When you first get a GoTo telescope, you may be surprised to see a cigarette lighter style plug, a 12 VDC. You will need a way to power your scope and there is a lot to consider.
You can power a GoTo telescope with an extension cord when at home, but when you are observing remotely you will want a portable power tank. The Dynamo Pro has been reliable for me and powers my SynScan and all my dew control devices. Other options include DIY power stations, generators or car charging options.
GoTo technology is almost always 12v. This means that it cannot simply be plugged into an outlet like you have at home, those run 110v.
You will need adaptors to plug in the cigarette lighter style plugs into a household plug.
These adaptors have a black box on the cord that controls how much electricity reaches the goto. Do not try to improvise adaptors. Laptop chargers are designed to run 19v and charge lithium batteries. They will fry your controller and motors.
You need 12 volt power.
There are several ways to get the correct power supplied to your telescope.
1. Power Station
A very portable and popular option is the power bank or power station.
I use a Dynamo Pro. It costs a few hundred dollars and it comes with a lot of outlets and it has plenty of power for all my gear. I have a lot of electronics on my XX16G SkyQuest and this has plenty of power for all my needs.
The Dynamo Pro is a 155w AC/DC Lithium power supply. You can get power banks with the exact same specs on Amazon for about half the cost of the Dynamo, and I would recommend those.
In this video you can see my Dynamo Pro and my dew control system all hooked up.
2. Extension Cord from Home
If you are at home keep things simple. An extention cord run to your garage or backyard will give you plenty of reliable power.
I recently bought a great extension cord from Harbor Freight for just over $15. If you can connect to shore power, do it, it is easy and safe with the correct adaptors.
My SynScan has a cigarette lighter style plug, those are 12v plugs and your house is 110v. To convert you can buy a plug that connects to your SynScan and ends in a regular two prong plug.
If your accessories do not come with the style of plug you use in your house, then they are not designed to be run on 110v, or regular household power. They need an adaptor with a charge controller to convert the 110v to 12v to power the devices.
The adapters are expensive, about $50, but they have a charge controller, that big box on the cord, to ensure the electricity does not fry your electronics. This is the adaptor with charge controller sold by many online retailers.
3. Car Charging
When you see the plug on your GoTo you may assume that it is designed to be plugged into your car.
This may not be the most practical way to power your telescope, but it is a good option.
Be sure you know your car, this activity could drain your car batteries, leaving you stranded after a night of observing.
The voltage is correct to run on this type of power, so it is safe for your goto equipment.
Celestron sells an extension cord that is 25’ long and connects to your SynScan and allows you to plug in to the car.
4. Household Batteries or Battery Pack
Another option for powering some of your telescope electronics is a battery pack. A collection of batteries, like you see in children’s toys, that powers a device.
I currently run my cooling fan on a battery pack. It uses 8 D batteries. This is expensive, heavy and prone to failure.
You cannot power your GoTo with a battery pack of this style, they are not powerful enough.
If you are hoping to use batteries, you will need larger marine or car batteries.
5. Solar Generator
A solar generator works just like a power bank, but it collects energy from the sun. This is convenient if you are in a remote area for a few days.
My favorite is the Jackery with solar panels. I have not tried it, but it is a popular option for off grid van-lifers.
The obvious concern here is that you will be observing at night. The panels will need to be set up during the day when they can collect sunlight.
Solar power banks will hold their charge for a long time, so charge them when convenient and use them at night.
These power banks are not designed to be used with telescope electronics so you may need adaptors for the 12VDC plugs.
6. Can Jump Starter Box
Jumper boxes are power banks that are designed to be able to jump start your car without another car. They are just like an extra battery for your car.
These are incredibly inexpensive and generally come with a few 12v ports and some USB ports as well.
These are charged by plugging them into the wall at home. They can take many hours to fully charge, so be sure to plan ahead.
I think this is the perfect solution for a beginner, they can be purchased for $30-$40 at any local hardware store.
6. DIY Power Bank
Lots of astronomers are DIYers and they have built their own power banks. You can find a few of them on YouTube, but this one is a detailed DIY plan with lots of instructions.
He makes it look easy!
When searching for options I came across a LOT of DIY power boxes built by fellow astronomers on Cloudy Nights, you can take a look over there for more inspiration.
Power supply for SynScan
When shopping for a power supply for your telescope, record all the information on the power requirements of your mount, dew heaters, camera or laptop and any other accessories you will be using.
Volts
Amp Draw
Plugging those into the calculator will give you:
Watt Hours: This tells you how much power you need overall.
Please use the calculator spreadsheet below the recommended video. This will help you understand what specs to know and how to choose a battery.
I am not too educated on electronics, so I called Orion and asked them what to look for in a power supply. They were very helpful and I ended up purchasing their product.
I found this video very helpful and in the description of the video he created a battery calculator that will allow you to see the exact specs required for your setup! Give it a look!
Does a telescope need batteries?
Not all telescopes require electricity, but many do. Manual telescopes may still require electricity to power cooling fans. These are to help your scope acclimate to the temperature outside. They can often be powered by batteries.
GoTo telescopes require significantly more power and cannot be run on batteries. They will need a larger power supply, they can often be plugged into your car’s 12v outlets.
If you find that you do not have power to an electronic telescope you may be able to use it manually. You can read more about using a GoTo scope as a manual in this article.
If you need a quick easy power supply, you can use a portable car battery jump box from any hardware store.
Does a telescope need electricity?
Telescopes function by collecting light from the stars and planets and focusing it using a set of mirrors and lenses. Telescopes function without electricity. Modern telescopes often require electricity to move the mount or to cool the telescope to keep images clear.
Often a goto telescope can be used as a manual scope if electricity is not available.
