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Date: 07 Sep 2006 20:18:37
From: Terry A Haimann
Subject: Celestron Power Tank
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I have a Celestron Power Tank 17. It's not recharging after my last
camping trip(None of the lights come on.) I tried replacing the fuse, but
it is still not working. Any idea as to what could be wrong?
Thx, Terry
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Date: 07 Sep 2006 14:29:09
From: Richard Adams
Subject: Re: Celestron Power Tank
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Terry A Haimann wrote:
> I have a Celestron Power Tank 17. It's not recharging after my last
> camping trip(None of the lights come on.) I tried replacing the fuse, but
> it is still not working. Any idea as to what could be wrong?
>
> Thx, Terry
Can't speak to that model, as I have an Orion jobby. Is there a switch
you need to place in CHG (or similar) position?
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Date: 07 Sep 2006 22:40:40
From: Terry A Haimann
Subject: Re: Celestron Power Tank
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I believe it is the same exact model as the Orion, just different labels.
On Thu, 07 Sep 2006 14:29:09 -0700, Richard Adams wrote:
>
> Terry A Haimann wrote:
>> I have a Celestron Power Tank 17. It's not recharging after my last
>> camping trip(None of the lights come on.) I tried replacing the fuse, but
>> it is still not working. Any idea as to what could be wrong?
>>
>> Thx, Terry
>
> Can't speak to that model, as I have an Orion jobby. Is there a switch
> you need to place in CHG (or similar) position?
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Date: 07 Sep 2006 19:57:35
From: Pat O'Connell
Subject: Re: Celestron Power Tank
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Terry A Haimann wrote:
> I believe it is the same exact model as the Orion, just different labels.
>
> On Thu, 07 Sep 2006 14:29:09 -0700, Richard Adams wrote:
>
>>
>> Terry A Haimann wrote:
>>> I have a Celestron Power Tank 17. It's not recharging after my last
>>> camping trip(None of the lights come on.) I tried replacing the fuse, but
>>> it is still not working. Any idea as to what could be wrong?
>>>
>>> Thx, Terry
>>
>> Can't speak to that model, as I have an Orion jobby. Is there a switch
>> you need to place in CHG (or similar) position?
>
I have the Target/Greatland equivalent. There _is_ a switch that you
need to change to "Chg" to get it to charge. It could be that, or the
charger transformer is bad, or the charging cable is broken.
How old is the Celestron power tank? It might still be under warranty.
Another possibility if it's out of warranty is that you can get a
replacement transformer at Radio Shack.
--
Pat O'Connell
[note munged EMail address]
Take nothing but pictures, Leave nothing but footprints,
Kill nothing but vandals...
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Date: 08 Sep 2006 02:00:30
From: Terry A Haimann
Subject: Re: Celestron Power Tank
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I knew about the switch, I don't think that is it. I think it is probably
about 2 years old.
On Thu, 07 Sep 2006 19:57:35 -0600, Pat O'Connell wrote:
> Terry A Haimann wrote:
>> I believe it is the same exact model as the Orion, just different labels.
>>
>> On Thu, 07 Sep 2006 14:29:09 -0700, Richard Adams wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> Terry A Haimann wrote:
>>>> I have a Celestron Power Tank 17. It's not recharging after my last
>>>> camping trip(None of the lights come on.) I tried replacing the fuse, but
>>>> it is still not working. Any idea as to what could be wrong?
>>>>
>>>> Thx, Terry
>>>
>>> Can't speak to that model, as I have an Orion jobby. Is there a switch
>>> you need to place in CHG (or similar) position?
>>
>
> I have the Target/Greatland equivalent. There _is_ a switch that you
> need to change to "Chg" to get it to charge. It could be that, or the
> charger transformer is bad, or the charging cable is broken.
>
> How old is the Celestron power tank? It might still be under warranty.
> Another possibility if it's out of warranty is that you can get a
> replacement transformer at Radio Shack.
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Date: 07 Sep 2006 22:04:15
From: Len Philpot
Subject: Re: Celestron Power Tank
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On Fri, 08 Sep 2006 02:00:30 GMT, Terry A Haimann wrote:
>>>>> I have a Celestron Power Tank 17. It's not recharging after my last
>>>>> camping trip(None of the lights come on.) I tried replacing the fuse, but
>>>>> it is still not working. Any idea as to what could be wrong?
