If anyone has any of the NexStar SE series mounts/scopes, I’d like to talk with you. One specific question is whether the mount can be operated with external power.
Ive ran my 6se nexstar off a 12v power supply with no issues.
I have a Celestron NexStar 8SE and I use it with a 12v battery all the time; no issues as long as it is charged.
I ran my Evolution (essentially the same as the NexStar series) on external power. Just watch out for cord wrap.
Randy - I read your response to my discourse post. Do you like the 8SE mount? How easy is getting it aligned? I’ve been thinking about adding a StarSense AutoAlign.
I’ve had a lot of mounts from big equatorials to substantial alt-az. But now it’s time to downsize … not getting any younger.
What are you planning on using this mount for visual or astrophotography? I’ve helped several people use this mount. They are easy enough to align. Not sure the goto is very accurate. Is best to use it with external power over the internal batteries. Not sure the StarSense AutoAlign would be worth it on this mount. The diagonal gets very close to hitting the base if looking at something straight overhead.
Only visual.
The NextStar is a great mount. It is very easy to align and you have choices like planetary versus one, two or three star alignments for more accuracy if need be. It can be easily aligned and controlled by your tablet or PC. The play in the gears could be lessened a bit but, it isn’t an issue really.
How do you prevent cord wrap? It appears that external power connects to the part of the mount that rotates.
In the manual page 19 menu options.
CORDWRAP: Cordwrap safeguards against the telescope slewing more than 360º in azimuth and wrapping accessory or power cables around the base of the telescope This is useful any time that cables are plugged into the base of the telescope By default, the cord wrap feature is turned off when the telescope is aligned in alt-azimuth and turned on when aligned on a wedge.
