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CEM40
Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2020 6:35 pm
by 515bonner
Last fall I bought a CEM40. With it came the 12v AC adapter, which I have been using here at home during the winter.
With spring approaching and going to our club's dark sky site, I was considering going to battery power, even though we have ac power poles.
I searched the iOptron website for a 12vdc cable plug, but came up empty. I believe the power plug is center positive and 2.1mm x 5.5mm
Are any of you using battery power for your mounts and if so, what type of battery and cable are you using?
Rob
Re: CEM40
Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2020 2:24 am
by bladekeeper
Hi Rob, just giving you a little bump for visibility. :
Re: CEM40
Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2020 3:35 am
by JayTee
Here you go, Rob. This was on my todo list for yesterday but it was my B-Day so I got OBE!
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/ ... AeEALw_wcB
Cheers,
JT
Re: CEM40
Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2020 9:59 pm
by seigell
Wherever possible, avoid the "Cigar Plug". It rarely make s solid connections, and is easily unplugged by accident as it has no threads or latch.
For any DIY Power Box construction project, consider something like Anderson Power Poles (favored of the HAM community). Consider that you'll eventually need several Power Connections - Mount, Camera, TEC, Filterwheel, Focuser, Guide Camera, Dew Heater Control, etc. A 5-7 position Power Distribution Box (Anderson or otherwise) is a good investment.
Also consider designing your Power Distribution Box to be Mountable - to your RA Head or Dovetail - so that there is only 1-2 Cables trailing downward off the Mount.
Re: CEM40
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2020 3:30 pm
by JeffBevan
How does one connect a focuser through their mount? I have the CEM60.
Re: CEM40
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2020 5:22 pm
by 515bonner
seigell wrote: ↑Wed Feb 12, 2020 9:59 pm
Wherever possible, avoid the "Cigar Plug". It rarely make s solid connections, and is easily unplugged by accident as it has no threads or latch.
For any DIY Power Box construction project, consider something like Anderson Power Poles (favored of the HAM community). Consider that you'll eventually need several Power Connections - Mount, Camera, TEC, Filterwheel, Focuser, Guide Camera, Dew Heater Control, etc. A 5-7 position Power Distribution Box (Anderson or otherwise) is a good investment.
Also consider designing your Power Distribution Box to be Mountable - to your RA Head or Dovetail - so that there is only 1-2 Cables trailing downward off the Mount.
Already decided to get rid of the "cigar plug" and go with clips. Not going to something like Anderson Power Poles since I don't do deepsky
AP, I don't need any more than the 1 connection to the battery. If I DO imaging, it is of the moon and planets and I do that at home with AC power.
Re: CEM40
Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2021 1:31 pm
by 515bonner
Just a follow up on the power needs. About 6 months ago after seeing one of these at our local star party, I bought one of these to power my mount. No cigar plug, no alligator clips, just a short 2 foot cable from power cell to mount. Slick as snot. I get about 15 hours of use on the CEM40. After several months I actually bought another as a backup. One is always juiced up while the other is connected to the mount. Never run out of power. Was much cheaper than a marine deep cycle, or one of those power packs that major telescope stores sell. If you only want something to power the mount...this is it!
Rob