I didn't see the original article, but I, too have a PT17. My cheers go
out to Celestron (for their patience with me) and my jeers go to the
original power supply / charger manufacturer (for their low quality)...
I went through two complete units and either four or five power supplies
before I finally got one that (so far, fingers crossed) appears to work
without burning itself up.
All of the previous chargers would charge the unit once and then put out
no more than ~0.5 VDC subsequently. That happened on both "master"
units, so it wasn't a defect in one of them. Celestron kept sending me
charger after charger over about a 9 month period. This was after
Astronomics stood (hid?) behind their 30-day return policy and refused
to play. In all fairness they offered to take it back right up front
(before the root problem was determined), but only with shipping at my
expense (and a PT17 is /heavy/). At least Celestron split the shipping
with me on the replacement master unit. It got to the point where their
customer support guys knew I was calling before I gave them my name...
:-)
So, bottom line may be that you have a blown charger. Look for about an
18VDC, 800ma or so replacement (according to what Celestron told me). I
even used a little 12VDC 300ma charger just to prevent battery damage
from its long-term discharged state - Took a while to charge, but it got
mostly there.
--
---- Len Philpot -------- l e n @ p h i l p o t . o r g (no spaces)
------- ><> ------------- http://members.cox.net/lenphilpot/
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Date: 08 Sep 2006 09:44:05
From: Richard Adams
Subject: Re: Celestron Power Tank
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Len Philpot wrote:
> On Fri, 08 Sep 2006 02:00:30 GMT, Terry A Haimann wrote:
>
>
>>>>>>I have a Celestron Power Tank 17. It's not recharging after my last
>>>>>>camping trip(None of the lights come on.) I tried replacing the fuse, but
>>>>>>it is still not working. Any idea as to what could be wrong?
>
>
> I didn't see the original article, but I, too have a PT17. My cheers go
> out to Celestron (for their patience with me) and my jeers go to the
> original power supply / charger manufacturer (for their low quality)...
> I went through two complete units and either four or five power supplies
> before I finally got one that (so far, fingers crossed) appears to work
> without burning itself up.
>
> All of the previous chargers would charge the unit once and then put out
> no more than ~0.5 VDC subsequently. That happened on both "master"
> units, so it wasn't a defect in one of them. Celestron kept sending me
> charger after charger over about a 9 month period. This was after
> Astronomics stood (hid?) behind their 30-day return policy and refused
> to play. In all fairness they offered to take it back right up front
> (before the root problem was determined), but only with shipping at my
> expense (and a PT17 is /heavy/). At least Celestron split the shipping
> with me on the replacement master unit. It got to the point where their
> customer support guys knew I was calling before I gave them my name...
> :-)
>
> So, bottom line may be that you have a blown charger. Look for about an
> 18VDC, 800ma or so replacement (according to what Celestron told me). I
> even used a little 12VDC 300ma charger just to prevent battery damage
> from its long-term discharged state - Took a while to charge, but it got
> mostly there.
You have to remember, these bricks or whatever people call then these
days, are manufactured not to spec, but for to fit a general purpose and
Celestron simply picks them out and order their name be printed on them.
They're as guilty as the manufacturer of these terrible things.
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Date: 08 Sep 2006 22:51:33
From: Pieter Litchfield
Subject: Re: Celestron Power Tank
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I just use a jump starter unit I got at Wal-Mart for $39.99 - together with
a 3 outlet power strip for 12 volt units. Other than the lack of great big
battery clamps, why spend the bucks for a Celestron unit? Mine has a built
in transformer and just plugs into a 120 volt ac extension cord to charge.
Works flawlessly.
"Richard Adams" <ackthpt@concentric.net > wrote in message
news:edrs35$sg6@dispatch.concentric.net...
> Len Philpot wrote:
>> On Fri, 08 Sep 2006 02:00:30 GMT, Terry A Haimann wrote:
>>
>>
>>>>>>>I have a Celestron Power Tank 17. It's not recharging after my last
>>>>>>>camping trip(None of the lights come on.) I tried replacing the
>>>>>>>fuse, but
>>>>>>>it is still not working. Any idea as to what could be wrong?
