In Search Of... a power cable for Celestron Super C8+

[Shannon W]

Hello, Lurker here who finally got the telescope to my place.  This lovely 1985 Super C8+ came without its power cable.  I know it's a long shot but if any of you happen to have this cable, it was also used on other electronics (http://madrona.ca/e/powerConn/index.html).

I thought I would post here just in case, otherwise someone has helpfully created 3D printing files and I'll get one made. I don't feel like "milling out" the socket to replace it with (likely) an IEC type.  Or maybe someone has done that and it's not that big a deal?  I'm pretty handy, it just seems like it would be a pain and possibly ruin the base.

Thanks,

Shannon Wells

[Akarsh Simha]

I just was entertained by this older standard so I did some digging. I’ve never seen or come across this sort of power cable. Searching for PH163 cable turns up a bunch of results, mostly from music-related stores, selling it for prices around $60

If it looks anything like this pic found on CloudyNights, I’d just unscrew it, remove the raw electrical cables feeding into it and splice it with a modern power cable by soldering along with heat shrink insulation. I’d tie a knot or something for strain relief. Then I’d just apply hot glue over the gap or wrap it in something to waterproof it. I wouldn’t even bother with having a socket. I’m not exactly known for the aesthetics of my electrical work, or any work for that matter ;)

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[thesqu...@gmail.com]

It's a pretty interesting read how widespread this connector used to be, and now it has basically disappeared.

Well, this one is riveted in, so unscrewing it is not an option. I ended up having them 3D printed via Print-A-Thing, and ordering the remaining parts from DigiKey. It's easier and safer to make a proper power cable than to try to pop open the drive enclosure, drill out the rivets, and hack together a frankencable.

I'm glad you were entertained by this little rabbit hole! I hope to join some of you soon. This is pretty much the same model that I taught astronomy labs on in the late 80s, and I also had one of my own at that time, so I'm happy about getting it.

Shannon

On 9/4/25 1:04 AM, Akarsh Simha <akars...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I just was entertained by this older standard so I did some digging.
> I’ve never seen or come across this sort of power cable. Searching for
> PH163 cable turns up a bunch of results, mostly from music-related
> stores, selling it for prices around $60
>
> If it looks anything like this pic found on CloudyNights, I’d just
> unscrew it, remove the raw electrical cables feeding into it and splice
> it with a modern power cable by soldering along with heat shrink
> insulation. I’d tie a knot or something for strain relief. Then I’d just
> apply hot glue over the gap or wrap it in something to waterproof it. I
> wouldn’t even bother with having a socket. I’m not exactly known for the
> aesthetics of my electrical work, or any work for that matter ;)
>
>
>

> On Wed, Sep 3, 2025 at 16:52 Shannon W <thesqu...@gmail.com
> <mailto:thesqu...@gmail.com>> wrote:
>
> Hello, Lurker here who finally got the telescope to my place.  This
> lovely 1985 Super C8+ came without its power cable.  I know it's a
> long shot but if any of you happen to have this cable, it was also
> used on other electronics (http://madrona.ca/e/powerConn/index.html

> <http://madrona.ca/e/powerConn/index.html>).

>
> I thought I would post here just in case, otherwise someone has
> helpfully created 3D printing files and I'll get one made. I don't
> feel like "milling out" the socket to replace it with (likely) an
> IEC type.  Or maybe someone has done that and it's not that big a
> deal?  I'm pretty handy, it just seems like it would be a pain and
> possibly ruin the base.
>
> Thanks,
> Shannon Wells
>
>
>
>
> --
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