My 6 year old C8 Ultima PEC started behaving in a hyper-active way last weekend, and I'm wondering if anyone on this list can help me out. The clock drive is running at approximately twice the normal rate, and one of the LEDs on the front panel blinks. This normally means low battery power, but that's not the problem - I changed to a new 9v battery, and also tried an external power supply, to no avail. I called Celestron tech support, and they told me that this usually means bad electronics. They also told me they don't have any replacement printed circuit boards and can't help me find one - aargh! I've tried calling Tangent, whom I understand carries some replacement parts, but after three days of leaving messages on their answering machine I get no response.

My question is: in case I can't get replacement parts from Tangent - has anyone here tried replacing the electronics and drive motor in the C8, perhaps using a stepper motor and controler? Other suggestions? TIA.

• RE: C8 Ultima PEC Clock Drive Repair - garryp - January 7, 2002 - 04:32 UTC
  • bad board on powerstar 8 and Ultima 11 - tonybouc - February 16, 2003 - 22:06 UTC
• Celestron Drive Controllers - kimsails - March 4, 2002 - 18:35 UTC
  • Celestron Drive Controllers - kimsails - March 6, 2002 - 17:32 UTC
    • schematics available? - delyan - October 1, 2004 - 14:06 UTC
• Celestron Ultima - Tangent Electronics - hyborean - August 15, 2004 - 00:23 UTC
• How to Contact Tangent Instruments - hyborean - August 15, 2004 - 00:53 UTC
• Ultima 8 drive is now working - hyborean - August 16, 2004 - 00:45 UTC
• Ultima 8 PEC drive repaired - westone - September 5, 2006 - 17:33 UTC