>>
>>
>> I didn't see the original article, but I, too have a PT17. My cheers go
>> out to Celestron (for their patience with me) and my jeers go to the
>> original power supply / charger manufacturer (for their low quality)...
>> I went through two complete units and either four or five power supplies
>> before I finally got one that (so far, fingers crossed) appears to work
>> without burning itself up.
>>
>> All of the previous chargers would charge the unit once and then put out
>> no more than ~0.5 VDC subsequently. That happened on both "master"
>> units, so it wasn't a defect in one of them. Celestron kept sending me
>> charger after charger over about a 9 month period. This was after
>> Astronomics stood (hid?) behind their 30-day return policy and refused
>> to play. In all fairness they offered to take it back right up front
>> (before the root problem was determined), but only with shipping at my
>> expense (and a PT17 is /heavy/). At least Celestron split the shipping
>> with me on the replacement master unit. It got to the point where their
>> customer support guys knew I was calling before I gave them my name...
>> :-)
>>
>> So, bottom line may be that you have a blown charger. Look for about an
>> 18VDC, 800ma or so replacement (according to what Celestron told me). I
>> even used a little 12VDC 300ma charger just to prevent battery damage
>> from its long-term discharged state - Took a while to charge, but it got
>> mostly there.
>
>
> You have to remember, these bricks or whatever people call then these
> days, are manufactured not to spec, but for to fit a general purpose and
> Celestron simply picks them out and order their name be printed on them.
> They're as guilty as the manufacturer of these terrible things.
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Date: 08 Sep 2006 20:09:14
From: Richard Adams
Subject: Re: Celestron Power Tank
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A motorcycle battery would probably do excellent for running whatever
electronics you have, including a dew zapper. If you have a workspace
at home, away from pets and kiddies, you could set it up to charge with
a portable battery charger and you'd be ahead of the curve.
Pieter Litchfield wrote:
> I just use a jump starter unit I got at Wal-Mart for $39.99 - together with
> a 3 outlet power strip for 12 volt units. Other than the lack of great big
> battery clamps, why spend the bucks for a Celestron unit? Mine has a built
> in transformer and just plugs into a 120 volt ac extension cord to charge.
> Works flawlessly.
>
>
> "Richard Adams" <ackthpt@concentric.net> wrote in message
> news:edrs35$sg6@dispatch.concentric.net...
>
>>Len Philpot wrote:
>>
>>>On Fri, 08 Sep 2006 02:00:30 GMT, Terry A Haimann wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>>>>>I have a Celestron Power Tank 17. It's not recharging after my last
>>>>>>>>camping trip(None of the lights come on.) I tried replacing the
>>>>>>>>fuse, but
>>>>>>>>it is still not working. Any idea as to what could be wrong?
>>>
>>>
>>>I didn't see the original article, but I, too have a PT17. My cheers go
>>>out to Celestron (for their patience with me) and my jeers go to the
>>>original power supply / charger manufacturer (for their low quality)...
>>>I went through two complete units and either four or five power supplies
>>>before I finally got one that (so far, fingers crossed) appears to work
>>>without burning itself up.
>>>
>>>All of the previous chargers would charge the unit once and then put out
>>>no more than ~0.5 VDC subsequently. That happened on both "master"
>>>units, so it wasn't a defect in one of them. Celestron kept sending me
>>>charger after charger over about a 9 month period. This was after
>>>Astronomics stood (hid?) behind their 30-day return policy and refused
>>>to play. In all fairness they offered to take it back right up front
>>>(before the root problem was determined), but only with shipping at my
>>>expense (and a PT17 is /heavy/). At least Celestron split the shipping
>>>with me on the replacement master unit. It got to the point where their
>>>customer support guys knew I was calling before I gave them my name...
>>>:-)
>>>
>>>So, bottom line may be that you have a blown charger. Look for about an
>>>18VDC, 800ma or so replacement (according to what Celestron told me). I
>>>even used a little 12VDC 300ma charger just to prevent battery damage
>>>from its long-term discharged state - Took a while to charge, but it got
>>>mostly there.
>>
>>
>>You have to remember, these bricks or whatever people call then these
>>days, are manufactured not to spec, but for to fit a general purpose and
>>Celestron simply picks them out and order their name be printed on them.
>>They're as guilty as the manufacturer of these terrible things.
>
>
>
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