I'm in Sweden, at 21, 22 in the evening. The stars I am trying to reach is about 45 degrees above the horizon. Mizar and Dubhe West-North-West, roughly. Earlier, the same thing happened with Altair and Deneb, a few weeks ago, when they were high, South and sligtly to the east.
As for safety limits, the location of the stars are way off the limits. And I can easily slew the mount to them. It is the GoTo that does something strange.?
As for battery - new as of 1 hour before trying this yesterday.?