PowerTank Lithium Pro Setup: Power a GoTo Mount Overnight
By Cloud Break Optics | Published: 2026-11-01
Category: Tips & Care
A practical, step-by-step setup for running a GoTo mount all night on the PowerTank Lithium Pro, including port checks, cable routing, and charging habits that prevent mid-session shutdowns.
Quick answer
Use the PowerTank Lithium Pro's 12V DC 5A telescope port for the mount, charge it fully before dark, and keep the tank insulated from cold ground so the battery does not quit at 2 a.m.
Why the 12V DC 5A port is the right feed for a GoTo mount
GoTo mounts expect a stable 12V supply, and the PowerTank Lithium Pro provides a dedicated 12V DC 5A telescope power port. That port is separate from the tank's other outputs, so you can run the mount without sharing its circuit with a phone charger or dew heater. If your mount's manual specifies a lower current draw, the 5A port still works because the mount pulls only what it needs; the rating is a ceiling, not a forced feed.
Plan for dew heaters and accessories before you leave the house
The PowerTank Lithium Pro has twice the capacity of the original PowerTank Lithium, which makes it a realistic choice for an all-night session with a mount and a small accessory load. Still, dew heaters are the most common hidden drain. Decide before dark whether you will run a heater, and if so, test the full setup at home so you know how the tank behaves over several hours. If you add a camera or laptop, check whether it can run from the tank's other ports or should have its own supply.
Cold weather is the real limit, not the port count
Lithium batteries lose usable capacity as temperatures drop, so a tank that lasts all night in summer may fall short on a frosty night. Keep the PowerTank Lithium Pro off the ground and, if possible, in an insulated bag or close to the mount rather than on a metal tripod leg. This is a physical limitation of the battery chemistry, not a defect, and it is the main reason to arrive with the tank at full charge rather than half.
Overnight power setup steps
- Charge the tank to full the day before: Plug the PowerTank Lithium Pro in until its charge indicator shows full, then disconnect it. Common mistake: topping up an hour before sunset and assuming it is full when the indicator has not settled. Treat a full charge as part of packing, not a last-minute task.
- Connect the mount to the 12V DC 5A telescope port: Use the mount's own power cable and plug it into the dedicated 12V DC 5A telescope port on the tank. Checkpoint: confirm the plug seats fully and the mount powers on before you attach any other accessory. If the mount does not power on, test the cable on another 12V source before blaming the tank.
- Route cables with a strain-relief loop: Leave a small loop of slack near the tank and secure the cable to the tripod or mount base so a slew cannot pull the plug. Common mistake: letting the cable hang free, which unseats the plug during a meridian flip. Tug gently on the cable after routing; if the plug moves, add more slack.
- Add accessories one at a time and note the load: Plug in a dew heater or phone charger only after the mount is running, and watch the tank's charge indicator over the first hour. Checkpoint: if the indicator drops faster than expected, remove the accessory rather than risk a mid-session shutdown. A quick first-hour check tells you whether the planned load is realistic for the night.
- Insulate the tank from cold ground: Place the PowerTank Lithium Pro on a foam pad, wooden board, or inside an insulated bag rather than directly on soil or concrete. Common mistake: leaving it on a metal tripod leg, which pulls heat out of the battery all night. In freezing conditions, bring the tank into the car between sessions rather than leaving it outside.
- Recharge within a day after the session: Plug the tank in the morning after use and bring it to full before storing it. Checkpoint: if the tank was run down to empty, charge it sooner rather than leaving it depleted for weeks. A consistent post-session recharge habit is the simplest way to avoid surprise capacity loss.
Product facts
- PowerTank Lithium Pro (18768): The PowerTank Lithium Pro offers twice the battery capacity of the original PowerTank Lithium. That extra capacity is what makes an all-night GoTo session realistic when you also run a dew heater or charge a phone.
PowerTank Lithium Pro (18768) - PowerTank Lithium Pro (18768): It includes a 12V DC 5A telescope power port. Use that port for the mount so its supply is not shared with lower-draw accessories.
