For several months I have had a problem in that my Celestron PowerTank would show Low Power at star parties from time to time, after I had had it on charge till it said "Ready For Use (Fully Charged)".

Friday night AOAS hosted a star party for the area girl scouts.........and, sure enough, the PowerTank was dead...............

Time for a replacement.

Instead of buying a new powertank or the equivalent (12 volt, 17 ah), or replacing the internal battery, I decided to "Build" a new one.

As you probibly know by now, I am kind of a DIY kind of guy...........

So I did a little research on the internet and got a pretty good idea of what I needed.

I went to Wal-Mart and got a "Marine Deep Cycle Battery" and a marine case to fit it, and four female lighter plugs.

I placed the battery in the box, perfect fit. In the lid of the battery box, on the side opposite the side of where the battery posts are, I measured and drilled 1 1/8" holes for the female lighter plugs and 1/8" holes for the mounting screws.

I mounted the lighter plugs in the the battery case lid. I wired the four plugs "In parallel", i.e., each plug is wired directly to each battery post (Luckily, marine batteries have "Thumb Screw Battery Posts" and this makes it easy to hookup.

That is it..................................

After I use the battery at a star party or if it sets unused for a length of time, I will put it on the battery charger till it shows a "Full Charge"

Advantages: I no longer have to worry about my power sorce going dead, The marine battery has better than 10X the number of Amp hours. The cost for the components cost just a little more than a replacement Celestron PowerTank......

Disadvantages: Mucho Heavy.........about 50 lbs......

Pretty good idea, Leonard. What do you plan to do with the PowerTank? Would you consider selling it? I need a power source for my Dew Zapper strips and since I only use my equipment for short periods of time, if it has any life left at all, it might work for my needs. Would it work well enough for that to be worth buying it, if you'd be willing to sell/trade it to me, of course? Please let me know.

Thanks

It's yours If you want it. $20.00...................I think it will charge by hooking it to a regular battery charger by attaching it to the "Jumping Cables" that are stored in the back of the Powertank. It will not charge by the normal route (AC Adaptor).

I'll bring it to the nature center Saturday for you...............

That'll work for me. See everyone Saturday!

Sorry I missed out on the Astronomy Day activities. I was just starting to feel really weak by noon Saturday and by 12:30-1:00, I knew it was no use. Got some Nyquil and after a couple good shots of that and going through some chills and sweats last night, I feel a little better this afternoon. Still pretty weak though.......tomorrow might be better.

Anyway, Leonard, I'll get with you soon on the battery. I don't really need all the lights and whistles the PowerTanks have, but if it will hold a charge from my battery charger and give me good use for a while, $20 won't be too bad to pay. I just need some more 12v power for my Dew Zapper strips.

I'll see you when I can, Leonard!