickly over the years as the general-use, no-brand power packs on Amazon. My five-year-old Makita batteries are still going strong on both high and low-power tools (for occasional DIY use). The initial results for astro have been promising and the cheap option for me because I already have multiple batteries. Another standout point is these batteries don't start misbehaving until they are very, very low on charge. Yet I can recharge to full again in 20 mins for a 3Ah one (and longer for 5Ah). And I'm assuming - perhaps incorrectly - that being 18V converted down to 12V, then the scopes will still get a steady 12V even when the 18V battery is starting to drop from its nominal voltage. Nominal in the sense I measure them at just over 19V when fully charged.

So it's an initial recommendation with caveats - and I'd be welcome to comments if I'm barking up the wrong tree on this.  

Edited February 3 by Jules Tohpipi