Issue with my Celestron Astro Fi 5 SCT

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Oxous
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Issue with my Celestron Astro Fi 5 SCT

#1

Post by Oxous »


Greeting everyone,

I'm an astronomy enthusiast from Valparaíso, Chile, and recently bought myself a Celestron Astro Fi 5 SCT telescope. The first days I used it worked pretty well altough I couldn't align it correctly so I had to use the screen buttons on my cellphone to move it around. Today I used it for about 20 minutes without any issues, but suddenly the telescope begun to move by itself without even pressing the buttons. The only way to make it stop was by plugging the batteries off. I tried moving it using two other different devices (an Iphone and my computer) but the telescope keeps losing control once I try moving it. Have this ever happened to anyone with the same telescope or related? Is it some sort of manufacturing error?

Thank you all in advance.
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Lady Fraktor Slovakia
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Re: Issue with my Celestron Astro Fi 5 SCT

#2

Post by Lady Fraktor »


Are you using a 12v battery or AA batteries?
These mounts do strange things when power gets to low.
Regular batteries do not last very long and rechargeable ones do not really provide enough.
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Takahashi prism, TAL, Vixen flip mirror
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Oxous
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Re: Issue with my Celestron Astro Fi 5 SCT

#3

Post by Oxous »


Lady Fraktor wrote: Sat May 16, 2020 7:02 pm Are you using a 12v battery or AA batteries?
These mounts do strange things when power gets to low.
Regular batteries do not last very long and rechargeable ones do not really provide enough.
I'm currently using the 8 AA batteries as it was the powering method that came with the telescope. I was told that these type of batteries don't last long but,if that is the case, I didn't expect that they would last for about two or three days only. So should I get a 12v battery instead?
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Lady Fraktor Slovakia
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Re: Issue with my Celestron Astro Fi 5 SCT

#4

Post by Lady Fraktor »


Yes if you can get a 12v battery or jumper pack it will last for many more hours.
Over time it is a cheaper solution as well.
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Takahashi prism, TAL, Vixen flip mirror
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss
The only culture I have is from yogurt
My day was going well until... people
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Oxous
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Re: Issue with my Celestron Astro Fi 5 SCT

#5

Post by Oxous »


Will do. However, does it make sense that the batteries I bough last only for a couple days? I only use the telescope for about 1 or 2 hours on a daily basis.
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Re: Issue with my Celestron Astro Fi 5 SCT

#6

Post by Oxous »


Lady Fraktor wrote: Sat May 16, 2020 8:18 pm Yes if you can get a 12v battery or jumper pack it will last for many more hours.
Over time it is a cheaper solution as well.
Will do. However, does it make sense that the batteries I bough last only for a couple days? I only use the telescope for about 1 or 2 hours on a daily basis.
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Lady Fraktor Slovakia
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Re: Issue with my Celestron Astro Fi 5 SCT

#7

Post by Lady Fraktor »


Yes that is normal, AA batteries will not last long unfortunately.
It was a good idea that did not work efficiently.
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Takahashi prism, TAL, Vixen flip mirror
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss
The only culture I have is from yogurt
My day was going well until... people
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Graeme1858 Great Britain
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Re: Issue with my Celestron Astro Fi 5 SCT

#8

Post by Graeme1858 »


If you're staying at home, one of these will power all your bits:

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/SK650659.html

Regards

Graeme
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Celestron 9.25 f10 SCT, f6.3FR, CGX mount.
ASI1600MM Pro, ASI294MC Pro, ASI224MC
ZWO EFW, ZWO OAG, ASI220MM Mini.
APM 11x70 ED APO Binoculars.

https://www.averywayobservatory.co.uk/
Oxous
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Re: Issue with my Celestron Astro Fi 5 SCT

#9

Post by Oxous »


I really apreciate your quick replies, I will certainly get a more efficient energy source to power up my telescope.

Regards!
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Ylem United States of America
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Re: Issue with my Celestron Astro Fi 5 SCT

#10

Post by Ylem »


Oxous wrote: Sun May 17, 2020 8:36 pm I really apreciate your quick replies, I will certainly get a more efficient energy source to power up my telescope.

Regards!
Here's a tip, keep batteries in there also.
If for some odd reason the connection becomes undone you won't lose your alignment ;)

Ask me how I know that... :whistle:
Clear Skies,
-Jeff :telescopewink:


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Re: Issue with my Celestron Astro Fi 5 SCT

#11

Post by mikemarotta »


Graeme1858 wrote: Sun May 17, 2020 8:50 am If you're staying at home, one of these will power all your bits: Regards. Graeme.
I agree that regardless of make and model, if you are working at home, or someplace with reliable power, then a power supply converter for the telescope is better than batteries, either AA or 12V. Celestron's "Power Tank" is popular with some people in my local astronomy club. I do not use power, so (as we say in Texas) I do not have a dog in this hunt.
---------------------------------------
Michael E. Marotta
Astro-Tech 115 mm APO Refractor Explore Scientific 102 mm f/6.47 Refractor Explore Scientific 102 mm f/9.8 Refractor Bresser 8-inch Newtonian Reflector Plössls from 40 to 6 mm Nagler Series-1 7mm. nonMeade 14 mm. Mounts: Celestron AVX, Explore Twilight I Alt-Az, Explore EXOS German Equatorial
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Re: Issue with my Celestron Astro Fi 5 SCT

#12

Post by Lady Fraktor »


With the electronics of these mounts they tend to operate better on 12V DC than using a AC to DC converter as you can get voltage spikes from the converter that can damage the electronics.
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Takahashi prism, TAL, Vixen flip mirror
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss
The only culture I have is from yogurt
My day was going well until... people
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